Nine editorial jobs are under threat at the Ipswich newspaper centre of the Archant publishing group.

The centre, which produces the Evening Star and the East Anglian Daily Times, could lose six posts in editorial production, two sports jobs and one graphic artist role.

The company confirmed the threat of redundancies but declined to go into details, a spokesman telling HTFP: “This is an internal matter for Archant Suffolk and the management team are spending time in consultation with affected staff.”

The redundancies follow a proposed restructure of the papers’ editorial departments which will see the merging of the two newspapers’ subbing operation.

Staff received a letter informing them of the changes, which the company said was the result of “an extensive review of work flow and methods” which had job consequences for a number of journalists.

It is understood the company will try to find suitable alternative roles for those staff not selected for the posts available. If this is not possible redundancy will be offered.

It intends to have changes in the editorial department in place by August 1, with any staff made redundant leaving the papers by July 29.

National Union of Journalists national organiser Barry Fitzpatrick said staff at the company – which does not recognise the union – had not been consulted prior to this week’s announcement.

They have now been invited to elect one person to act as a consultative representative for the 40-plus staff involved.

He said: “To invite one person is inadequate. The time schedule announced means that it will be impossible for that person to take on the views and advice of everyone concerned.

“We feel this is just a token gesture after the decision has been made.”

The newspapers are run separately but overlap circulation areas.

The East Anglian Daily Times covers Suffolk and North Essex through three editions and has a circulation of 40,700.

The Evening Star also has three editions, covering the rural areas, coastal towns and greater Ipswich with a circulation of 26,100.

Neither editor – Terry Hunt of the EADT, or Nigel Pickover, of the Evening Star – was available for comment.

Archant produces four daily regional newspapers and more than 85 weekly titles with a combined circulation of 3m copies every week.

It is a UK top five regional newspaper publisher, producing around 75 magazines and 120 websites.

It is a private company and employs around 3,000 people across England and Scotland and its head office is in Norwich.

Its latest results, published in March, show that turnover for Archant businesses was £185.6m – up 17.4 per cent on 2003 – and group operating profit was £32.7m – up 20.7 per cent on 2003, with profit before tax up 16.9 per cent at £32.4m.

Looking forward to another successful year, after acquiring 27 London weekly newspapers, Archant chairman Richard Jewson told shareholders in his annual report: “We shall continue to seek opportunities for profitable investment in the areas we know well and in which we have proven expertise.”