Newsquest MD planning newsroom meet

THE managing director of the Herald group of newspapers is understood to be meeting staff today, on the newsroom, to answer questions about the future of the titles.

Yesterday morning, Spike reported that, at The Herald alone, almost a quarter of staff had applied for voluntary redundancy being offered by owners, Newsquest, as part of a budget cut estimated to be between two and three million pounds.

And, with more voluntary redundancy applications believed to have been submitted since, Tim Blott has – it seems – agreed to face what will likely be a highly-charged event.

Voluntary redundancies have also been submitted by staff at sister titles, the Sunday Herald and the Evening Times, plus from the group’s magazine division.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists is producing a petition condemning the proposed budget cut.