The Sun has terminated the contracts of three photographers working in its Manchester office.
The trio had been taken on last April when the paper set up a Manchester base eight years after closing its last office in the city. Although they were never on staff, they had each been given rolling contracts, guaranteeing five days’ work a week and paid holidays.
It is understood that the photographers were given a week’s notice that their contracts would end towards the end of last month in a “cost-saving measure”.
Photography work in the north of England is now being commissioned by northern news editor Guy Patrick and deputy Richard Moriarty.
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Staff photographer Jim Clarke, who was in charge of assigning work to The Sun’s photographers, is now thought to be taking on more day-to-day jobs himself.
When the office, The Sun also took on four full-time reporters. It is not yet known whether any will be affected by similar cost-cutting measures.
A Sun spokesperson said: “We’re proud to be the UK’s only national newspaper with an office in Manchester. Photographers have only ever been used in a freelance capacity and there are no plans to change this approach.”
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