In a meeting of the Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday (6 May), representatives from Trinity Mirror, Newsquest, Johnston Press and the Scottish Daily Newspaper Society told MPs their businesses needed such regulatory help because they have been hard hit by the recession.
Mark Hollinshead, managing director, Trinity Mirror, Nationals, which publishes The Daily Record and the Sunday Mail, told MPs newspaper publishers need a relaxation in the regulation regime or "there will be nothing left to regulate".
However, the publishers were challenged by MPs who questioned whether the businesses making staffing cuts are still profitable.
Newsquest, publisher of the Herald and Times in Glasgow, has come in for particular criticism for making staff members reapply for their jobs.
Tim Blott, regional managing director, Newsquest (Herald & Times), told MPs the Herald and Times was still profitable, but profits were down year on year.
The executives said the Trinity Mirror papers and Johnston Press' weekly titles are still making a profit, but Johnston Press' flagship title The Scotsman will not make a profit this year.
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