Eight jobs could go as Trinity Mirror merges newsrooms at two Local World titles in Devon

Trinity Mirror is merging the news teams at two regional titles, with the loss of up to eight editorial jobs.

The bi-weekly Exeter Express & Echo and the Tiverton-based Mid Devon Gazette are among 83 print titles purchased by Trinity Mirror from Local World in November in a deal which valued the business at £220m..

It blames the job losses on “changing commercial and editorial market conditions”.

Express & Echo editor Jon-Paul Hedge left the company in January and both titles are now edited by Patrick Phelvin.

The two titles’ websites will merge under the Express & Echo brand while the print edition of the Express & Echo will retain its bi-weekly publication frequency and the Gazette will remain weekly.

A Trinity Mirror spokesperson told Press Gazette: “We have today announced a proposed restructure of our newsrooms in Mid-Devon and Exeter to continue the progress we have made in becoming digital-first and help revitalise our print products.

“We estimate there could be up to eight editorial redundancies, and a formal consultation process has begun.

“The decision to implement these changes has not been taken lightly and is based on a need to adapt to the changing commercial and editorial market conditions, and provide a structure that gives longer term sustainability.

“We remain committed to delivering the content our audience wants, when they want it, in the region via our print and digital products.”