Around 13 jobs are set to be lost at regional publisher Reach plc after the company launched a consultation over commercial writer roles.

HTFP has learned that 31 commercial writers and editors – journalists who write copy for paying clients – are currently in consultation over potential redundancy.

Reach has declined to put any figures on the numbers affected, but HTFP understands the company is looking to lose around eight writer roles and five editor roles from the overall team.

The move follows on from the voluntary redundancy scheme affecting story editors who work in print production across the group’s regional titles that was launched last month.

So far, this has resulted in redundancy terms being agreed with six story editors across Reach’s Midlands division, which publishes seven regional daily titles.

The company has previously declined to provide a further breakdown of how other regions are affected by the plan, launched in response to a reduction in pagination across the group.

It is understood that the group of staff affected by the latest consultation comprises nine commercial editors and 22 commercial writers.

A Reach spokeswoman said: “As we continue to transform our business to respond to changes in the market, we are restructuring in some areas and investing in others as needed.”

Other recent changes at Reach have seen around 150 regional journalists redeployed to work across multiple titles in a single digital newsroom and the introduction of individual page view targets for reporters.

And last week it was announced that Ed Walker, previously the boss of Reach’s hyperlocal platform In Your Area, would be involved in spearheading the network newsroom project in his new role of interim audience and content director.