Six photographer jobs at risk across Newsquest’s Essex titles

Six photographers are facing redundancy at Newsquest titles in Essex.

Four full-time posts, including three in the north of the county and another in the south, are at risk along with two part-time photographers.

It is understood Newsquest will keep no more than three full-time equivalent (FTE) positions in its photographic department.

A spokesperson said the publisher was “unable to comment further” while consultations were ongoing.

The move comes days after an announcement that up to six additional editorial jobs were under threat in Essex. Colchester Daily Gazette editor James Wills is said to be among those at risk.

An announcement to staff from Newsquest Essex regional editor-in-chief Chris Hatton, reported by Hold the Front Page, said: “The company continues to face difficult trading conditions with sustained pressure on the profitability of the business.

“The company continues to look at all functions and disciplines across the business and where appropriate implement reorganisations or consolidations of functions so as to deliver efficiencies and reduce costs.

“Due to a need to reduce costs and in a continuation of consolidation efficiencies, a review of the photographic department has been carried out and as a result the company is proposing to reduce the number of photographers across Essex to no more than three FTEs which therefore places all photographic employees at risk of redundancy with effect from 31 August 2016.”

Newsquest produces 14 titles in Essex, including weeklies the Southend Standar, Thurrock Gazette and the Basildon, Billericay and Wickford Recorder.

Daily titles in the county owned by the publisher include The Echo – with an average circulation of 20,349 copies – and the Daily Gazette, which has an average circulation of 10,545 copies, according to ABC figures to the end of December.

Topics in this article : Newsquest