FT Job Cuts Aid Multi-Media Plans

The Financial Times is set to make around 50 of its staff redundant as part of its “new newsroom” project that will restructure editorial operations.

The newspaper, which shed 15.7% of its readership year on year in the last NRS survey, says the restructure will give it “one of the most integrated multi-media newsrooms in the world”. The changes will affect commissioning, reporting, editing, and production.

Changes will include creating unified newspaper and website news desks, setting up an FT Interactive content team, teaching writers new multimedia skills, merging paper and online production departments and streamlining the newspaper’s editorial teams.

The multi-media news operation will use a new system installed over the past year that enables web and print pages to be published from the same platform.

Lionel Barber, editor of the Financial Times, said: “We start from a position of strength as a market-leading international newspaper with a highly respected website and other emerging online channels.

“The FT has long been a pioneer in forging an integrated online and print newsroom, with web-first publishing and a unified editorial department. Now we must take the next step. Our plans will help us to create an editorial organisation fully equipped to meet the challenge of the digital age. The plans will shape the news operation into one of the most advanced multi-media newsrooms in the world.”

NatMags recently revealed its plans to launch a new online division, and Johnston Press, owner of the Scotsman, said it would integrate its 70 newsrooms into multimedia operations with reporters filing both video and written stories (see NatMags To Extend Reach With New Online Division).

Financial Times: 0207 873 3000 www.ft.com