Archant Anglia newspapers: Jobs at risk

Twenty four jobs have been put at risk in Norfolk and Suffolk as Archant Anglia plans to share more content across its newspapers.

Six editorial jobs could go in Norfolk and four in Suffolk, where 50 journalists would continue to work on titles including the Ipswich Star.

A further 14 jobs could go in Suffolk as the company plans to move all its production work to Norwich.

The company said the changes would make it more "flexible and efficient".

Archant runs four daily newspapers and 19 weekly titles in Norfolk and Suffolk, including the East Anglian Daily Times, the Norwich Evening News and Eastern Daily Press.

Tim Dawson, of the National Union of Journalists, said staff at the East Anglian Daily Times had been "shell shocked" by the announcement.

"The number of people working there has been squeezed and squeezed over the years and the prospect of significant job cuts is a bitter pill to swallow," Mr Dawson said.

"Little by little it diminishes the product, which runs the risk of them disappearing all together which would be desperately sad."

On Tuesday Archant announced that profits had fallen by almost 40% last year and it could potentially have a £13m tax bill to pay.

Archant Anglia managing director Johnny Hustler said: "Archant Anglia, like many media businesses, continues to face extremely challenging trading situations.

"It is important we do all we can to reduce the cost of producing our newspapers, while retaining as many front-line reporting staff as possible."

The company said no offices would be closed as a result of the plans, which staff are being consulted on.