BIRMINGHAM MAIL - YESTERDAY'S NEWS TODAY?

25-07-2007

Embattled hacks at the Birmingham Mail are fighting a rearguard action to prevent their paper being printed the day before it's published.

NUJ sources believe that four managers looking to buy the paper from its current owners Trinity Mirror with the backing of a private equity firm want to halt the printing of "live" on the day editions to cut costs.

The Coventry Telegraph, which is part of the same group, already operates in this way.

It’s though that Barclays Equity And Exponent will be named as the new owner of the Post and Mail just before Trinity Mirror’s interim results are announced in August.

NUJ regional organiser Chris Morley is also concerned that the £190 million cost of the business could provoke the new owners into a savage round of cost cutting, which might impact of the final salary pension scheme.

He said: “Nobody at the Post & Mail will shed a tear over the exit of Trinity Mirror. But we don’t want our members to be pitched into an even more extreme cost-cutting regime which will damage their hard-fought reputation for journalistic quality and credibility.

“At a time of unprecedented scrutiny of the private equity industry, it is vital the prospective buyers of Trinity Mirror’s Midlands operations give credible assurances on preserving quality and stick with formula that is clearly bringing success.

“If they want to have a business to sell on at a decent price in the future, they cannot afford to take a slash and burn policy on businesses which are widely regarded within their communities in the West Midlands.”

More at www.nuj.org.uk