Telegraph Sheds More Staff In Redundancy Drive

The Telegraph Group has continued its redundancy drive, with 15 journalists reportedly forced from their jobs yesterday, with a further 75 having already opted to take the company’s voluntary redundancy package.

According to the Guardian the company held interviews with those journalists to be made redundant after they were chosen through a system assessing their performance and punctuality.

The move follows the Telegraph Group’s recent announcement of a “major re-shaping”, in which the firm warned of impending cost cuts, including the loss of around 90 journalists, in order to raise funds for an ambitious £150 million investment in new production facilities and improved colour printing (see Telegraph Makes 90 Editorial Staff Redundant In Reshaping).

It is believed that over 100 of the company’s journalists applied for the redundancy package, eager to claim the severance payment of around 150% of their annual salary. However, it is understood that several established writers were turned down as they were deemed too valuable to lose.

The Guardian claims that, amongst those who have left the company, are Weekend deputy editor Sinclair McKay, letters editor Sandra Barwick, books editor Kate Summerscale and feature writer and former diary editor Charlie Methven. Several support staff are also believed to be leaving the company.

The Daily Telegraph has proved successful in attracting young and upmarket audiences in recent months, with data from the National Readership Survey revealing increases of up to 50% in the much sought after 15-24 age group in the six months to September 2004 (see Telegraph Sees Growth In Young Readers).

Telegraph Group: 020 7538 5000 www.telegraph.co.uk

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