Reach plc has revealed plans to make 30-50 staff redundant as it moves to a centralised sports reporting structure.
The publisher of national brands the Daily Mirror and Daily Express, as well as local titles including the Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo, informed staff on Wednesday of the planned redundancies as a minimum 30-day consultation period began.
The move to a streamlined model, outlined in the email from head of sport Jake Murtagh, marks an end to dedicated sports teams on individual regional titles and will see the number of sports content editors from 27 to 16. Some writers are also expected to lose their jobs.
“The changes will mean removing existing duplication from the current set up,” wrote Murtagh.
The National Union of Journalists said that more than 100 people are at risk of redundancy. Although surviving staff will continue to work from regional offices, they will be required to work across titles around the country.
“The NUJ is deeply concerned by the impact these cuts will have on staff workload and morale. Either fewer staff will be expected to do more work, or Reach is seeking to use AI to fill the resulting gap,” warned NUJ general secretary Laura Davison.
“The replication of content across Reach’s titles will mean less localised coverage and less media diversity. Ultimately, this results in a poorer product.
“The distinction between different Reach titles will blur with replicated articles less tailored to readers’ interests. An AI mimic would be no substitute for skilled journalists.
“Reach is a profitable company – and this is down to journalists’ hard work. Instead of cutting jobs, Reach should invest in its staff and quality journalism.”
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The NUJ claimed the number of dedicated correspondents covering Liverpool, Manchester United and London clubs will be halved.
The Reach NUJ Group Chapel said in a statement: “Our members are dismayed by the company’s announcement of planned sweeping redundancies among its sport journalists.
“The elephant now in the room is what role does AI have in the company’s thinking that such a pared-down structure may be possible? This is something very much on our agenda to determine.”