Jobs are under threat after an independent publisher decided to cease print publication of five of its newspapers.

Highland News & Media has announced it will no longer publish print versions of the Highland News, North Star, Turriff Advertiser, Inverurie Advertiser or Ellon Advertiser from the end of this year.

The Highland News will be incorporated into the Inverness Courier, and the North Star into the Ross-shire Journal.  The other three titles will close altogether with content to be published on the Grampian Online website.

The moves mean one post is set to be made redundant in the publisher’s Turriff newsroom, while two full-time equivalent roles are anticipated to be lost in its sales support department.

In a memo seen by HTFP, HNM publishing director Steve Barron told staff: “Highland News & Media is transitioning to what will eventually be a fully digital publishing model. But print remains important, and we will treat it with professionalism and care”

Steve, pictured, said more than 10pc of the publisher’s readers are now opting for digital subscriptions instead of printed newspapers, 50,000 have become registered users and 20,000 have signed up to receive email newsletters.

He added: “The challenge is to accelerate these numbers whilst responsibly managing our print brands.

“There is undoubtedly a strong appetite for the content we publish – we can see that from the success we have had in acquiring digital subscribers – but to reach our ambitious goals we need to put even more focus on our readers’ digital experience.

“Not only are the titles mentioned above unprofitable, they also swallow an enormous amount of resources and focus which would be better deployed to our digital platforms.

“In the Inverness newsroom there will be no reduction of the current headcount. Anticipating this change in strategy, and therefore taking a decision not to fill any vacancies throughout the summer, means we are able to avoid any editorial redundancies directly associated with this change.

“In the Turriff newsroom I anticipate a reduction of one role. This is necessary due to removing the requirement to layout and curate three titles each week.

“In the sales support department I anticipate a reduction of two full time equivalent roles.

“This reduction is necessary due to a downturn in classified advertising, fewer incoming enquiries, as well as the decision to reduce the number of titles we publish and the associated reduction in workload.

“A consultation process has begun with affected employees and whilst they can’t be ruled out, we will work to try to avoid compulsory redundancies by considering redeployment, voluntary redundancies and vacancy management.”

The move comes after HNM recently revealed across-the-board cover price increases for its print portfolio, with Steve citing the “rising cost of newsprint, energy and transport” for the decision.

The changes will come into effect from 1 January, and Steve said staff who are impacted have been informed.

HNM has stressed news will continue to be produced by journalists living and working in the area they cover.

ABC figures for 2021, the most recent available, showed that the Highland News had an average circulation of 853 and the North Star’s stood at 533. No data was available for the other titles affected.

Steve said the incorporation of the Highland News into the Inverness Courier, and the North Star into the Ross-shire Journal was “the right thing to do” given their near identical geographical coverage.

“This will mirror our established digital strategy of Highland News content feeding into the Inverness Courier website, and North Star content feeding into the Ross-shire Journal website,” he added.

“We remain committed to covering the communities of Turriff, Inverurie and Ellon, and the wider Aberdeenshire area. Content local to these areas will continue to be published on Grampian Online website with relaunched social media channels for each title.

“We are confident that these changes in strategy will allow us to cover both areas in more depth and deliver an enhanced experience for our readers online and in print.”

The staff memo can be seen in full below.

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Email to all staff from Steve Barron

As we discussed at the recent business updates, we will be taking immediate steps to rationalise our print portfolio. This will allow us to put more resources and focus on our digital platforms – which feeds into our long term transformation strategy. This decision has been discussed in detail at a senior level and there is universal agreement that this is the right thing to do to help us achieve our digital goals.

What are the changes?

From 1st January 2023 we will no longer publish print versions of the Highland News, North Star, Turriff Advertiser, Inverurie Advertiser or Ellon Advertiser.

The Highland News will be incorporated into the Inverness Courier, and the North Star into the Ross-shire Journal. With near identical geographical coverage this is the right thing to do for our business and our readers.This will mirror our established digital strategy of Highland News content feeding into the Inverness Courier website, and North Star content feeding into the Ross-shire Journal website.

We remain committed to covering the communities of Turriff, Inverurie and Ellon, and the wider Aberdeenshire area. Content local to these areas will continue to be published on Grampian Online website with relaunched social media channels for each title.

We are confident that these changes in strategy will allow us to cover both areas in more depth and deliver an enhanced experience for our readers online and in print.

Why are we making the changes?

Our business is accelerating in a digital direction. Already more than 10% of readers who pay for our content are opting for a digital subscription rather than purchasing a print copy, 50,000 online readers have become registered users and 20,000 have signed up to receive email newsletters – progress well beyond where we expected to be at this stage. The challenge is to accelerate these numbers whilst responsibly managing our print brands.

There is undoubtedly a strong appetite for the content we publish – we can see that from the success we have had in acquiring digital subscribers – but to reach our ambitious goals we need to put even more focus on our readers’ digital experience.Not only are the titles mentioned above unprofitable, they also swallow an enormous amount of resources and focus which would be better deployed to our digital platforms.

What are the implications?

In the Inverness newsroom there will be no reduction of the current headcount. Anticipating this change in strategy, and therefore taking a decision not to fill any vacancies throughout the summer, means we are able to avoid any editorial redundancies directly associated with this change.

In the Turriff newsroom I anticipate a reduction of one role. This is necessary due to removing the requirement to layout and curate three titles each week.

In the Sales Support department I anticipate a reduction of two full time equivalent roles. This reduction is necessary due to a downturn in classified advertising, fewer incoming enquiries, as well as the decision to reduce the number of titles we publish and the associated reduction in workload.

A consultation process has begun with affected employees and whilst they can’t be ruled out, we will work to try to avoid compulsory redundancies by considering redeployment, voluntary redundancies and vacancy management.

All colleagues who are impacted have been informed.

Will we be making further changes?

Highland News & Media is transitioning to what will eventually be a fully digital publishing model. But print remains important, and we will treat it with professionalism and care. Our portfolio is constantly under review. Decisions around our publishing model will be made at the right time and with the aim of achieving our digital ambitions, whilst ensuring we remain on a profitable footing.