An internal memo obtained by How-Do was sent to staff by regional managing director Chris Hughes, and it lists the newspapers that will cease publication if the restructuring goes through:

     

It's the latest in a series of cuts announced by Newsquest over the last few days.

Further proposals see the Leigh Journal transferred from Bolton Group into Guardian Series. This will affect 12 people in editorial and advertising sales.

Newsquest plans to centralise planning for all the north west titles in Blackburn, although news gathering “in most cases” will not be affected.

However, it will have a knock-on effect for editors and sub editors.

Cheshire

Sales positions in Wirral and Sale are also under threat as the publisher considers creating a regional classified operation serving the Guardian Series, Messenger and Wirral Globe.

They are also planning to shut the Knutsford office.

Lancashire

The Chorley office is likely to close with staff being transferred to Blackburn. The email states that “further efficiencies” are being considered in Lancashire and Kendal, which could mean more potential cuts.

Regional Operations Manager, Barry Pearson is also in consultation with Newsquest about a possible redundancy.

Hughes

How-Do contacted Newsquest for a comment, but nobody had responded by the time of publication.

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Comments (27)

17  By westpenninewoman , on 14-12-2008 12:04 Can't see the Citizen being miss by locals. They are all ads and very little news content.    Newsquest have spent too much time trying to crush small local publications and now it's all come home to roost.    Not nice for the staff though Report

18  By Mike Gibson , on 16-12-2008 14:05 Big shock in Lancaster as The Citizen was doing quite well, had a stock of regular advertisers and according to staff was trading at a profit. With two paid and one freesheet it leaves Johnstone Press as the monopoly provider. Surely time for a good online offering? Report