View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
August 26, 2014

Seven jobs put at risk of redundancy as Trinity Mirror Midlands announces ‘digital-first’ plans

By William Turvill

Seven jobs have been put at risk of redundancy at Trinity Mirror Midlands, with the publisher announcing plans to adopt a "digital-first publishing process".

Following Trinity Mirror in the wake of changes in the North East of England and Wales, the Midlands titles will take up the "Newsroom 3.1" model by the end of September.

While the National Union of Journalists has condemned the job losses, Trinity Mirror said that five new roles have been created in the area to add to seven digital roles created there already this year.

According to the NUJ, jobs created include a "grassroots sports curator and a content curator" as well as football editor, sports writer and senior story editor positions.

The union said that in other areas where the 3.1 model has been adopted, more jobs have been created through investment. Press Gazette understands that changes in the North East have led to a net increase in journalism jobs.

Chris Morley, NUJ northern and Midlands organiser, said: 

The introduction of Newsroom 3.1 was known to be coming to the Midlands but it has not come with the same level of investment in journalism and journalists jobs as it has done elsewhere.

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

“Indeed, some of our members have been put at risk of losing their jobs and there is every risk that this might turn into compulsory redundancies. We will be working very hard to avoid that situation so that it does not cast a shadow over what our members feel overall are positive developments for how the newsroom operates.

“The first question our Birmingham chapel will be asking mangers is how they believe a four-newspaper newsroom will operate without a picture desk? We hope everything possible is considered for saving the skills and experience of journalists whose jobs have been put at risk.”

The "Newsroom 3.1" structure was unveiled in the North East in March, and was adopted across Media Wales in June.

Midlands editor-in-chief David Brookes said the changes, across the Birmingham and Coventry offices, will ensure further online growth for the titles.

In June, the Birmingham Mail website recorded 124,105 average daily unique users, up 162 per cent year on year, and the Coventry Telegraph recorded 92,047, up 304 per cent on June 2013.

“We have seen fantastic growth in our online audiences since the start of the year and Newsroom 3.1 will help us continue that success for years to come,” Brookes said.

“Many of our journalists are already multi-skilled and feel confident in producing digital content. The new newsrooms will allow them to become truly digitally-led, producing outstanding and engaging content for readers.”

Topics in this article : , ,

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