Trinity Mirror staff could face fresh cuts

The publisher of the Daily Mirror and a number of regional titles, is bringing together its Scottish national titles, the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, with sister company Scottish and Universal Newspapers, which houses its Scottish regional titles, such as the Stirling Observer and Paisley Daily Express,  to create a new unit called Media Scotland.

The two businesses have around 630 employees.

Speculation around job cuts would hinge primarily on the commercial side of the business, as Media Scotland will, unlike before, offer a joint sell, selling advertising across the nationals and regionals.

The merger is likely to be completed within three months.

In June this year, Trinity Mirror moved to cut around 90 editorial jobs across the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, reducing its editorial headcount number down from 240 to 150.

Mark Hollinshead, managing director of Trinity Mirror Nationals, who will extend his responsibilities to include managing director of Media Scotland, said: "The creation of Media Scotland denotes the start of a dynamic new era in Scottish media. With our unique blend of national and local content, the combined reach of our portfolio of print and digital brands will deliver unrivalled coverage across the Scottish market."

As a result of the changes Georgina Harvey, managing director of Trinity Mirror regionals, will have a reduced role and will no longer oversee the Scottish regional titles just those outside of Scotland, which include the Manchester Evening News.

Among changes to the management structure for Media Scotland Trinity Mirror nationals editorial development director Allan Rennie is being appointed as editor in chief of Media Scotland.

Bill Steven, previously managing director of Scottish and Universal Newsapers, has been appointed business development director for Media Scotland.

As a consequence of the merger, Bruce Waddell, editor-in-chief of the Scottish Daily Record and Sunday Mail is leaving the business after eight years.

This article was first published on mediaweek.co.uk