NEWSPAPER publisher Reach is set to put hundreds of jobs at risk of redundancy.
According to the National Union of Journalists, the publisher will cut 192 editorial roles from its workforce and place 420 jobs at risk of redundancy.
It will a major blow to staff employed at Reach’s titles across the country, including the Daily Record and various regional papers across Scotland.
The proposed cuts come only two weeks after the conclusion of a redundancy process announced in January this year resulting in the loss of over 80 jobs, and a week after the publication of the company’s 2022 annual results.
Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, said: “Plans will come as a major blow to our members hard on the heels of recent redundancies.
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“As the company seeks to make good on its commitment to cut costs by £30 million this year it is our members who are yet again feeling the pain. Our objective in this process will be to support our members who have been buffeted every which way by the business since the new year.
“They have had enough of words and will be looking for tangible ways the company can mitigate the impacts of this announcement.
"Reach's focus has switched to launching a US operation, but it remains to be seen what this will deliver in reality and in the meantime more core jobs are being lost. While the cost-of-living crisis is impacting everyone, including Reach staff, it is the leadership that decides the strategy.
"We are a far, far cry from the period when Reach was investing in new local sites and expanding its footprint across the country, claiming to have created a sustainable model for digital-only local journalism."
A spokesperson for Reach said: “As we announced in January, with the current market headwinds we are facing we have had to take decisive action to review costs across the entire business including print production, energy sourcing, external suppliers, as well as, regrettably, the size of some of our teams.
“This work is ongoing as we review all aspects of our strategic transformation, to ensure we continue to deliver on our Customer Value Strategy and are well placed to benefit once headwinds subside. We will continue to work closely with all impacted teams and continue to be committed to delivering a sustainable business and a long-term future for our journalism.”
Last month, Dundee-based publisher DC Thomson confirmed that 300 staff would be made redundant and some titles axed completely as bosses tried to plug a £10 million funding gap.
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