Guardian to cut 50 editorial staff

Who said the Guardian was immune to cutbacks? Guardian News & Media is looking to cut about 50 editorial staff by the end of the year as part of a plan to reduce editorial costs by £10m, MediaGuardian reports this evening.
It says management told staff working across the Guardian, the Observer and guardian.co.uk today that it planned to reduce the headcount of the editorial department from the 850 who moved into its new Kings Place headquarters in December, to fewer than 800 by the end of this year.
GNM said it hoped the reduction could be achieved through freezing current vacancies, not replacing departing staff and continuing its voluntary redundancy scheme. GNM said it wanted to save at least £10m in its editorial department in the financial year to 31 March 2010.
The company said it would cut back on casual staff, contributors, general expenses, and paying for pictures and illustrations.