THE publisher of The Scotsman is being warned to think twice before letting experienced journalists go after it opened up a voluntary redundancy scheme.
Last month, National World – whose titles include The Scotsman, The Yorkshire Post and The News Letter – announced that 46 editorial staff has been put at risk of redundancy, with 25 full-time equivalent roles being closed.
Initially, the company stated that 13 new roles would also be created as part of the restructuring process but later reduced this number to 12.
The company has now opened a voluntary redundancy scheme. However, while it appears to be open to all staff e-mails issued last week were sent out on a regional basis and signed by the relevant editorial and commercial directors for the area.
One such email cites the company's efforts to evolve its operating model and the recently concluded restructuring.
The message continues by saying the business and its staff need to "adapt at pace" and some people may find that "concerning", so a voluntary redundancy scheme is being opened to all staff until 5pm on 1 August.
The National Union of Journalists has condemned the company's handling of the recent restructuring and hundreds of National World journalists also backed a motion of no confidence in executive chairman David Montgomery and the board earlier this month.
A National World Group Chapel spokesperson said: "This latest announcement from the company has done nothing to restore confidence in the way the business is being run and has merely added to the sense that those at the top have no faith in their own strategy either. A business that believed in itself would not be inviting yet more experienced and long-serving journalists and commercial colleagues to walk out the door.
"Management has only just let go of a number of highly skilled journalists - from sports writers through to editors - whose combined experience amounts to hundreds of years.
"They did so without having properly communicated plans in place for when those key team members left, leaving the stressed and worried staff who remain with the impression that those at the top are just making it up as they go along.
"Voluntary redundancy schemes such as these inevitably appeal most to those with the longest service, risking a damaging drain on skills and a stripping out of support for lower paid junior staff who will be left with too few people to turn to for advice and guidance.
"Nobody doing the real work of building the audience for the company's titles is buying into the board's deluded belief that having even fewer experienced journalists is the path to sustainable long-term growth."
