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Deputy editors set for axe as publisher announces fresh newsroom cull

NL18326-TimJones-001_jpg-pwrt2Nine editorial posts including two deputy group editor roles are set to be cut as part of a management shake-up by a regional publisher.

As previously reported on HTFP, a group of 18 Newsquest titles in North London, Essex, Herts and Bucks were recently placed under a single group editor in Tim Jones, pictured left.

Now it has emerged that further rationalisation of the titles is under way with four newsdesks set to be centralised into one, to be based at the offices of the Watford Observer.

A memo to staff from Newsquest North London managing director Vic Catanach, which has been seen by HTFP, reveals that nine posts are to be placed at risk of redundancy from 22 May, although three new posts will be created.

Posts affected are those of deputy group editor, associate editor, editorial manager, group sports editor, deputy sports editor, group features editor, deputy features editor and web co-ordinator.

Under the proposals the two existing deputy group editors, associate editor and editorial manager would be considered for a new role of production editor.

The group sports editor and deputy sports editor would be considered for a sports content editor position, while the group features editor and deputy features editor could apply for the features content editor position.

The web co-ordinator role is set to cease, while there is a proposed revision to the job titles and duties of the web content editors.

In the memo, Vic wrote: “As you are aware we continue to face difficult trading conditions with sustained pressure on the profitability of the business.

“The company continues to look at all areas of the business and where appropriate re-organise or consolidate in order to deliver efficiencies and reduce costs.

“In light of the recent editorial senior management restructure which has led to the appointment of one group editor for the North London region, a full review of editorial department resources across all North London titles has been carried out.

“There is a need to reduce costs and deliver further efficiencies in the editorial department and as a result the company is proposing to consolidate all four news desks into one, to be based at Watford, and therefore reduce the editorial headcount by six within the proposed structure for editorial Newsquest North London with effect from 22 May 2015.”

In addition to the three newly-created roles, those at risk of redundancy are also being invited to apply for two currently vacant content editor positions and a chief reporter role.

North London Times and Independent series editor Martin Buhagiar and Watford Observer editor Peter Wilson-Leary took redundancy in the earlier shake-up which saw Tim take charge of their previous titles.

25 comments

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  • April 27, 2015 at 8:56 am
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    The Minim tape-loop keeps on running as more of our kind bite the dust. I’ve lost track of how many that is now in 2015 and we’re not quite a third of the way through the year yet. I understand savings have to be made but why is it always frontline staff who produce tangible products who get the chop? I’m sure Newsquest has its share of suits in useless “analysis” (clicks-counting), admin, and “senior executive” roles (i.e.. those with little actual specific talent), like all the other publishers, so how about sharing the pain? No, I didn’t think so.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 9:02 am
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    HTFP, you do a great job, but please don’t use that favourite corporate clone word “rationalisation” when talking about job cuts. The stuffed suits who are trashing our industry are constantly trying to inject disingenuous jargon such as this into the English language.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 9:50 am
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    Scrapping the web co-ordinator? Some mistake, surely? Everyone knows online and the limitless profits to be derived thence will be the salvation of us all.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:03 am
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    This might achieve many objectives for accountants and might even be imperative but it sure as Hell will not improve quality of local news. Anyone who thinks otherwise is naive.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:10 am
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    Really is a worrying time to be in regional press, specifically if you’re a ‘deputy’ something or other. So many groups are too heavy in the ‘manager’ depth that surely the more obvious and less damaging route would be to ascertain what some of those actually do or contribute to the business and move them on first.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:19 am
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    That mysterious warehouse full of editors is going to need an outhouse to accommodate the deputies.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:28 am
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    Two years from now, every newspaper in the world will have the same editor. Boris Fumble, he’ll be over the New York Times and the Bognor Tribune, as well as 3,420 other newspaper. He’ll have wires coming out of his head and a lifetime’s supply of beta blockers next to his bed.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:35 am
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    Steerpike has a firm hand on the tiller. I’m in the process of going for Digital Empowerment and Community Engagement Co-ordinator at our outfit and I want to feel secure. Failing that, I’m pretty handy with a Hoover and loo brush.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:41 am
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    Jeff Jones – you’re on the money bar one small detail: management won’t sign off the exes claim for wires and beta blockers……

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:41 am
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    The newspaper business reminds me of the hand loom weaver trade in the early nineteenth century. It too was doomed by changes in technology and public tastes. My advice is get out now when the economy is in an economic upswing and there are jobs available. The upswing is only temporary and, after the election, more doom and gloom will surely be with us.

    Below is the hand loom weavers’ lament.

    You gentlemen and tradesmen that ride about at will,
    Look down on these poor people. It’s enough to make you crill.
    Look down on these poor people, as you ride up and down–
    I think there is a God above will bring your pride quite down.

    chorus: You tyrants of England! Your race may soon be run.
    You may be brought unto account for what you’ve sorely done.

    You pull down our wages, shamefully to tell.
    You go into the markets and say you cannot sell.
    And when that we do ask you when these bad times will mend,
    You quickly give an answer, “When the wars are at an end.”

    When we look on our poor children, it grieves our hearts full sore.
    Their clothing it is worn to rags, while we can get no more.
    With little in their bellies, they to work must go,
    Whilst yours do dress as manky as monkeys in a show.

    You go to church on Sundays. I’m sure it’s naught but pride.
    There can be no religion where humanity’s thrown aside.
    If there be a place in heaven, as there is in the Exchange,
    Our poor souls must not come near there. Like lost sheep they must range.

    With the choicest of strong dainties, your table’s overspread
    With good ale and strong brandy, to make your faces red.
    You call’d a set of visitors–It is your whole delight–
    And you lay your heads together to make our faces white.

    And now, my lads, for to conclude, it’s time to make an end,
    Let’s see if we can form a plan that these bad times may mend.
    Then give us our old prices, as we have had before,
    And we can live in happiness and rub off the old score.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:42 am
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    What all papers need is a Common Spine.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 11:01 am
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    Deputies were the first to go at Trinity-Mirror – followed by editors in fairly rapid succession.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 12:19 pm
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    Tony Benn used a great analogy to describe the NHS as a rowing team with 8 cox’s steering and one person rowing. Same can be applied to some regional papers, no doubt those reading this can look around them and see many content harvesters and web editors. What this industry needs to make the boat go is a staff of reporters, photographers and someone editing. That’s all. Without this vision we’re all doomed.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 2:41 pm
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    Newsquest North London based in… err Watford, Herts.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 4:06 pm
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    Never been a better time to be a rootin’ tootin’ gum chewing Editor my lowly colonials. Parumpapumpum.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 4:10 pm
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    No Dick Minim…cuts do NOT have to be made but the Americans DO have to be told to stop being so greedy. Most of these cuts are caused by constant demands for higher and higher profits. It’s a little ironic that the biggest threat to the freedom of the Press comes from the proprietors themselves.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 4:12 pm
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    There’s nothing “fresh” about this cull. In fact all Newsquest senior management has to offer the industry is stale, out-of-date and increasingly desperate moves copied from other firms to save their own skins. As Oxford Snail suggests, the boat needs fewer passengers and more hands on the oars.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 4:23 pm
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    Newsquest are actually behind the curve when it comes to cuts, I went from Trinity Mirror to Newsquest and used to be amazed that they had photographers and a picture desk assistant. I remember thinking what fun a member of TM management would have in there with a red pen and a stack of P60s.

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  • April 27, 2015 at 5:13 pm
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    Could be worse…. could be (not) working for Johnston or Local World. “always look on the bright side of life”

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  • April 27, 2015 at 6:36 pm
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    I fancy a chat over a pint or five with Jeff jones and others of his ilk in the north west

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  • April 27, 2015 at 10:17 pm
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    Deep breath
    ……”Posts affected are those of deputy group editor, associate editor, editorial manager, group sports editor, deputy sports editor, group features editor, deputy features editor and web co-ordinator.
    Under the proposals the two existing deputy group editors, associate editor and editorial manager would be considered for a new role of production editor.
    The group sports editor and deputy sports editor would be considered for a sports content editor position, while the group features editor and deputy features editor could apply for the features content editor position…”
    So that’s all clear then

    Is this for real or is it part of a Yes Minister script
    No wonder they’re off loading deputies and assistant content associate blah blah blah
    I’m confused just reading it

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  • April 28, 2015 at 10:27 pm
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    Nesquest. Owned by Gannett. Shareholders loaded. Milk everyone else dry. Thats the way the economy works.

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  • May 19, 2015 at 4:39 pm
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    …..and God bless “Tiny” Tim who looks stressed in that pic of him.
    The boy’s apparently certainly done well but let’s have a minute’s silence for those papers he’ll oversee. Sure he’ll do his best but it all sounds grim for what were once proud papers bedded into their areas and with circulations which have no doubt dipped by many thousands. Some no doubt are now thinner, filled with frothy rhurbarb stories and hard news stuff not followed up. Recent examples I’ve seen are reports of fires badly damaging houses but no real follow up with names of householders, their quotes and how they’ve now been affected. Just expanded hurried items based on what fire service handed out. My old editors would have taken me and others out to be shot for low on fact reports. The end is nigh…..

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