30 jobs at risk in new Northcliffe shake-up

HoldtheFrontPage reports today that two of Northcliffe's dailies, the Western Morning News in Plymouth and the Western Daily Press in Bristol, are to merge their content desks and come under a single editor-in-chief as part of a wide-ranging shake-up which puts more than 30 jobs at risk.
Morning News editor Alan Qualtrough is to take over as editor-in-chief of the two titles, while Daily Press editor Andy Wright is to retire.
HTFP says: "The changes, which were announced to staff this afternoon, are part of a major restructuring of publisher Northcliffe's South West operation which will also see the creation of a centralised subbing hub in Plymouth.
"The new hub will be responsible for production of The Herald, Plymouth, the Herald Express, Torquay, and the Express and Echo, Exeter, with more than 20 sub-editing posts in Torquay and Exeter potentially at risk.
"However production of the Morning News itself will move to the existing subbing hub at Bristol, with content management for the Daily Press moving in the opposite direction to Plymouth. Also at risk are around 11 posts in Bristol, including three sports subs, two reporters and some specialist digital staff.
"Although the two titles will retain separate reporting teams, they will also undergo a redesign which will give them a similar look and feel."