Reshuffle at Archant in London

HoldtheFrontPage is reporting today that Archant is cutting back ten trainee reporters' posts to six across a series of its weekly titles in London , with each of the existing trainees having to compete for their jobs.
Archant London declined to respond to requests for a comment about the trainees' jobs, but in an internal memo seen by HTFP, the company says the reduction in size of the majority of titles and the number of change pages being produced has resulted in a need for fewer personnel within the news team.
In a separate move within Archant London, Tim Cole is stepping down after nine years as editor of the Willesden and Brent Times, which will now come under Ham and High editor Geoff Martin. Cole is to become deputy to Malcolm Starbrook, who has been made group editor of the East London Advertiser, Hackney Gazette and The Docklands.
Update: Archant disputes some of the HTFP story. It says three trainee reporters have decided to leave and one other is transferring to the East London office to fill a vacancy.
The company said it will be recruiting two trainee reporters to fill current vacancies in Archant London.