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Christmas job losses in store at daily newspaper

The Argus newspaper in Brighton is set to make a number of journalists redundant, according to a news website based in the city.

Brighton and Hove News reports that the daily Newsquest title has sent letters to half a dozen editorial staff and more than a dozen sales staff inviting them to a meeting this afternoon.

The website, run by former deputy editor of The Argus Frank le Duc, says that the staff are expected to be gone in four weeks’ time.

Staff in photographic and features are expected to be affected by the jobs cuts, as well as the paper’s librarian. The cuts follow six sub-editors jobs that were axed last year.

It quotes one employee as saying that 13 of the 16 members of the home delivery team in the newspaper’s sales department were facing losing their jobs with their work expected to move to Southampton.

Members of the National Union of Journalists, who last year held a series of strikes, are set to meet tonight to discuss their options.

A staff member who did not wish to be named told Brighton and Hove News: “This is the fifth year running Newsquest has handed out redundancies to members of staff at this time of year – always just before Christmas.

“The handful who are left in Hollingbury go beyond the call of duty every day to produce a paper but, like the Grinch, the bosses just seem to take, take, take.

“It’s a bitter blow not just for the individuals involved but to the whole city.

“The people of Brighton and Hove deserve a local paper made in the city and staffed by local people.”

Editor of The Argus Michael Beard had not responded to a request for a comment at the time of publication.

12 comments

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  • November 4, 2011 at 3:34 pm
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    Putting to one side the rights and wrongs of the potential job losses, it is scandalous that yet again a daily newspaper editor refuses to comment. Day after day on this site we hear editors bleating on abut how they have ‘the right’ to demand answers in the public interest yet when a large employer (themselves) make people redundant they will not say a word. I don’t know why anyone would speak to these papers. And I don’t know why pressgazette so meekly accepts these ‘no comments’. I expect pressgazette will not comment on this!!!

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  • November 4, 2011 at 3:42 pm
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    Loathsome business. Absolutely loathsome. Get out on your own terms, it’s better than this

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  • November 7, 2011 at 9:48 am
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    anybody clinging on to a job at The Argus wants their head examined. It’s over, get out quick!

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  • November 7, 2011 at 10:23 am
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    Sad to say it, but the faceless number-crunchers seem hell-bent on killing off the regional newspaper industry in this country with their ‘death by a thousand cuts/redundancies’ policy.
    And I totally agree with Marty – these editors and chief execs have no right to hide behind a bland ‘no comment’.
    If they decide to throw hard-working, conscientious people out of work, especially before Christmas, then they should have the courage to come out and say why.

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  • November 7, 2011 at 10:48 am
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    I say to all provincial journalists, particularly those below the aged of 50: get out now and find a career with prospects. Newspapers are dying from 1,000 cuts and it can only get worse.

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  • November 7, 2011 at 12:46 pm
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    It has also been announced today that the 30-day consultation has ended over plans to merge the editorial operations at Newsquest Midlands South – combining the reporting and phorographic teams of the daily Worcester News with weekly Evesham Journal Series and Malvern Gazette Series – ‘without a suitable alternative being put forward’.

    The notification adds: “All those whose jobs are at risk have received letters advising them of the next stage of the process which we hope will be concluded in the next two weeks. We are assessing all options to limit the number of compulsory redundancies through voluntary arrangements and non-filling of vacancies.”

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  • November 7, 2011 at 12:51 pm
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    Marty, Briz quoteth: ” And I don’t know why pressgazette so meekly accepts these ‘no comments’. I expect pressgazette will not comment on this!!!

    Err Marty….. I thought this was HTFP, UKPG is (in tv speak) on the other side.
    Although UKPG are saying ”Newsquest chief executive Paul Davidson was today unavailable for comment..”

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  • November 7, 2011 at 2:46 pm
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    Fair dos … whoever, PG or HTFP, no editor ever comments other than to say what an exciting development it is.

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  • November 7, 2011 at 4:15 pm
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    Simply best to vote with your feet and find another, better job elsewhere if poss. Starve these sort of papers of decent staff.

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  • November 8, 2011 at 10:14 am
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    Where exactly are all these “better jobs” that people are suggesting? The idea that anyone would be at The Argus if there was a better alternative is crazy. Most of the staff there are not “clinging on” for the love of it, they are trying to keep a wage coming in so they can afford their rent or mortgage in what is an increasingly difficult climate for everyone involved. It’s the management who need their heads examined, not the staff.

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  • November 8, 2011 at 4:15 pm
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    Agree with Wits’ End – these are very difficult times for journalists young or old as we try to work out what the hell to do with our skills in an industry where they are no longer valued.
    I don’t think anyone remains at the Argus for any reason other than that they have bills to pay and very little choice in how to earn the money to pay them.
    Morale is at an all-time low and we need support and constructive advice, not flippant commentary.

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  • November 14, 2011 at 11:50 am
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    The reason this happens at Christmas is because Newsquest’s financial year ends in December, therefore, if there are cuts that need to be made to the cost base, they’re going to be made in December. Horrible timing, but the majority of the cuts that have taken place have been in the final quarter of the year. For a Newsquest employee, New Year celebrations take on extra significance!

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