The NUJ has condemned plans by the Press Association which have put jobs at risk in its TV listings and pages department.

As reported on HTFP, up to 27 jobs are thought to be under threat at PA’s Howden offices, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Although the company has declined to give details, it is understood that it plans to cut 16 posts from its TV content section, eight from TV pages and three from weather and finance.

According to the NUJ, individual content staff will be responsible for “checking and signing off their own content” should the plans go through.

Chris Morley, NUJ Northern and Midlands organiser, said: “This is a savage blow to a big proportion of staff at the Howden centre and came very much out of the blue.

“If the cuts are carried out in full, I would seriously doubt PA’s claims about the redundancies not having an impact on the quality of service.

“PA’s reputation has been built on accuracy and attention to detail, but this plan would leave so much up to badly-stretched staff that the likelihood of serious mistakes must surely increase.

“Getting a TV time wrong will soon get picked up by readers.

“Those who remain will be in an impossible position, trying to maintain the quality output that has been their professional hallmark for so long.”

PA has declined to comment further on the issue.