Amid an ongoing dispute over Newsquest plans to move sub-editors from the North East to Wales, the first title in the group has moved its production to Newport.
This week's edition of the Yorkshire Gazette and Herald was produced out of Newport and managing editor Steve Hughes said it was a great success.
Earlier this month Newsquest journalists based in Bradford, Darlington and York went out on strike for 24 hours in protest at plans to move 25 sub-editor jobs to a new subbing 'super-hub' in Newport, Wales.
As part of the move to Newport, Newsquest titles are adopting the PCS digital content management system which has been developed by the Claverley Group – publisher of the Wolverhampton Express and Star. So far no subbing jobs have moved from the North East to Wales.
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Newsquest York managing editor Steve Hughes: “We are delighted with the result. The Gazette is the first title in Yorkshire and the North East to move to the new system and the first issue looks great.
"It’s a really well thought out system which is fully integrated with the web and allows our journalists to work much more efficiently, doing what they do best which is getting out and about and covering local news and sport.
“Part of the production process is now carried out at the central unit but all our reporters, photographers and sports staff are based on the patch and all key editorial decisions are made locally. There’s a been a lot of nonsense said and written about our papers being edited in Wales which is mischievous and simply not true.”
Jo Kelly, editor of the Gazette, said: “I’m very pleased with today’s paper and don’t think our readers will notice any change. However, now that production is fully integrated with the internet, our reporters will have more time to concentrate on writing and covering events in the communities we serve”.
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