View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

News International cuts 60 jobs – but ‘not editorial budgets’

By Owen Amos

News International is cutting 60 jobs across its four national titles – but savings will be reinvested into editorial, Press Gazette understands.

The cutbacks will be made mainly in production desks on The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Times, and the News of the World.

It is thought each paper will lose 15 staff each, with casual shifts also being cut. There are 3,300 staff at News International.

Editors are talking to staff this afternoon – but Press Gazette has been told the titles’ subbing desks will remain separate.

James Murdoch, News Corporation chairman and chief executive in Europe and Asia, emailed staff this morning to warn of an ‘efficiency and effectiveness’drive.

Last week his father, Rupert Murdoch, reacted to News Corporation’s 42 per cent operating profit decrease in 2008 by giving notice of ‘rigorous cost-cutting and reducing headcount where appropriate”.

Management are adamant today’s move is a ‘streamlining of processes”, rather than a cost-cutting exercise.

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

They also say they will make a significant investment in training and ‘up-skilling”.

But the National Union of Journalists – who aren’t recognised by News International – queried how the ‘reinvestment’would work.

‘I don’t understand what it means,’said national organiser Barry Fitzpatrick.

‘They’re not saying there are 60 alternative jobs, they’re saying it will be put into editorial resources.

‘But that’s a lot of training – you could be talking, what, £3m?”

In 2008, according to News Corporation’s accounts, News International’s advertising revenue fell 10 per cent, but profit remained steady – thanks partly to increased circulation revenue, caused by cover price rises.

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