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Rupert Murdoch Desmond

70 jobs to go at Star and Express but all four titles will survive

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By Noel Young, Correspondent

March 24, 2012 | 2 min read

About 70 editorial posts out of almost 500 at Richad Desmond's four newspapers are to go as part of a "voluntary" cost-cutting drive expected to save about £5m.

Cuts will be "voluntary"

Rumours of a seven-day operation at the Express and the Star, a la Sun, came to naught.

But Northern & Shell management told staff on Friday that it is also seeking to make savings on "bought-in material". Sources suggest there will be more pooled content across the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday, said the Guardian.

There is expected to be a reduction in Scottish pages and external suppliers will be cut back.

The Daily Star Sunday lives on however. Executives at Northern & Shell had questioned its long-term viability in the face of News International's return to the Sunday market.

But National Union of Journalist representatives were told on Friday that the future of all four titles was safeguarded.

The voluntary job cuts will come from N&S bases in London, Glasgow and Broughton, with the capital taking the brunt of losses of about 60% of the total.

Of the 71 staff posts to be cut, 41 are full-time and 30 make up the equivalent shifts of "long-term regular casual positions".

Under the proposals, London is in line to lose 27 staff positions and the equivalent of 18 long-term casuals ; Glasgow will lose 12 staff and six casuals; and Broughton will lose two staff and six casuals.

Rupert Murdoch Desmond

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