View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
September 16, 2015

Newsquest plans to cut photographers, subs and editors at newly-acquired Berkshire titles

By William Turvill

Two editing positions, five photographers and two sub-editors have been put at risk of redundancy at Newsquest in Berkshire.

The editor of the Reading Chronicle has resigned from her position four months after the title was taken over by Newsquest. The title, along with seven others in Berkshire, was previously owned by Romanes Media Group.

Newsquest has proposed that the editor positions on the Chronicle, Slough Observer and Bracknell News be replaced by one editor-in-chief.

This editor-in-chief would, under the plans, report to Ian Murray, who as well as editing the Southern Daily Echo is group editor across Newsquest Berkshire and Hampshire.

Staff have also been informed of a proposal to replace five full-time photographers in Berkshire with one chief photographer/picture editor.

Newsquest has also proposed that after its Knowledge system, which enabales remote editing, is installed in the area, two sub-editor positions are made redundant. A chief sub-editor in the area will remain.

Lesley Potter has edited the Chronicle since the summer of 2014 when her predecessor resigned after the newspaper linked the Hillsborough disaster with hooliganism.

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

The Chronicle recorded an average weekly circulation of 5,528 in 2014, a figure that included just over 1,000 free copies, according to ABC.

At the end of last year, Trinity Mirror closed the print edition of the Chronicle's rival, the Reading Post, which recorded an average circulation in 2013 of 12,389 – more than half of which were free – according to ABC.

Following this closure, the Reading Chronicle's front page (pictured) said: "We've got the town covered."

The editors of the Slough Observer and Bracknell News are Tim Cole and Alan Manicom.

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