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Subbing hub jobs toll reaches 120 says union

Newsquest’s decision to centralise its subbing operation has now cost 120 editorial jobs, the National Union of Journalists has said.

The NUJ has condemned the group’s latest announcement, which could see around 20 staff axed as more of its production operation is moved from Oxford to Newport.

Jobs have already been lost at newspapers owned by the group in Worcester, Darlington, Bradford, York, Southampton, Brighton, Warrington, Glasgow and Blackburn as production roles have been moved to Newport and its other hub in Weymouth.

It comes as the redundancy of two staff photographers at Newsquest titles in Yorkshire was also announced – Bob Smith and national multi-award winner Steve Garnett, of the the Keighley News and Craven Herald.

Bob, a joint chapel FoC at the NUJ, has described the cuts as “madness”.

He said: “Getting rid of two experienced editorial members and running the whole weekly stable of papers without staff photographers exposes Newsquest’s callous disregard for quality.

“Steve has numerous awards for his imaginative pictures and I’ve spent more than 31 years capturing images of the lives of the people of Keighley.

“All this will now end and readers will have newspapers filled with reader-generated content and amateur photographs.

“I will miss my daily contact with the citizens of Keighley and its surrounding areas, but I won’t miss the myopic management madness Newsquest employees have to contend with.”

After reports earlier last week Johnston Press would be merging three of its Scottish titles, with the loss of up to 45 jobs, the union says it is now in negotiations with both companies to mitigate the effects of the cutbacks.

The NUJ says it has already won improved redundancy terms by those affected by JP’s merger of The Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and the Edinburgh Evening News.

The model set to be adopted in Edinburgh is likely to mirror the JP operation in Leeds, where the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post already work as a combined team under a single editor.

Paul Holleran, NUJ national organiser in Scotland, said: “The scale of these cuts has come as a great shock.

“The union is now in negotiations with the management and has already won improved redundancy terms and an increased time scale for the changes and we intend to continue to get the best deal we can for members following this disastrous decision.”

Discussing the cuts in Oxford Chris Moore, managing director of Newsquest Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, said: “Readers will see no difference in the appearance of our already strong portfolio of newspapers and magazines.”

Newsquest has yet to respond to requests for a comment on the photography redundancies.

40 comments

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  • October 31, 2014 at 10:23 pm
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    Seems the days of press photographers are numbered, as JP are on a cull in the south. Soon it will amateur hour, with sent in pix and mostly User Generated Copy. Change happens, but the speed of decline and cuts is deeply worrying for true professionals. The rest won’t mind.

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  • October 31, 2014 at 11:58 pm
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    JP, Newsquest et al are being very short sighted. Using readers photos etc is just bringing the quality levels down to the level of Facebook!! But Facebook is FREE!! How can they charge for their lower quality print products. What company ever survived by lowering the quality of their product??

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  • November 1, 2014 at 11:38 am
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    The model set to be adopted in Edinburgh is likely to mirror the JP operation in Leeds, where the Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Evening Post already work as a combined team under a single editor – heaven help them.

    The YEP is not even a shadow of its former self. Reflected in a circulation of around 24,000.

    The saddest element, however, is the waste of reporting talent. The pictorial staff line-up features young (or young to this 60-year-old) faces, many of whom I know received an excellent early grounding on weekly newspapers, produced some outstanding exclusives and were prepared to go the extra mile to get the full story.

    To see their by-lines on the re-hashed press releases that used to be given to first-week trainees or work experience students must be as embarrassing for them to see as it is frustrating for us readers to spend good money on this drivel masquerading as news.

    The YEP/YP has a team of potentially outstanding reporters, unfortunately that potential is unlikely ever to be properly realised.

    They deserve our sympathy.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 8:13 am
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    Steve Garnett is a genius with a camera. Making rubbish look stunning is a precious skill on a local paper. What a huge asset to have. How
    profoundly careless to let him go. The paper WILL suffer.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 9:28 am
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    The lovely little newspaper in the Dales with its award-winning photographer will rely on cheque handover piks from now on. But how are they going to replace Steve’s PR work in the local community as the face of the paper? A craven decision from the Craven Herald.
    Still, look on the bright side, That’s £1 a week I’ll save by not buying it any more.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 10:11 am
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    Steve Garnett will be a huge loss to the Craven Herald.
    Not only is he one of the most talented local press photographers in the business (just type his name into HTFP for his award wins), he’s also loved and deeply respected in the community.
    He brings in stories, has contacts to die for, grew up in the area and can’t walk down the street without warm greetings from various passersbys.
    Everyone knows him, from schools, sports clubs, community groups, and his PR work for the paper is invaluable.
    And on top of all that, he’s a thoroughly decent chap.

    I really hope Newsquest reconsiders this one – it will take the paper further away from the community and I fear readers will not take kindly to the paper losing him.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 10:33 am
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    Ian Lockwood has a good point. For many smaller weeklies without proper editors and with reporters glued to computer screens the sole snapper is now the only PR person working out in the community. Losing them is another move to make readers even more remote from journalists. The age of “sent us a snap”vanity newspapers is upon us.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 10:51 am
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    The madness continues. Newsquest’s only interest ( like that of most of the big publishers) is to cut, cut, cut the costs of production and distribution of their ‘product’. They don’t give a toss about quality, talent or taking care of whatever staff they might have left. It’s cut corners, ditch loyal talented staff, knock it out and flog it as cheaply as possible for as much as they can get. Tragic though it is I can’t imagine why anyone is surprised by this anymore. The simple fact is that they don’t care.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 11:47 am
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    Sadly, this has all become a bizarre merry-go-round — without the merriment!
    Save money by sacking talented and experienced staff due to falling circulation > huge drop in product quality > further fall in circulation > even more job cuts.
    The rate this is happening at could result in titles having just one guy and a Gestetner (remember them?) to churn out the reader-inspired drivel.
    Hardly surprising, then, that so many of the country’s top newsmen (and women) are thinking: “I’m a journalist — get me out of here!”

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  • November 3, 2014 at 12:43 pm
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    Just Googled Steve Garnett’s pictures. What a talented photographer this lad is! Any newspaper would be glad to have Steve on their picture team let alone a smaller paper in a rural area. Especially as he lives in the area, brings stories in and is probably the best PR the paper has and I’m guessing he’s probably pointed trainee reporters in the right direction a few times! Madness to get rid of him!

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  • November 3, 2014 at 12:55 pm
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    Maybe it’s time the government stepped in and handed grants to journalists to set up their own news sites on a strictly partisan basis.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 1:13 pm
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    Newsquest clearly have no interest in properly managing what was once a great newspaper.
    I remember when they switched to tabloid and they asked readers opinions on it. Despite an overwhelming majority of people saying they wanted it to stay broadsheet, they did it anyway.
    The problem is the paper is overseen by a ‘group editor’ in Bradford who doesn’t seem to have much respect for the smaller titles he oversees.
    The Craven Herald has now had four editors in as many years and Ilkley recently lost it’s third in about two years. That says it all really.
    Staff are treated badly across the division – look at how they treated all the Bradford subs with the disastrous Newport experiment.
    If they need to make savings, how about they look further up the chain?

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  • November 3, 2014 at 2:18 pm
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    I hate to use an old-fashioned concept but capitalism has failed British regional newspapers.
    A trust of some kind must be established to run what’s left of the larger ones in the interests of democracy.
    Anyone familiar with North American newspapers should be able to understand better than many people what syndicated rubbish they are. The monopolies responsible for those have now come to the United Kingdom.
    Roger Jones has a point. Editors and fellow journalists should take the lead and fight for this instead of looking for the nearest lifeboat.
    Also, newspapers must have balls. Current ones are too anodyne because editors are too frightened of management to rock the boat. Publications must reflect all shades of society and not just business as they do now.
    Journalists must be independent of management and of advertisers and only trust status can bring this about. If a journo has a bust-up with his boss he should be able to find another job without being blacklisted as can happen with corporate titles.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 3:11 pm
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    What an incredibly short-sighted decision. Steve and Bob have 50 years of experience of their respective patches between them and every time they go out to take a picture they are basically a walking/talking free advert for their papers. I worked with Steve and he’s a brilliant photographer. He deserves better, as do the readers.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 3:50 pm
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    As a former chief features sub who was axed four years ago, it is sad to see the bloodbath getting worse.
    No-one seems to believe print has a future but on a local scale, what compares to the impact – still – of a newspaper? While people may see something on facebook, it is largely within their own interest group. When did you last hear someone say they read about a particular local issue or incident on the internet? Hence few, if any, local news websites have succeeded financially.
    We have to hope at some stage that, as happened with the cinema, canny investors will back quality and start to re-adapt and reinvent the newspaper. Otherwise, the rich, powerful, criminal and political will have a field day.
    Meanwhile, I have found a truly startling response to my own localised print (and web) venture. I use the principle ‘Faces sell papers’ and have adapted it to a local services handbook. See http://www.homehandbooks.co.uk.
    The response from advertisers and readers has taken me aback, even after 30 years in journalism. But it is print which is researched well, written well, displayed well, checked well, printed well, with an absolute minimum of errors. What Newsquest, Local World or JP journalists can claim that these days?
    See the franchising page if it interests you!

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  • November 3, 2014 at 4:31 pm
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    Absolutely disgusting – yet predictable – behaviour by Newsquest in getting rid of Bob Smith and Steve Garnett. The people in charge know the price of everythng and the value of nothing.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 4:45 pm
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    Utterly reprehensible decision dismiss the services of Stephen Garnett. (and his colleague from the Keighley News) This madness knows no bounds. The lunatics have certainly taken over the Newsquest asylum. Another nail in the coffin in this slow death of a once great local paper. It will soon become a weekly blog, and I for one, will not be buying it.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 5:38 pm
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    Re; Steve Garnett. Steve is an amazing photographer and The Herald were lucky to have him. Not only that but he is known by everyone around here as the face of the Craven Herald. I can’t speak for the other job losses but Steve will be sorely missed. A mistake in my eyes.

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  • November 3, 2014 at 5:58 pm
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    Well that’s the final unique selling point of a once respected newspaper gone. May as well nip down to Skipton railway station and pick up a free copy of Metro. it will have just as much relevance to readers of the Craven Herald which is now destined to become an advertorial with no local bearing or content. Shocking.

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  • November 4, 2014 at 12:43 am
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    £3 million saved and not a single edition missed. Whats not to like?

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  • November 4, 2014 at 6:51 pm
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    “…Chris Moore, managing director of Newsquest Oxfordshire and Wiltshire, said: “Readers will see no difference in the appearance of our already strong portfolio of newspapers and magazines…”
    Oh yes they will, you just don’t have the insight to gauge it.

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  • November 5, 2014 at 7:44 am
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    As a sub axed in the cull at Bradford I can sympathise with my talented former colleagues axed in this latest move towards the end of print journalism. All I can say is that since leaving -and sometimes having had to design, sub and layout three free weekly newspapers on my own in a day – I feel a lot less stressed and am having a much better quality of life. I know it’s a tough time for both Bob and Steve at the moment, particularly with the insensitive and ambiguous messages from the senior management team based in Bradford, but I hope they will at least appreciate they will no longer be working for a belligerent bloodsucking behemoth that has treated its staff with contempt. Is that five years without a rise at Newsquest?

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  • November 6, 2014 at 10:20 am
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    One of the great mysteries of the universe has long been what the hell a photographer of Steve’s enormous talent has been doing on a weekly paper all these years. Having worked with and against snappers on national papers and magazines I know that Steve is right up there with the very best of them. Watching him turn the humdrum of local events into imaginative, eye-catching pictures week in, week out has been one of the main reasons for reading a newspaper that is visibly wilting week by week. Newquest managers should have been on their knees every night praying he would never leave.

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  • November 6, 2014 at 1:55 pm
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    Two of the best local newspaper photographers I’ve ever worked with – Bob Smith & Steve Garnett – made redundant by (once again) shortsighted Newsquest management. When did all these non editorial staff become better equipped than editors and professional journalists and photographers to know what readers want and how to sell news? Readers are already turning their backs on the poor quality being churned out by undermanned or non existent editorial offices and distant subbing hubs where local knowledge is often inadequate. The Craven Herald is my local newspaper – make that WAS. Sadly, the death knell now tolls a little louder for our local newspapers.

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  • November 6, 2014 at 7:59 pm
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    I am really shocked and saddened to read about Steve Garnett’s redundancy. He is someone I have known for over 20 years and I have nothing but respect for his skill and admiration for his genuine passion about his work. Steve always took the time to take photographs which would enhance absolutely any local event. I hope that he goes on to show his ex employers just what a big mistake they have made in letting him go. The Craven Herald will be a poorer paper without his work.

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  • November 9, 2014 at 10:17 pm
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    All those years of pay freeze, reduced pensions, unpaid overtime and being told we are through the worst and profits are up. Indeed they are and they are going to the top brass bonuses. I bet they are laughing all the way to the bank, while they milk Newsquest until it’s dead. And how long will that be with Knowledge?

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  • November 10, 2014 at 9:01 pm
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    Newsquest, you’ve got this so wrong, I give your rag a year at the most.

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  • November 10, 2014 at 9:40 pm
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    Steve Garnett is an artist of the highest calibre, and Newsquest should consider themselves honoured to have such a talented photographer on their payroll. Still, I’m sure that having someone like Steve on their books is like giving strawberries to a donkey – what intelligent, perceptive people can understand and appreciate is totally wasted on them. How incredibly sad. Let’s hope they come to their senses and see how shortsighted they’re being.

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  • November 10, 2014 at 9:58 pm
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    Why get rid of Stephen garnet who is a fantastic photographer and has done the craven herald proud for many years. This is wrong on so many levels WAKE UP and listen to the local people!

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  • November 10, 2014 at 10:57 pm
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    Steve Garnett is the finest newspaper photographer it’s ever been my privilege to know. His pictures are the best part of what remains of the Craven Herald. His departure from my once beloved local paper is a sad loss.

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  • November 11, 2014 at 12:11 am
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    As a local businesses owner I am stunned by the decision of the Craven Herald ! Steve Garnett is not only an award winning photographer but to many in Skipton and the surrounding area he is the face of the newspaper . A man that has been been courted by national paper but has given his loyalty to the Craven Herald to be treated in this way I find disgusting . To the owners of the newspaper you will not be getting my advertising again !!

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  • November 11, 2014 at 1:23 am
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    Having worked alongside Steve, I know what an important role he performs for the Herald. He is the face of the newspaper. It’s very sad news for a great local newspaper.

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  • November 11, 2014 at 4:08 am
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    Sorry, Stephen IS the Craven Herald to many people! He is the face the public know and love, there at all the major events and making the local news more entertaining with his photographs. It’s probably signing the death warrant of what was once a much loved local newspaper. Such a shame and very short-sighted.

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  • November 11, 2014 at 7:18 am
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    Local paper,,,,dont make me laugh. That is it for me,,,,save my pound a week! Never buying again!

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  • November 11, 2014 at 8:11 am
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    How awful for all these hugely talented people who are part of their Community. Another example of faceless corporation putting money before people. I suppose when people stop buying the Craven Herald after Steve’s gone, it will just be closed down.

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  • November 11, 2014 at 11:24 am
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    Stephen Garnett is a true gentleman who has great respect for his “posers”. He brings out the best in all the photographs that he takes for the Craven Herald. As a reader of the Keighley News I can say that Bob Smith does an equally good job with the photographs.
    The bean counters down South do not give a fig for local community newspapers all they see are £££££ signs before their eyes. It is about time they opened their eyes to what local people want from their newspapers.

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  • November 11, 2014 at 11:38 am
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    NEWSQUEST??? More like money quest! What are they thinking of ? Getting rid of Steve Garnett is the height of their stupidity. His photos are amazing. He makes the Craven Herald worth the £1. He is the public face of the paper. He will be a huge loss to the community. I have seen publications using the “bought in” format. Will Money quest be renaming the paper? I suggest “The Craven Comic” as that will be the level it will fall to.

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  • November 11, 2014 at 2:15 pm
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    I was shocked to hear this news. Stephen Garnett is not only one of the best local press photographers (and has won awards from his peers), but he is such a nice person that he is really the face of the Craven Herald for a lot of Skipton people who have met him over the years.

    I for one only really buy the paper to look at his photos, and I suspect even for people who don’t will realise the quality of the paper has deteriorated after his departure and sales will plummet even lower than they are now.

    If Newsquest want to shut down this paper, this is the best way to do it which is very sad. Maybe I’m just nostalgic as I wish it had never switched from the broadsheet format. Certainly the current standard template form of the paper isn’t as good as it once was, but this news is the nail in the Herald’s coffin IMHO.

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