Mirror, Express and Star publisher Reach puts 600 jobs at risk in latest restructure

The publisher of the Mirror, Express and Star newspapers has put 600 jobs at risk in its latest plan to restructure as it seeks to adapt to changing reader habits and the impact of artificial intelligence.

- Mark Sweney

Reach, which also owns scores of regional titles including the Manchester Evening News, the Birmingham Mail and the Liverpool Echo, said yesterday it intended to make 321 editorial redundancies.

The overall number of jobs at risk is separate to a restructuring of its commercial and production operations, as well as roles affected by the creation of a central sports hub to provide coverage across its national and regional titles that was announced in July.

The company, which reported profits of almost £100m last year, and whose chief executive Jim Mullen departed in March, said the move was part of a shift to producing more video and audio content, as well as a live news network.

"Our new structure represents the biggest reorganisation we've ever undertaken, even more than in the early days of the digital revolution," said Reach's chief content officer, David Higgerson.