Seven journalists are set to lose their jobs at newspapers in the North East run by Trinity Mirror.

The jobs will be lost at the ncjMedia branch of the company which includes the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal, where eight jobs losses were announced earlier this year.

The plans will also see the Blyth and Cramlington Extra, which is an offsheet paper of the Chronicle, cease publication because it is not making any money.

The company are proposing to axe two multi-media journalists, one specialist correspondent role, one photographer, one multi-media desk editor and two chief desk editors.

A Trinity Mirror spokesperson said: “Following the recent editorial restructure and portfolio changes, the company has taken the further decision to close the loss-making Blyth and Cramlington Extra.

“In addition to the above, the proposals include the implementation of new production workflows, a reduction in commercial features output and a review of editorial platforms across all titles.

“These proposals are expected to result in a reduction of seven editorial roles. The company has entered into a period of consultation with all affected staff and it is hoped that as many of the redundancies as possible can be achieved by voluntary means.”

The National Union of Journalists said the company have only given until Monday 22 August for volunteers to come forward and want to end the process by Monday 12 September. It is investigating whether or not the procedural rules on redundancies have been violated.
 
A local NUJ representative said chapel members were “shocked” by the news as it came from the blue with no inkling anything was seriously amiss.
 
An NUJ chapel source said: “Those journalists who were in the first round of redundancies have not even left yet and now the company has announced another fresh round of cuts. They are watching the same thing happening with incredulity.”
 
Chris Morley, NUJ Northern & Midlands organiser said: “The hurried announcement of further job cuts at Newcastle, so soon after an earlier, painful round of redundancies, suggests something of a panic by Trinity Mirror.
 
“Sacrificing jobs on the altar of the City of London is no way to run a media company and what possible explanation can the company give to the city of Newcastle about what it is doing? This is a strategy that leads nowhere and at a time when newspaper companies need to show the public they have standards and responsibility to the people, Trinity Mirror is failing badly.”
 
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “Trinity Mirror wants to force journalists out of work. The North East needs jobs and journalists, the latest job cuts announcement is a blow to loyal and hard-working staff.”