The Wardman Wire

The Independent Newspaper is owned by the Irish Group Independent News and Media.

The Sunday Business Post reported pending staff cuts of up to 20%:

INM to cut London Independent staff by up to 40 per cent

Independent News & Media (INM) is targeting a 40 per cent cut in the workforce at its British Independent and Independent on Sunday newspaper titles as part of a plan to share production and back-up services with other newspapers.

The move could see the Independent reduce staff numbers by 100 to 200 people in the months ahead. INM made a reference to the plan in a trading update issued last Friday. It said the company was taking steps to ‘‘resize its cost base’’.

‘‘As part of that process, the British national division is in discussions with a number of other British national publishers on a shared services basis that is expected to deliver substantial efficiencies and is designed to create more efficient editorial work flows, while preserving the unique ethos of the Independent.”

It is understood that writing staff would not be affected by the plan but other functions, from production to advertising, could be included in any new shared arrangement.

That seems to be a little soon after the new editor Roger Alton was installed - barely six months.

Via Martin Stabe.