Reach plc, the publisher of the Mirror and Express newspapers along with numerous regional and online titles, announced plans to eliminate 220 editorial positions. The restructuring follows an earlier round of job cuts in which over 300 editorial roles were eliminated after 600 positions were put at risk.
The company attributed the latest cuts to a significant transformation in how audiences access news content. Reach reported a substantial decline in digital traffic, particularly from Google, with year-on-year referrals from the search engine dropping 46%. The publisher linked this decline to features such as Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews, which provide summaries that reduce the need for readers to visit news websites directly. Additionally, three online-only brands—KentLive, AberdeenLive, and GalwayBeo—will be shuttered as they failed to establish dominant market positions in their respective regions.
While eliminating positions, Reach announced the creation of approximately 60 new editorial roles focused on driving digital revenue growth. These positions will concentrate on subscription expansion and longer-form video content. The company currently operates paid digital subscriptions across six major titles, with 50,000 active paid subscribers and a goal to reach 75,000 by the end of its current financial year. David Higgerson, the chief content officer, stated the company would prioritize original journalism and distinctive branding over high story volumes while shifting away from traditional page-view metrics to measure “active engaged time.”
Higgerson also cited increased competition from the BBC, claiming the public broadcaster mirrors commercial publishers’ local coverage approximately 70% of the time. Digital revenues declined nearly 1% to £128.9 million in the year ending March 3. Reach’s financial challenges are reflected in its stock performance, with share prices down 90% over the preceding five years. According to the company’s annual report, Reach employed approximately 3,423 staff members, with 2,494 classified as editorial and production employees.
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