Dawn Bowden MS, Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism
The current economic climate is having a significant impact on industries across Wales and the UK, with the print media experiencing particularly difficult times.
The recent announcement by Reach Plc about job losses comes as a result of changes made to the way the organisation operates to address the challenges facing the industry. Reach Plc has said these changes will help sustain its local, regional and national titles as it continues to provide stability to the wider organisation.
Unfortunately, in Wales, this means a small number of editorial roles are at risk of redundancy.
The Welsh Government appreciates the invaluable role journalism plays in informing and engaging local communities across Wales and in supporting democracy in Wales. It is therefore disappointing to see the further loss of journalist jobs from Reach Plc’s Welsh titles.
My officials remain in dialogue with representatives of Reach Plc, via one-to-one discussions and the Wales Public Interest Journalism Working Group, to continue to identify and discuss the potential support we can provide to help ensure Wales has a sustainable, fit-for-purpose print media sector.