Newsquest, the publisher of local and regional newspaper titles across the country including The Northern Echo in Darlington and Bradford’s Telegraph & Argus, has announced plans to outsource its national advertising sales.
Posting on its website, the group says its has “commenced a period of consultation with staff in its national sales function regarding a proposal to transfer this activity to Mediaforce.”
All Newsquest’s National Media Sales employees will transfer under TUPE regulations. Chris White-Smith, Managing Director at NMS, will be leading the project and if implemented, will join the Mediaforce management team.
Chief Executive Henry Faure Walker,said: “If implemented, this proposal opens up increased revenue opportunities and greater efficiencies by integrating our existing agency sales talent into the largest regional media sales house in the UK. We believe this move will not only benefit Newsquest but also the industry as a whole, by creating a more joined up national sales proposition for agencies and national brands to buy regional media across the UK.”
The group has been re-structuring its editorial departments over many months. In December the company announced that it is to merge the editorial operations of two of its Yorkshire titles: The Press in York and the Telegraph & Argus in Bradford.
Previously it has seen strike action from staff in the North West and the North East over its moves to take production to a centralised subbing hub in South Wales.
