Staff at media company SMG are facing 95 redundancies across all its operations.

The company publishes three newspapers – The Herald, the Sunday Herald and the Evening Times – all circulating in Scotland – and has interests in TV production, controlling the STV and Grampian companies.

Staff were consulted over voluntary redundancies earlier this month and of the 95 redundancies, 17 were managers and among the rest of the staff, 52 will be voluntary. But because these will not achieve the necessary cost savings, the company will be telling a further 26 people they will be laid off.

There will be 50 job losses across the publishing division – eight of which will be managers. There were 25 staff-side volunteers for redundancy, which means the company will be seeking a further 17 job losses.

The firm said it had had to make some difficult decisions as a result of the current economic climate.

Chief executive Andrew Flanagan said: “The impact of the global advertising downturn has been significant and, with no visible evidence of the timing of an upturn, we’ve regrettably had to take this difficult but prudent action.

“However, we have strong businesses, based on well-branded, popular products and I’m confident that we’ll be well placed for the upturn when it comes.”

Some 1,700 staff are employed overall by SMG, with around 800 of those in the newspapers and magazines division.

Further consultations are ongoing about implementing the staff cuts.

Do you have a story about the regional press? Ring 0116 227 3122/3121, or
e-mail [email protected]