Free newspaper entrepreneur Chris Bullivant is interested in saving some of the eight Midlands weekly papers which the NUJ believes are under the threat of closure by owner Trinity Mirror, and would be prepared to join a consortium to buy the Birmingham Post.
The union says Bullivant, who launched the Daily News - Europe's first free daily in Birmingham - would like to take on titles that don't conflict with his in the Midlands and would seek to save the jobs of staff on the weeklies.
Bullivant was one independent publisher who broke ranks with the big regional newspaper companies by arguing against a relaxation of the merger takeover rules. He claimed it would lead to two companies dominating the regional press.
At one time Bullivant was involved in talks to buy the Birmingham Post and Mail company, before it was owned by Trinity Mirror.
Bullivant told the NUJ: "We would undertake to save the jobs of as many staff as possible, given that the newspapers were viable.
“We would even consider allowing Trinity Mirror to keep the contracts for printing and distributing the titles – which would have considerable benefit for their workforce
“I have always admired the Birmingham Post and felt that with better marketing it could be a real success. If anyone wants to join me in a consortium to take over the paper I would jump at the chance.”
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