JPI Media is set to make 22 full-time equivalent staff redundant across its specialised community news reporting teams.
The jobs affected are based in regional hubs covering multiple titles and are tasked with filling community pages with content. JPI Media, which took over Johnston Press in a pre-pack administration deal last year, said staff could apply for voluntary redundancy until 15 March.
Staff were told that the planned redundancies were the result of cuts to newspaper paginations earlier this year, according to Press Gazette.
NUJ national organiser Laura Davidson said: “At the very time when they hoped new owners would be investing to replace posts lost over consecutive years from hollowed out newsrooms, the axe has fallen once again.
“These cuts will do nothing to address rock bottom morale and persistently high stress levels. Our members at JPI Media will be getting together urgently to discuss these damaging proposals.”
JPI Media has control of more than 200 newspapers, including the i. Last month the company announced it was reviewing its operations in Harrogate and Sunderland, which could lead to the offices there being closed.
