More job cuts have been revealed in the regional press today with five photographers going in Wolverhampton and Newsquest cutting yet more journalists.
Five out of 12 photographers have been put at risk of redundancy by Midlands News Association, which publishes the UK’s top selling regional daily – the Express and Star.
The NUJ said it fears a more widespread restructure is on the way and it noted that MNA made an operating profit in 2014 of £3.6m on turnover of £38.1m.
The union's Northern and Midlands organiser Chris Morley said: "These are dark days for an industry that used to celebrate the great gifts that quality pictures brought to illuminate the daily news agenda."
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Further job cuts have been announced on the Clyde and Forth Press weekly newspaper titles, which are part of the Romanes Group bought by Newsquest in May.
In an announcement, the company said that new technology was enabling it to work more efficiently.
A new system of group editors and content editors is to be created for titles which include: the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald, Ayr Advertiser, Cumnock Chronicle, Irvine Times and Largs & Millport Weekly News.
According to Holdthefrontpage there will be net reduction of one editor and the loss of two photographers. Two other editors who have already left are not to be replaced.
The company said it plans to replace its staff photographers with freelances and “user generated content”.
The move follows similar cutbacks on the Berkshire-based Romanes titles which saw nine jobs placed at risk of redundancy in September.
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