MEN Media denies job losses to its marketing team
The Manchester Evening News has rushed to quash rumours that its marketing operation has been halved.
MEN Media’s director of corporate communications, Elaine Darbyshire, said the speculation referred to a restructuring that took place in 2005. It was rumoured that the need for advertising and promotion had diminished since the MEN had moved to free distribution, resulting in less need for a sizeable marketing department. MEN said there had also been no cut in their marketing budget.
Meanwhile, MEN Media is believed to have won the pitch to publish Network Rail’s proposed new daily pm/evening freesheet which will be distributed at Piccadilly station, to compete with the Metro. Tender submissions were due at the end of June and an announcement was expected late last month.
It is understood that News International passed on the tender because the anticipated footprint of around 10,000 copies a day wasn’t commercially viable. A News International insider said a separate launch in Manchester would not be ruled out.
Network Rail said a full and proper announcement would be made in the next few days.