Newspaper group cutting 54 jobs

The Eastern Daily Press is one of Archant's 50 titles

More than 50 jobs are being cut by media group Archant at its newspapers in Norfolk that include the Eastern Daily Press and the Evening News.

Archant, which recently cut jobs at other newspapers in East Anglia, made the announcement to staff at a meeting.

The cuts will hit its 179-strong editorial staff in Norfolk.

The company said the cuts - which have angered union leaders - come after falls in advertising revenue prompted by the economic downturn.

Miles Barter, campaigns officer for the National Union of Journalists, criticised the decision.

'Already over-worked'

"It is an attack on the ability of journalists to provide a proper service for the community," he said.

"We would argue that the newspaper staff are already over-worked."

But Stephan Phillips, managing director of Archant Norfolk, said the newspaper sector was "not immune to the general downturn in the economy".

"We have to make tough decisions about staffing levels like many other businesses," he said.

"We have reduced staff numbers in our other departments such as marketing and advertising sales recently and editorial has not been subject to any major review in the last two years.

"We regret we now have to look at our editorial numbers and will enter into a consultation period with the staff involved."

He explained there has been a �2m investment in a "new editorial system", which was set up last year.

"It will provide a new way of working, enabling greater online interaction with our readers and it will improve productivity across all our titles," he said.