Trinity Mirror is to cut 16 editorial jobs by centralising production and photographic work on its network of 26 local papers in London and the South East.
Trinity Mirror Southern mainly comprises free newspapers and covers geographical territories stretching from Stansted, 35 miles north-east of London to Woking, 30 miles south-west of the capital.
The company said in a statement: “These actions have been taken in response to the current challenging trading conditions but also reflect Trinity Mirror’s ongoing development as a multi-platform media organisation.”
It said that approximately 16 editorial roles will be cut and that the company is committed to achieving as many of these redundancies as possible on a voluntary basis.
The publisher said that all the titles will now have just one centralised subbing and production “hub”.
It said this will be responsible for managing all print and online copy and images from journalists and “user-generated sources”.
Trinity said there would also be one centrally managed photographic team covering all the titles.
Journalists will be given laptops, mobile phones and new software “to enable remote working which will provide increased opportunities to spend more time generating content and engaging with the audience”.
Trinity Mirror Southern regional managing director Simon Edgley said: ‘These measures reflect the senior management team’s determination to do the best thing for the business overall and to respond pragmatically to the exceptional economic circumstances that we are now facing. They are essential for our long-term interests.’
Trinity Mirror Southern comprises the following titles:
Brent & Wembley Leader
Harrow Leader
Ealing Leader
Uxbridge & Hillingdon Leader
Uxbridge Informer
Ealing Informer
Gatwick Skyport
Heathrow Skyport
Stansted Skyport
Buckinghamshire Advertiser Series
Bucks Examiner Series
Ealing Gazette Series
Uxbridge Gazette Series
Harrow Observer Series
Hounslow Informer Series
Hounslow Borough Chronicle
Kensington Informer Series
Fulham Chronicle Series
Staines Informer
Richmond & Twickenham Informer
Kingston Informer
Walton & Weybridge Informer
Woking Informer
Surrey Herald & Staines News
Essence Magazine
The Wharf
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