The London Evening Standard is axing more than a dozen editorial roles, affecting a number of veteran senior staff.
Sarah Sands, the editor of the Evening Standard, emailed staff on Thursday about the redundancies “in order to reach savings targets”, according to Media Guido. The number affected is understood to be about 14.
Those affected are understood to include veteran feature writer Nick Curtis, long standing literary writer Katie Law, arts editor Fiona Hughes and Matthew Beard, transport editor and former London Olympics editor.
Sands sent what proved to be an unfortunately-timed all-staff email about the redundancy process on Thursday afternoon.
The news of the cuts, and who has been affected, reached many as they returned from a 1pm service at St Mary Abbots church near the Evening Standard’s offices in Kensington, west London, for the Charlie Hebdo journalists killed in Wednesday’s terrorist attack.
Doug Wills, the managing editor of the Evening Standard, Independent and Independent on Sunday, sent a follow-up email to staff on Thursday evening acknowledging the difficulty of the timing.
“It has been a difficult day today,” he said. “Particularly as it has been amid 24 hours of huge news stories. May I thank everyone for their sensitivity, consideration and outstanding professionalism. I thought it might be helpful for me to be able to tell you that I have spoken with all those personally affected by the staffing proposals. Thank you again for all your help.”
Sources point the finger for the cost cuts at the financial burden of the London Live local TV station – like the three papers owned by Alexander and Evgeny Lebedev - and the expansion in distribution of the newspaper to 900,000 copies to match its broadcast reach.
However, the company said that the cost savings are being made to allow for increased investment in the transition to digital at the Evening Standard, and also to increase the appeal of its distribution operation.
“The Evening Standard has begun a consultation process with a small number of editorial employees whose roles might be at risk of redundancy,” said Steve Auckland, group chief executive of ESI Media. “Like every business, we constantly review our operations, and these planned changes will enable investment in growth areas of the Evening Standard and its distribution.”
He added: “The Evening Standard is profitable and these changes will maintain and improve that position. We will continue to enhance our business to provide a free quality publication to two million Londoners every day.
Auckland is expected to explain the rationale behind the cuts to staff later on Friday.
Laura Davison, national organiser at the National Union of Journalists, indicated that the Evening Standard should not bear the brunt of cuts if there are issues with other parts of the group.
“The Standard has touted itself as a success story but its lifeblood is the journalists who deliver high quality coverage daily for London’s readers,” she said. “Cutting experienced, dedicated editorial staff and looking at cheaper alternatives is not the answer. The company should commit to a genuine meaningful consultation process to look at different options including their investment plans and to make sure overstretched staff are not asked to pick up the pieces.”
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