The print operations of two regional dailies, Manchester Evening News and Huddersfield Daily Examiner are set to be merged into a single regional unit – with some job changes at both the sides. Reach plc has confirmed the restructure at the Manchester Evening News and Huddersfield Daily Examiner.

Both titles are to move to the ‘Live’ newsroom model pioneered at the Birmingham Mail last year whereby print and digital teams operate independently within the newsroom A Reach spokesperson said that it’s a restructure to accelerate their digital audience growth and consolidate their print publishing into a single regional unit. This is in line with the newsroom model they have implemented in Reach.

The restructuring will create a number of new roles and will lead to a marginal increase in staffing levels in Manchester, and a reduction of around seven roles in Huddersfield. It is anticipated that the new centralized regional print unit will be based in Manchester. 

The National Union of Journalists is seeing talks with management over the proposed changes which it fears will impact seriously on Huddersfield. Chris Morley, NUJ northern and midlands senior organizer, said: “Once again our members are literally in the ‘firing line’ with the continued rollout of Reach’s plan to separate digital and print operations. The union of Journalists will take up the issue seriously with the management and will find a solution out regarding job loss.