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.”
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