AROUND 30 jobs are expected to be axed at The Scotsman group, following – say publishers, Johnston Press – “an organisational review… to improve operating efficiency in the long term interests of the business, whilst maintaining our competitive position in the market”.
In a memo to staff, managing director, Michael Johnston, says the areas affected by a risk of redundancy are classified advertising sales and display advertising administration; advertising supplements and special reports; editorial production and newsdesk administration; newspaper sales merchandising and distribution supervision; pre-press; and IT.
“Every effort will be made to minimise the impact of these proposals on those at risk of redundancy, including voluntary severance and redeployment,” says Johnston.
At the same time, it is being proposed that one of the papers in the Scotsman stable – the Edinburgh Evening News – is to be published, Monday – Friday, as a single edition each day, as opposed to several.
The Saturday version of the paper is already a single edition. The proposal is being described as being “in line with changes elsewhere in the UK evening newspaper market”.
Also, there’s to be new production deadline, of 8.30am. It will mean that most newsagents and retailers will receive their papers earlier than at present.
It is feared one editorial redundancy may be the result of the planned switch.
