Dorset Live to shut down as publisher slashes jobs

The trade union, which represents working journalists in the South-West of England has reacted angrily to the decision by the UK’s biggest regional newspaper publisher to “slash and burn” jobs, offices and titles in the company’s third round of redundancies this year.

Reach plc, which publishes a host of papers, including the Bristol Post, and news websites across the region, including Bristol Live, Somerset Live and Devon Live, has announced plans to make 450 people redundant nationwide, including 320 journalists.

Eight journalists in the South-West have been told by the company that their jobs are at risk, while the company’s new offices in central Bristol are set to close before the end of this month.

Reach proposes to axe yet more journalists at Gloucestershire Live and Somerset Live where, say colleagues, staffing was already stripped to the bone. The company also plans to shut down down down the Wiltshire and Dorset Live operations altogether, while Devon Live is to merge with Bristol, 120 miles away.

James Garrett, chair of the South-West England branch of the National Union of Journalists said, “Reach seems to have lost any idea of how to run a news operation. This is the third time this year it is making the people who provide the content for its papers and websites pay for its failings.”

Staff were told by regional head Ed Moore, ‘People will know where they stand by Christmas.’

Garrett said, “Six hundred of the company’s most valuable staff will have lost their jobs in the space of just 12 months. Meanwhile, chief executive Jim Mullen appears to be insulated from the chaos he has created around him.

“Still, with a salary of over £4 million a year perhaps it’s unrealistic to expect him to understand what his staff are going through yet again.”

Garrett continued, “Perhaps the most shocking news is that a company which once sold over 100,000 copies of its newspapers, the Bristol Evening Post and Western Daily Press and Bristol Observer, every day from vast offices on Temple Way, Bristol, is going to shut its new offices, leaving it without a base at all.”

That said, the new offices on Baldwin Street were seen by staff as a white elephant.  By the time the office got an internet connection, towards the end of 2022, there were hardly any staff left to work in the huge office.  Fed up, many staff resigned and were not replaced. 

The NUJ urged the company to come clean with its staff and readers/ users about the future. Reach has told staff, it will “bring all digital and print content teams together and create a combined production and video ‘centre of excellence’ across editorial and commercial departments.”

Garrett said, “Great – tik-toks from the courts or council meetings – that’ll really underline the role and value of a free press in a democracy!”

Garrett noted, “Mullen had the cheek to tell staff, ‘What will not change is our commitment to quality journalism.’ What he wasn’t able to tell the handful of staff who will remain, working remotely from home, is how they are supposed to continue to produce quality journalism. Time’s up, Jim!”                                                            

James Garrett

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