The British media landscape is experiencing yet another shake-up as Reach, the publisher behind national and regional newspapers like the Mirror and the Express, announces a new wave of job cuts and editorial changes. Despite previous assurances that redundancies were over for the year, the company is now moving forward with a restructuring plan that will significantly impact its flagship titles.
Sunday Express editor among departures
At the heart of these changes is the departure of David Wooding, the editor of the Sunday Express. Wooding, who joined the title in August 2022 after a stint at the Sun, is leaving as part of a broader move to dismantle the remaining dedicated Sunday Express editorial team. This shift aims to create a unified, seven-day operation across the Express titles.
Express editor-in-chief Tom Hunt communicated the rationale behind the redundancies in an email to staff on Friday, emphasizing the need to progress towards a “single-team approach.” Hunt outlined his vision for the Express, where every reporter and editor can upload content to the website, and there is no segregation between print and digital teams.
As part of this, we will be moving to working across seven days and so there will no longer be a dedicated team for the Sunday Express.
– Tom Hunt, Express editor-in-chief
Leadership changes and consolidation
The departure of David Wooding follows a string of high-profile exits at Reach, including the Daily Mirror editor Alison Phillips and the group editor-in-chief Lloyd Embley. These changes come as the publisher grapples with the challenges of a rapidly evolving media landscape and the need to adapt to a digital-first approach.
Hunt has indicated that he will announce his new leadership team in the coming weeks, signaling further consolidation and streamlining of editorial roles. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase online revenues and stabilize the profitability of Reach’s print titles, which CEO Jim Mullen has warned could become loss-making within five years.
Broken promises and industry upheaval
The latest round of job cuts comes as a surprise to many, given Mullen’s earlier commitment to a redundancy-free year following the culling of nearly 800 roles in 2023 – the biggest annual job cuts in the newspaper industry in recent history. This reversal underscores the precarious state of legacy media organizations as they navigate the transition to a digital-first model.
The changes at Express Newspapers are emblematic of the wider upheaval in the British media industry, as publishers struggle to adapt to shifting consumer habits and the dominance of online platforms. The move to a seven-day, single-team approach reflects the need for greater agility and flexibility in content production and distribution.
Uncertain future for print media
As Reach continues to restructure its operations and shed jobs, questions remain about the long-term viability of its print titles. While the publisher is investing in its digital offerings and seeking to diversify its revenue streams, the decline in print circulation and advertising remains a significant challenge.
The departure of experienced editors like David Wooding and the consolidation of editorial teams may also raise concerns about the quality and distinctiveness of the publisher’s output. As the lines between print and digital blur, and resources are stretched thin, maintaining high journalistic standards and serving diverse audiences could become increasingly difficult.
Ultimately, the changes at Express Newspapers are a stark reminder of the profound shifts taking place in the media landscape. As legacy publishers grapple with the economic realities of the digital age, tough decisions and painful adjustments are inevitable. The question is whether these short-term measures will be enough to secure a sustainable future for Britain’s storied newspaper brands.
As the industry continues to evolve at a breakneck pace, one thing is certain: the role and shape of traditional print media will never be the same again. The challenge for publishers like Reach is to find a way to honor their journalistic heritage while embracing the opportunities and demands of the digital frontier. The fate of titles like the Express, and the journalists who bring them to life, hangs in the balance.
