View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Express Newspapers plans to lay off 70 more journalists

By Conrad Quilty-Harper

Richard Desmond’s Express Newspapers is understood to be planning a fresh round of lay-offs that could see up to 70 journalists axed.

Staff on four titles – the Daily Express, Sunday Express, Daily Star and Sunday Star – are affected by the publisher’s plan to seek a number of voluntary redundancies.

According to the NUJ, a consultation process has begun on the latest proposals and the company has invited all editorial workers to apply for voluntary redundancy.

A source told Press Gazette the lay-offs were part of a plan to make a saving of £3.5m a year.

Up to 26 non-editorial members of staff are also believed to be affected.

A total of 94 lay-offs are expected through redundancy of full and part-time staff and dropping of some casual contributors.

Express Newspapers is expected to make a formal announcement to staff later today.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Barry Fitzpatrick, head of publishing at the NUJ, said: “This latest proposal comes in a long line of proposals that have seriously impacted the ability of the editorial department to maintain quality, competitive titles.”

Last year it emerged that Express Newspapers was looking to axe more than 80 staff and casual journalists, mainly from the subediting departments of the Daily Express and Sunday Express, as part of a cost saving measure.

Express Newspapers declined to comment.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network