Cornish journalist leads county job cuts fight

Journalist Stuart Fraser has rallied Cornish MPs to join a campaign to fight cutbacks at Northcliffe's weeklies in the county.
Fraser, a sub and columnist, wrote to Lord Rothermere, chair of Northcliffe Media’s owner Daily Mail and General Trust, protesting against cuts at Cornwall and Devon Media, publishers of weekly titles the West Briton, Cornish Guardian, Cornishman and North Devon Journal.
The letter was copied to Cornwall’s five MPs. One, Andrew George, replied that the letter “raises very serious issues and reflects concerns which I have commented on in Parliament” and said he would be seeking meetings with CDM management to “follow up the points raised in your letter”. Another, Colin Breed, said: “All the Cornish MPs very much support your views as in rural areas like Cornwall local media is vital.”
According to the NUJ, six journalists at CDM were among 38 staff to face redundancy. Stuart Fraser faces redundancy himself.
He said: “My letter to Lord Rothermere pointed out that with £317m in profit last year, £56m paid to shareholders, and an encouraging interim report for this financial year with profits exceeding expectation, DMGT can easily afford to treat its employees with the same concern and generosity it shows to its shareholders.
“It is very encouraging that our Cornish MPs are prepared to stand up for journalism.”