View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Trinity Mirror confirms outsourced subbing deal

By Dominic Ponsford

Trinity Mirror this afternoon confirmed that it has struck a deal with Press Association – subject to consultation – to outsource some sub-editing jobs on Mirror Group Newspapers to the agency’s base in Howden, Yorkshire.

The British Association of Journalists has been opposing the plan which comes as Trinity Mirror seeks to cut 140 staff jobs and 60 full-time casuals from the Daily Mirror, People and Sunday Mirror.

The BAJ has told Mirror management that MGN subs have ‘honed their skills to perfection over many years”, adding: ‘The idea that some inexperienced, young journalists on low wages in some subbing factory in the middle of Yorkshire can match the experience and ability of MGN’s subs and artists was nonsense.”

Press Gazette understands that MGN group managing editor Eugene Duffy has defended the PA outsourcing move to the BAJ, and told the union that the editors agree with him. According to the BAJ, Duffy told them: “They believe PA can offer quality at a lower price.”

Trinity Mirror said in a statement today: “As part of our previously announced plans to introduce multimedia newsrooms, Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) has today agreed that the Press Association (PA) will provide a number of production functions for the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and the People, subject to consultation with staff and their representatives. The outsourcing proposals with PA mean that a number of subbing functions will transfer to PA’s base in Howden, Yorkshire.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

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 does 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 New Statesman Media Group 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