Five journalism jobs could go at Johnston’s Yorkshire titles

Five journalism jobs are under threat at Johnston Press subsidiary Yorkshire Weekly Newspaper Group.

Two sports journalists, a photographer, a deputy news editor and a digital assistant could loses their jobs following a shake-up affecting the Wakefield Express, Hemsworth and South Elmsall Express and Pontefract and Castleford Express.

A letter sent to staff last week said the following changes were proposed:

The centralisation of the YWNG sports reporting into a team based in Wakefield, comprising a group sports editor, a group deputy sports editor and four sports reporters. As a result of this there would be a loss of two sports specific roles.

The re-modelling of the YWNG photographic structure to a centralised format which will result in the loss of one photographic position.

Changes in digital responsibility for key roles within YWNG which will result in the loss of the YWNG digital assistant role.

It is proposed to relocate the editorial staff from the office in South Elmsall to the office in Pontefract, and cease the reception service. The resulting change in workflow would result in the loss of the deputy news editor at Pontefract.

Johnston expects the consultation process to be finished by 1 June.
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