The Star reports that Tiso Blackstar intends to close its Sunday World tabloid as revenue plummets and workers continue to strike.
Managing director Andy Gill on Tuesday sent out an internal communication to staff informing them that Sunday World employees had been notified about the company's intentions. Tiso Blackstar owns the Sunday Times, Financial Mail, Sowetan and Business Day, among other titles. Blaming looming job cuts and possible closure of the Sunday World on poor revenue, Gill said the company was “proposing a broad restructuring of its editorial operations as a result of the economic headwinds facing the business”. The company has also issued notices of possible retrenchments to the editorial staff of the Sowetan, Daily Dispatch and The Herald, as well as editorial production staff in the business media stream. SA National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) chairperson Mahlatse Mahlase expressed concern over the looming job losses, saying that the retrenchments “come at a time when the industry has been shedding jobs at an alarming rate, which is very concerning.” A strike by some Tiso Blackstar commenced last week after negotiations over pay, lack of bonuses and working conditions for journalists collapsed. On Tuesday, the employees picketed outside the group's offices in Johannesburg.
- Read the full original report on the above story at The Star
Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page