View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
June 7, 2019updated 30 Sep 2022 7:53am

Job cuts to fall at The Sun after pre-tax losses triple

By Charlotte Tobitt

Redundancies are coming at the Sun in print and online after publisher News Group Newspapers more than tripled its pre-tax losses last year.

Staff were told this week of plans to “reduce complexity” in the editorial and commercial departments and have been asked to consider applying for voluntary redundancy.

The plans affect staff at the Sun, the Sun on Sunday and Sun Online, although it’s not yet clear how many job cuts will be made.

A News UK spokesperson said: “News UK is in the process of reviewing all areas of its businesses to ensure we are maximising resources and to enable future revenue growth.

“As part of this process, we need to reduce complexity and review all of our costs so that we can focus our investment on delivering high-quality editorial content to existing and new audiences.

“Staff at the Sun have been invited to apply for voluntary redundancy. We cannot comment any further at the current time.”

NGN more than tripled its pre-tax losses to £91.2m in 2018, according to accounts published in January.

Content from our partners
Unified solution offers publishers unrivalled print and digital efficiency
How DPG Media invested in print technology to help it focus on digital
How to make sure you are social media ready for job hunting

Its turnover fell 5 per cent year-on-year to £401.4m in the year to 1 July 2018, with an adjusted operating loss of £64.6m, down from a £7.7m loss on the year before.

The publisher blamed the fall in turnover on the “continuing industry-wide decline in print newspaper circulation in the popular segment”.

But it pointed out that total advertising revenue for the year increased for the first time in seven years with continuing declines in print “more than offset by growth in digital advertising”.

The Sun has the largest monthly reach of any UK national newsbrand across print and online and remains the UK’s best-selling daily newspaper.

The Sun’s circulation has fallen 8 per cent in the past year to 1,371,194 and the Sun on Sunday has dropped 9 per cent to 1,137,105.

Picture: Reuters/Toby Melville 

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 dose 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 Progressive Media Investments 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