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Johnston Press's Yorkshire closures: 'the paper's an institution' Johnston Press's Yorkshire closures: 'the paper's an institution'
(40 minutes later)
Local councillors and community leaders have lamented the loss of Halifax's only daily newspaper, as publisher Johnston Press also closes the local offices of its weekly titles in neighbouring towns Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Brighouse.Local councillors and community leaders have lamented the loss of Halifax's only daily newspaper, as publisher Johnston Press also closes the local offices of its weekly titles in neighbouring towns Todmorden, Hebden Bridge and Brighouse.
Johnston Press is to close the offices of the Todmorden News, Hebden Bridge Times and Brighouse Echo as part of its "platform neutral" reorganisation that will see more of a focus on digital content and the daily Halifax Courier switching to weekly publication from next month. Journalists from the three weeklies who are not made redundant are expected to be transferred to the Halifax Courier office.Johnston Press is to close the offices of the Todmorden News, Hebden Bridge Times and Brighouse Echo as part of its "platform neutral" reorganisation that will see more of a focus on digital content and the daily Halifax Courier switching to weekly publication from next month. Journalists from the three weeklies who are not made redundant are expected to be transferred to the Halifax Courier office.
MediaGuardian understands that nine editorial posts will be made redundant at the Halifax Courier group, across the daily and weekly titles, and about seven in Scarborough as part of the Johnston Press reorganisation.MediaGuardian understands that nine editorial posts will be made redundant at the Halifax Courier group, across the daily and weekly titles, and about seven in Scarborough as part of the Johnston Press reorganisation.
The Halifax Courier is one of five papers being turned from a daily into a weekly as part of a new "platform neutral" strategy outlined by Johnston Press on Monday. The other daily titles to go weekly are the Peterborough Evening News, the Scarborough Evening News, the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, and the Kettering-based Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.The Halifax Courier is one of five papers being turned from a daily into a weekly as part of a new "platform neutral" strategy outlined by Johnston Press on Monday. The other daily titles to go weekly are the Peterborough Evening News, the Scarborough Evening News, the Northampton Chronicle and Echo, and the Kettering-based Northamptonshire Evening Telegraph.
A spokesman for Johnston Press said that a "single-digit" number of jobs would be lost in Halifax, Scarborough, Peterborough, Kettering and Northampton. A spokesman for Johnston Press said a "single-digit" number of jobs would be lost in Halifax, Scarborough, Peterborough, Kettering and Northampton.
Several more of Johnston Press's 19 dailies are likely to be made weekly by the end of the year. Only flagship morning titles the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post are safe from the move.Several more of Johnston Press's 19 dailies are likely to be made weekly by the end of the year. Only flagship morning titles the Scotsman and Yorkshire Post are safe from the move.
Steven Leigh, the head of policy for the Mid-Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I'm sitting not a hundred yards from the Courier office in Halifax and I can tell you that it's a very sad day for all of us in the town. The paper's an institution and has been for years. Only last week they were telling us how they reported the sinking of the Titanic.Steven Leigh, the head of policy for the Mid-Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "I'm sitting not a hundred yards from the Courier office in Halifax and I can tell you that it's a very sad day for all of us in the town. The paper's an institution and has been for years. Only last week they were telling us how they reported the sinking of the Titanic.
"They've done well and fairly by us and we've always had something to say to them. I've no doubt that the weekly version will do its best, but there's bound to be a sense of loss. Times are changing and social media seem likely to take on a lot of the role played by newspapers in the past. You can't stop change, but an evening newspaper has always been a great asset to Halifax.""They've done well and fairly by us and we've always had something to say to them. I've no doubt that the weekly version will do its best, but there's bound to be a sense of loss. Times are changing and social media seem likely to take on a lot of the role played by newspapers in the past. You can't stop change, but an evening newspaper has always been a great asset to Halifax."
The National Union of Journalists has called for an urgent meeting with Ashley Highfield, the chief executive of Johnston Press, over the planned changes. "This is a bold strategy of Johnston Press at a time when new solutions are needed," said Barry Fitzpatrick, deputy general secretary of the NUJ.The National Union of Journalists has called for an urgent meeting with Ashley Highfield, the chief executive of Johnston Press, over the planned changes. "This is a bold strategy of Johnston Press at a time when new solutions are needed," said Barry Fitzpatrick, deputy general secretary of the NUJ.
"But Ashley Highfield must not lose sight of the fact that it will not succeed without quality journalism. If jobs are lost, this will happen. We need to know a lot more details. How will the weekly paper and seven-days-a- week daily digital output integrate and how will it affect the working practices of staff?" "But Ashley Highfield must not lose sight of the fact that it will not succeed without quality journalism. If jobs are lost, this will happen. We need to know a lot more details. How will the weekly paper and seven-days-a-week daily digital output integrate and how will it affect the working practices of staff?"
The scaling back of Johnston Press's presence in the Calder Valley towns around Halifax is increasing the move to digital media, according to locals.The scaling back of Johnston Press's presence in the Calder Valley towns around Halifax is increasing the move to digital media, according to locals.
Organisations have started to despair of reporters or photographers turning up at the events, from vegetable shows to protest meetings, which have been the bread and butter of local newspapers for years.Organisations have started to despair of reporters or photographers turning up at the events, from vegetable shows to protest meetings, which have been the bread and butter of local newspapers for years.
"It's very sad to hear the news about the Courier going weekly but with the best will in the world it's got very thin compared with the past," said Susan Press, a town councillor in Hebden Bridge and herself a freelance journalist. "It's the same everywhere, even with papers serving really big communities such as the Manchester Evening News." "It's very sad to hear the news about the Courier going weekly but with the best will in the world it's got very thin compared with the past," said Susan Press, a town councillor in Hebden Bridge and herself a freelance journalist. "It's the same everywhere, even with papers serving really big communities such as the Manchester Evening News."
The Halifax Courier has a respected tradition of thorough coverage, including even-handed treatment of major national controversies such as the affair of the Ridings school, which was branded the worst in England by outside commentators in 1996. Recent editors included a Sunday Times veteran, John Furbisher, who is now press officer to the Conservative group of MEPs.The Halifax Courier has a respected tradition of thorough coverage, including even-handed treatment of major national controversies such as the affair of the Ridings school, which was branded the worst in England by outside commentators in 1996. Recent editors included a Sunday Times veteran, John Furbisher, who is now press officer to the Conservative group of MEPs.
The Hebden Bridge Times is closing its office in the town where Sir Bernard Ingham, press secretary to Margaret Thatcherr, was once a cub reporter. The paper will continue to publish, including Sir Bernard's monthly column which usually denounces the state of the world. The Hebden Bridge Times is closing its office in the town where Sir Bernard Ingham, press secretary to Margaret Thatcher, was once a cub reporter. The paper will continue to publish, including Sir Bernard's monthly column which usually denounces the state of the world.
"People haven't been able to call in at the office with snippets for some time now," said Press. "And the people organising the gala opening for our Picture House, which Calderdale council has just handed over to the town in a community asset transfer, can't get coverage, even though Kay Mellor and Gaynor Faye are guests of honour." Those interested are increasingly likely to turn to the Hebweb, the flourishing local website of town news and views."People haven't been able to call in at the office with snippets for some time now," said Press. "And the people organising the gala opening for our Picture House, which Calderdale council has just handed over to the town in a community asset transfer, can't get coverage, even though Kay Mellor and Gaynor Faye are guests of honour." Those interested are increasingly likely to turn to the Hebweb, the flourishing local website of town news and views.
The clerk of Hebden Royd council, Jason Boom, said that the contraction of local papers, with the neighbouring Todmorden News also moving its journalists to Halifax, could only be bad news. He said: "There are so many organisations and initiatives in a community which rely on local coverage to sustain themselves and the work they do. Something else will have to fill the gap."The clerk of Hebden Royd council, Jason Boom, said that the contraction of local papers, with the neighbouring Todmorden News also moving its journalists to Halifax, could only be bad news. He said: "There are so many organisations and initiatives in a community which rely on local coverage to sustain themselves and the work they do. Something else will have to fill the gap."
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