Metro plans up to 30 job cuts

LONDON - Free newspaper Metro is to make up to 30 job cuts as its scales back its regional arts and entertainment coverage, according to reports.

PaidContent:UK is reporting sources as saying the paper will drastically cut its Metro Life sections in Metro editions published around the UK.

The pages are produced by journalists at Metro's offices in Manchester, Glasgow, Newcastle, Birmingham and Bristol.

Those whose jobs are at risk have been called to meetings in London, Manchester and Glasgow today.

Metro said in a statement: "Metro today announced a series of potential redundancies from its regional editorial operations. The redundancies are part of Metro's cost reduction plans, in response to the challenging economic conditions we face.

"We will be consulting fully with employees affected by this announcement."

The job cuts at Metro Life follow an announcement last Thursday that News International is to axe thelondonpaper with the loss of 60 jobs.

The Metro network is produced by a number of different UK publishers including Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Metro in London and jointly produces titles in some UK cities with rival publishers.

Trinity Mirror publishes the Metro in Newcastle as well as Glasgow, Birmingham, Newcastle, Liverpool. The Cardiff Metro is jointly published by Associated and Trinity Mirror. Guardian Media Group publishes the Metro in Manchester.

Earlier this month Associated's Metro London recorded an ABC figure of 732,337, down 1.65% year on year. Nationally, Metro was down in July by 1.97%, year on year, to 1,331,806.

The Daily Mail & General Trust, which owns Associated Newspapers, last month reported that total underlying ad revenue at its national newspapers arm fell 15% year on year.

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