Huge Job Cuts At Emap Ahead Of Group Results

Up to a fifth of Emap Consumer Media’s editorial staff are said to have been made redundant in the run up to the group’s trading results release next week, according to reports in the trade press.

The job losses are a surprise addition to the 30 publishing roles that were scrapped last month, and continue a restructuring process that started last April with the axing of dozens of commercial directors.

At least three editorial jobs are thought to have been cut at Grazia magazine, whilst the men’s monthly arena looks to have lost four editorial staff, leaving just 11 from a team of 17 in 2006.

The culling of Emap’s editorial teams marks the latest phase in the publisher’s plans to save £20 million in annual costs across the group, and forms part of an efficiency review conducted by Boston consulting group.

At last month’s MediaTel Group ‘Future of Consumer Magazines’ seminar, Paul Keenan, chief executive of Emap Consumer Media, admitted that changes would see the company cease a number of processes, which would lead to some jobs being taken out of the business. He added that the new shape of things would see the editor as key to the new processes that develop (see Emap Job Losses As Magazines Look To Unleash Talent).

The company last week announced that it was creating three digital director roles, for its radio, specialist and lifestyle divisions in order to accelerate its multimedia strategies.

Working with the leadership teams in these businesses, Emap says that the new roles will help develop and execute the digital strategy and deliver the profit and loss digital targets across the radio, specialist and lifestyle businesses (see New Digital Director Roles At Emap).

Emap is expected to make an official announcement when it announces its trading results next week. Insiders expect the company to divest some of its businesses and cull under-performing consumer titles.

Emap: 01733 568 900 www.emap.co.uk