A regional editor and other senior managers are being challenged to give up their bonuses and company cars in a union campaign to save jobs.

Around ten people are being made redundant at The Sentinel, Stoke, including five photographers.

But the National Union of Journalists is calling on the paper’s editor, Mike Sassi, and other company directors to forego their bonuses and give up their cars.

The union, which is not officially recognised at The Sentinel, claims that this would save enough money to safeguard the threatened jobs. Mr Sassi has declined to comment on the campaign.

NUJ northern organiser Chris Morley said the company accounts of Staffordshire Sentinel News & Media show it paid out bonuses of £71,000 in 2007 although more recent figures are not yet available.

“If the bonus was anything like the £71,000 paid in 2007 that would spare a number of jobs and protect the quality of the paper,” he said.

“The NUJ has suggested that directors should waive any personal bonus they might be in line for this year to get over these exceptional times with the fewest editorial casualties.

“I have also put forward that senior editorial staff should give up their company cars for the same reason.”