Global Radio has asked nine web editors to reapply for two jobs, as part of a series of cuts (an unspecified number as yet) across the group.
In January around 40 of its online and interactive staff were axed.
“A motion of no confidence has been passed in a senior Trinity Mirror executive by journalists in Newcastle,” reports HoldTheFrontPage.
“National Union of Journalists members at ncjmedia met yesterday to discuss last week’s departure of regional MD Steve Brown.
“The NUJ chapel passed a resolution saying it had no confidence in the ability of Trinity Mirror Regionals MD Georgina Harvey to lead the company.”
“The fast-shrinking newspaper business set a new standard for job insecurity in the last couple of weeks. Winning your profession’s highest honor does not mean you get to keep your job, and neither does taking a bullet while at work,” writes Richard Perez-Pena.
While Perez-Pena focuses on the US industry – citing the example of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Paul Giblin who had been made redundant in January – the same story is seen in the UK: Northcliffe Media made the Newspaper Society’s digital team of the year redundant earlier this year.
This stat from an Agence France-Presse (AFP) report (via Expatica) on the Spanish journalism industry: since June last year, 2,221 journalists from 30,000 in the country have lost their jobs. Around 350 more are expected soon, the report goes on to add.
The Spanish goverment is stepping in to help the industry, the report added, though the exact measures have not yet been made public.
There is a potential for direct state aid, the Spanish Federation of Journalist Associations (FAPE) has said.
Missed this release from the American Society of News Editors (ASNE) detailing the results of its annual employment survey in the US daily newspaper industry.
Figures from last year suggest a loss of 5,900 newsroom jobs at daily newspapers – a drop in journalists of 11.3 per cent.
In contrast, the 2008 survey suggests 2,300 newsroom journalists were working online-only – and increase of 600 from 2007.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is itself not immune from the current downturn and has announced the need to cut four posts, as part of plans to save the union £500,000 a year.
National broadcasting organiser, Paul McLaughlin, will take voluntary redundancy, and be replaced by Sue Harris, who currently handles the magazines, books and PR sectors.
One admin position in Ireland is to go and the role of research and information organiser.
The latest update to the MEN Media / National Union of Journalists negotiations, is given in a joint statement from MEN Media / NUJ.
MEN NUJ mother-of-chapel, Judy Gordon, told Journalism.co.uk:
“Our chapel is pleased to have saved five jobs under threat at the MEN, but bitterly disappointed that 11 of our journalists will still be made compulsorily redundant, along with 18 volunteers, five other editorial compulsories and 35 colleagues from the weeklies who have opted to go. It’s going to be hard to pick up the pieces of these massive changes, but we are determined to do the best we can for those who are leaving, those who remain and those weekly staff who will be joining us at Deansgate in the future. We have great faith in our journalism and believe the Greater Manchester public does too.”
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NatMags has confirmed the departure of Hearst Digital managing director Alex Ballantyne and group agency sales chief, Stuart Flint, as part of layoffs that will reportedly affect half of the publisher’s digital operation.
We bid farewell to our fellow media reporters at Press Gazette, unless, as Roy Greenslade hopes, a buyer comes forward (again).
We haven’t produced our own coverage, as there has been more than plenty – with insider perspective – elsewhere. We would, however, like to wish the editorial team at Press Gazette the very best of luck in the future with whatever they go onto do. We’ve enjoyed meeting Press Gazette team – past and present – at events, and being kept on our toes when we’re covering the same stories.
Here’s a round-up of the coverage in links:
Please do add any others of note in the comments below.
Newly added:
Parent firm the New York Times Company will close the Boston Globe unless staff unions agree to pay cuts and pension scheme changes, according to reports.
An ultimatum was delivered to union leaders last Thursday.
The company needs to save $20 million from The Globe.
Update: But, says Newsosaur’s Alan Mutter, reports of the Globe’s demise are exaggerated.