Rumour reported of Herald staff and their leave

THERE are unconfirmed reports that the publisher of The Herald newspaper is to ask staff to take a week’s unpaid holiday in a bid to cut costs.

Says the Press Gazette, management and editors at Newsquest, UK-wide, have already agreed to the proposal and will be asking rank-and-file staff to follow suit.

MediaGuardian says much the same.

But, adds Press Gazette, the move is unconfirmed, “as chief executive Paul Davidson – the only Newsquest executive allowed to talk to the press – is out of the office until [tomorrow]”.

Newsquest publishes 17 daily and more than 200 weekly paid-for newspapers. magazines and trade titles in the UK.

Recently, Newsquest’s parent company, Gannett, asked its US staff to take the unpaid leave, known as ‘furloughing’.