View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
October 17, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 9:27pm

Fourteen journalists to go at The People

By Press Gazette

Fourteen editorial staff at The People are being made redundant as the Trinity Mirror-owned Sunday title continues to lose sales at a rapid rate.

Job cuts are being made across the main paper and on its TV magazine Take It Easy.

Most of the jobs to go are journalists with “one or two” expected to be administrative positions.

The People, which has taken successive circulation drops throughout the year, currently employs around 100 editorial staff.

A Trinty Mirror spokesman said the People's cuts were not a part of the company's review of all its buinesses.

The review, announced in August followed a downturn of operating profits, which fell 14.3 per cent year on year in the six months to July 2006 to £110 million on turnover down 2.2 per cent to £566.6m.

In an email to staff MGN managing director Richard Webb said: "In an incredibly competitive market The People has been battling to hold its readership and has successfully maintained its position as one of our key titles.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

"However, the marketplace has become increasingly difficult, driven by an unprecedented downturn in advertising.

In order to preserve The People's long-term competitiveness we need to make sure the resources we direct into the newspaper are used to maximum effect.

"The editorial and commercial management teams have been working to identify areas where we can make savings, which unfortunately means we are proposing a number of editorial redundancies on The People, the closure of its office in Ireland and the merger of staff from Take it Easy magazine into the main paper.

"In total there are likely to be in the region of 14 redundancies.

The Editor is meeting with heads of department today to outline the proposals in detail. Consultation with individuals who are affected begins immediately.

"We appreciate that today's announcement will be unsettling for staff on The People but it is imperative we act now in order to secure the title's position in the Sunday market.

In September 2004 16 journalists were made redundant at the People in order – Trinity Mirror said – so the paper would have a bigger budget to spent on marketing. In 2002 the People cut 12 jobs.

ABC circulation figures for September show the people down 10.13 per cent year-on-year to 822,014. This was the worst year-on-year drop of any UK national newspaper.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network