Media Wales to lose 14 more newspaper staff in Cardiff

Trinity Mirror is reviewing its business

A further 14 jobs are to go at Media Wales in Cardiff as part of an ongoing business review at the newspaper group.

The company, which publishes the Western Mail, South Wales Echo and Wales on Sunday titles as well as the Celtic newspapers, cut 22 editorial jobs over the summer.

Nine advertising posts, three editorial jobs and two photographers will go.

Journalists' union the NUJ called it a "very serious blow," coming so soon after the earlier job losses.

In a statement, parent group Trinity Mirror said: "As a result of an ongoing review of the business Media Wales has announced a number of proposed changes to its advertising department.... [and] to its editorial structure.

"These changes are expected to result in a reduction in advertising staff numbers of approximately nine .... [and] two photographers and three production staff."

'Serious blow'

Martin Shipton, chair of the Cardiff and south east Wales branch of the National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) said the pool of photographers would be cut from six to four.

Two online producers would also go, and one night production team leader post would be cut.

"This is a very serious blow and members of the NUJ are extremely unhappy that these further redundancy announcements have been made so shortly after the other ones," said Mr Shipton.

"In July, we lost 23 full-time equivalent posts. We thought that was the end of it for this year but out-of-the blue, this announcement has come.

"What we are very concerned about is what next year has in store for us," he continued.

"We've got into a situation where on an annual basis Trinity Mirror, which owns the company, makes very large announcements of what they call 'savings'. We just wonder what what is going to happen if next year they make a similar announcement".

"The trading at the moment is very poor. The state of the Welsh economy, as we all know, is very bad. Advertising has gone through the floor."

Mr Shipton said the NUJ would hold "intensive discussions" with the company about the implications of the redundancies.

"It would be very difficult to continue to provide the same level of photographic service as now."

Last week, the NUJ speculated in evidence to an assembly inquiry into the media that the Western Mail could become a weekly title.

This was denied by the newspaper company.