Regional newspaper publisher Newsquest has expanded its programme of photography layoffs, it is reported this morning.
Two more senior photographic roles have been axed as part of an ongoing review across the company’s North East and Yorkshire titles, according to HTFP.
In the latest moves, chief photographer of the Northern Echo, Richard Doughty, and deputy chief photographer Andy Lamb, have left the company following a review of the group’s titles in Darlington, Bradford and York.
The moves come after the group’s York Press announced the axeing of the role of picture editor and reducing the number of staff photographers from four to three.
Two staff photographers at weekly sister titles the Keighley News and Craven Herald, Bob Smith and Steve Garnett, were also made redundant as part of the review.
Newsquest is the latest of the regional groups to adopt a freelance model for photography
Last month, an unconfirmed number of photographers at Johnston Press titles in the North West and Yorkshire were believed to be facing redundancy.
The National Union of Journalists said that in Yorkshire there were moves to “cut all photographers working for the weekly titles,” so 6.5 posts will go through compulsory redundancy, with one new job being made available.
In the North West the department will be run mostly by freelancers, with just 3 staffers remaining to cover Wigan, Preston and Blackpool.
While in the North East, the Union said it believed that that the plan was to retain 2 permanent photographers for the Sunderland Echo, Hartlepool Mail and Shields Gazette, plus another 2 to cover the area from North of the Tyne to the Borders.
