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Journalists face axe at weekend titles

Editorial jobs are under threat at two weekend newspapers in Kent as a result of plans to merge the news and sports departments.

Archant KOS Media has confirmed that four editorial jobs could be at risk of redundancy at its titles Kent on Sunday and Kent on Saturday as part of an on-going review of the business.

Staff were told the news last week and a formal consultation process is now under way.

It is understood that the proposed changes would see the sports and news department amalgamated into one.

Miller Hogg, managing director of Archant Lifestyle, which includes Archant KOS Media said: “It is an on-going review of the business to enable it to meet the needs of our readers and advertisers and maintain the long term viability of the business.”

Archant bought out the formerly family-owned KOS Media just over a year ago, having previously taken a minority stake in the company.

At the time of the takeover, KOS also published ten free newspapers in Kent under the ‘your’ brand including yourtunbridgewells, yourdeal and yoursandwich, and produces internet TV station YourkentTV.

However it has since taken the decision to stop printing all but one of these titles, which are now published solely as e-editions.

At the time, managing director Paul Stannard said the decision to go online-only had allowed the company to invest in and expand Kent on Saturday and Kent on Sunday.A previous editorial restructure at KoS Media last December resulted in around eight job losses.

 

 

 

5 comments

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  • September 15, 2011 at 10:28 am
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    What a great shame. Hopefully these guys will be able to find work elsewhere.

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  • September 15, 2011 at 12:18 pm
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    If four journalists go that will leave only eight. The big question is, can eight journalists rewrite as many press releases as 12?

    What the hell did KOS expect when they jumped into bed with Archant, an orange for Christmas?

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  • September 15, 2011 at 3:45 pm
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    Seems when ever archant purchase newspapers or is involved with takeovers, there are people made redundant. Why did KOS Media get involved with archant. There will be further staff reductions to come guaranteed. Bad news.

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  • September 15, 2011 at 5:36 pm
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    Eastern Counties Newspapers used to be quite a good company to work for until it got too big for its boots and gave itself a stupid name.

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  • September 16, 2011 at 4:46 pm
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    What the hell is happening to the newspaper industry in Kent. I’ve never rated Kent on Sunday but it has been sad to see its steady decline since Archant took control.
    Meanwhile the KM look like getting their paws on the Kent Regional News & Media stabe lf papers, no doubt to close the majority of them down and hence consolidate KM titles in the marketplace.
    Will that make the KM titles better newspapes? No.
    Will newspapers that don’t need to close be closed down? Yes.
    Will kent be the dullest place on earth as far as local newspapers are concerned? Almost certainly.
    I just hope someone remembers to turn off the light.

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