Express Newspapers to cut 30% of editorial jobs
Express Newspapers, the publisher of Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday is to cut around 200 of its editorial staff in its London, Broughton and Scottish offices.
Paul Ashford, group editorial director at Express Newspapers, sent a letter to staff today (23 July) breaking the news that the cuts were necessary to “secure the long-term future of the business in the context of increasing emphasis and expenditure on digital publishing”, the Guardian reports.
“I am sorry to advise you of these measures,” said Ashford. “However, we are faced with a challenging commercial environment in the print publishing market and it is vital to make such painful but necessary structural changes now to properly ensure the longevity of the business.”
Both full time and part time staff will be affected by the cuts, which will see total head count fall from 650 to 450.
The news comes after Northern & Shell owner Richard Desmond prepares to sell off Channel 5 to US broadcaster and MTV owner Viacom for a reported £450m. The media mogul bought the broadcaster for £103.5m in 2010.
Northern & Shell declined to comment on the cuts.