Worcester News and weekly titles to axe jobs

A company spokesman said the merger is being done to increase efficiency

The company which produces many of the local newspapers in Herefordshire and Worcestershire has announced up to seven editorial jobs will be axed.

Newsquest said it planned to integrate the editorial staff of seven titles including the Worcester News and weekly papers.

A company spokesman said the merger was to increase efficiency and to protect the future of the newspapers.

No-one will be asked to leave before the end of the year he said.

The company said it would try to cut the posts through voluntary redundancy and natural wastage.

'Increasingly distant'

NUJ regional organiser Chris Morley said: "These are just the latest in a number of cut backs around Newsquest as a group.

"I think what it shows is they're growing increasingly distant from the community they claim to be serving.

"It's damaging for the titles and the advertisers who use them."

Staff are being consulted on a proposal to create an integrated editorial structure for all the Worcester division titles - the Worcester News, Berrows Journal, Malvern Gazette, Ledbury Reporter, Evesham Journal, Pershore Journal and Cotswold Journal.

There is also a proposal to centralise all sports subbing across the region in the existing Worcester central subbing hub. This would affect the company's Stourbridge and Hereford titles.

It is envisaged that, if adopted, these proposals would see a total net loss of seven editorial jobs across the Midlands South region.