The Scottish editorial operation of UK press agency, the Press Association, is understood to have been spared from plans to shed 30 posts from the organisation.
Say reports, PA is said to be currently consulting on nine redundancies, while a number of staff – thought to be around 20 – have already left through voluntary redundancy and natural wastage.
Sources close to PA told allmediascotland this morning that no jobs are affected in PA’s Scottish operation, which is headquartered in Glasgow. The Scottish editor, Victoria Mitchell, is on holiday this week.
A PA spokesperson told media industry publications she was unable to confirm which types of jobs were under consultation but said the quality and breadth of editorial coverage would not be affected.
She said there had been a small reduction in the number of dedicated video journalists but PA remained committed to the development of its video services.
It is believed that, for lower paid PA staff, a pay freeze is to be lifted.
The spokesperson is quoted, saying: “In common with most media companies we have been affected by recent structural and cyclical changes within the sector and we are taking sensible steps to ensure our businesses are operating as efficiently as possible while retaining the quality of our services.
“As part of a cost reduction programme, a number of staff has left the group through a combination of natural wastage and voluntary redundancy.
“We are also carrying out staff consultations with regard to a small number of possible compulsory redundancies. Around nine positions are currently under consultation out of a total workforce of 1,300.
“We are confident that the quality and breadth of our editorial coverage will be unaffected. With more than 200 journalists across the UK and Ireland, the agency’s wire service is well-resourced and, as our most recent survey confirmed, highly regarded by our customers.”
“We also remain fully committed to the continuing development of our video services. Although there has been a small reduction in the number of dedicated video journalists, in line with our long-term strategy we are continuing to equip our reporters and photographers with the skills and technology to file video where appropriate, in addition to text and photos.”
PA Group is a private company with 27 shareholders, most of whom are national and regional publishers, including News International, Trinity Mirror, United Business Media and Daily Mail & General Trust.
