A weekly newspaper editorial team could be switching to a sister centre around seven miles away, HoldtheFrontPage has learned.

Journalists at the Bury Times will be working in Newsquest’s Bolton office from January where they will contribute copy to The Bolton News, Bury Times and Prestwich and Whitefield Guide.

Inside sources have also told HTFP that Bury Times editor Carla Flynn is being made redundant along with one other reporter from either Bolton or Bury.

All casual sub-editor contracts will also be ended but trainee reporters, photographers and sports staff remain unaffected, HoldtheFrontPage has been told.

Consultation has begun with staff who have until next Wednesday to apply for voluntary redundancy.

The news comes as part of wider changes within Newsquest North West after it announced proposals to close 11 newspapers and its printing plant in Bolton.

No-one from Newsquest North West was available for comment.

Elsewhere in Newsquest, eight jobs could go in its Worcester division.

The proposed cuts affect most departments in the division which publishes the Worcester News, Evesham Journal, Malvern Gazette and Ledbury Reporter.

Staff are now in a consultation process with management which has pledged to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Publisher Ian Richardson said: “Trading conditions have been very challenging for some time now and the market has become more uncertain in many areas.

“Against the backdrop of an unsettled economy we must, therefore, take opportunities to reduce costs so we can protect the overall business for the future.”

Last week we revealed that the Newsquest-owned Hereford Times and Ludlow and Tenbury Wells Advertiser were seeking four editorial redundancies from the series.

The Hereford Times today reports that “at least six jobs” could go across most departments in the Hereford division.

Comments

Old Clavian (11/12/2008 21:22:50)
Word on the street is that Bury will have a new quality free paper by mid-2009 anyway with three prominent local businessmen behind the venture (one ex Bury Times). Timed to perfection you could say.