The Birmingham Post set to go weekly
In what could be the first in a possible trend for daily newspapers, The Birmingham Post looks set to go weekly.
The Midlands businesses are currently running at a forecast loss in excess of £6m for 2010. Those losses could have reached £10m had the group not make redundancies over the last year.
However, despite this the group feels it needs to take further action and is looking at ways to reduce the cost base while protecting titles and revenues in the most appropriate way going forward.
The consultation will review options for all areas of the businesses and include two specific areas for discussion. The first is the future publishing model of the Birmingham Post and whether it should remain a daily title or change to a weekly publication.
The second is on the Birmingham Mail, where consultation will cover the option of printing the title overnight.
These consultations are at an early stage, no decisions have been made and no business cases for change have been developed.
Georgina Harvey, Managing Director, Trinity Mirror Regionals, said: “The economic situation facing these businesses is extraordinary in both its severity and impact.
“I feel strongly that everyone involved in these businesses – staff and advertisers - are fully aware of these challenges and that we can have a genuine and open dialogue about all potential options that can help to return these businesses into profit.
“With this goal in mind we are actively seeking to achieve a timetable of consultation meetings with staff and union representatives.
“We have difficult choices to make but together we will ensure the future viability and survival of our great Midlands businesses.”
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