Five editorial jobs could go at the Bucks Free Press as part of a wider job cull at Newsquest’s south-east titles.

This latest development follows on from last week’s revelation that the company was planning to lose 12 reporters’ jobs at some of its London weeklies such as the Waltham Forest Guardian and Wanstead and Woodford Guardian.

Insiders told HoldtheFrontPage that property writer Pam Bramley would be leaving along with a news editor and editorial assistant.

A company statement, issued by managing editor for Newsquest Herts and Bucks Anthony Longden, said: “Newsquest has announced a number of possible redundancies at its newspapers in north and east London, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire following a wide-ranging review.

“In a joint announcement issued earlier in the month, Vic Catanach, managing director of Newsquest’s Herts and Bucks division, and Andy Thomas, managing director of north and east London, said a number of jobs across the business may go as a result of challenging economic conditions.

“They added the company will follow its usual policy of avoiding unnecessary redundancy wherever possible.

“Due to the fact the consultation process is in progress and has been for some time, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

HoldtheFrontPage revealed yesterday that Newsquest has also announced five possible redundancies across a series of daily and weekly titles at Bolton, Bury and Leigh.

Comments

Nik Kershaw (17/10/2008 10:13:21)
How many is this now? What’s the running total?
I’d be interested to see an audit of ALL the regional press jobs lost in the past 12 months.
There’s Trinity in B’ham, the Archant newsroom mingling in Norfolk and Suffolk, all the Glasgow debacle, the south-east weeklies, Newsquest here, there and everywhere. The truth should be told – all the commentators are shying away from revealing the true devastation to livelihoods.

Metman (17/10/2008 14:46:06)
I have to agree. After ten years in the job I have decided to leave print journalism and can only say not a moment too soon. Anyone now considering a job in regional print must be out of their minds. Lack of decent pay, poor opportunities and low moral are simply not worth it. I’d urge anyone who was considering print to look elsewhere. Only the foolhardy or those that got in to the job early enough to have guaranteed themselves a decent pension remain.

Marcus Tinworth (20/10/2008 10:15:57)
Its very widespread in Colchester 60 jobs at Newsquest printing Colchester are reported to be going. If you look across the whole group there must have been several hundred this year . Is there some kind of strategy or are they just lopping off bits and pieces as saving need to be made?