NUJ to axe four posts as membership falls

The NUJ is to cut four posts as part of a bid to save £500,000 a year, with broadcasting organiser Paul McLaughlin taking voluntary redundancy, MediaGuardian reports today.
McLaughlin will be replaced in the broadcasting position by Sue Harris, the magazines, books and public relations organiser. The NUJ's research and information organiser position is to be axed. Two administration jobs will also be cut, while one other post due to fall vacant will not be filled. One administrator in Ireland has already also opted for voluntary redundancy.
Background to the cuts is a fall in membership as a result of journalists being made redundant across the media. More than 900 jobs have been lost in the regional press alone. NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear is quoted on MediaGuardian as saying: "We are not immune to what is happening in the industry."
Dear revealed on his blog in January: "Even with just a 2% year on year membership fall for the next three years the union would have a shortfall of £500,000 per annum by 2012. It means the NEC is having to look hard at how we can save money."
The crash in property prices stopped plans by the the NUJ to sell its London HQ and move in with broadcasting union BECTU.