Mirror publisher to cut 220 editorial jobs as readers turn to AI summaries

The publisher of the Mirror and Express newspapers, Reach, is set to eliminate an additional 220 editorial positions as it adjusts to a significant decline in online traffic and the rising popularity of AI-generated summaries. This move comes as part of a broader restructuring effort by the company, which owns several online brands and regional titles such as the Manchester Evening News, the Birmingham Mail, and the Liverpool Echo.

Reach's decision to reduce its workforce follows a previous round of cuts in September, which had put 600 roles at risk, ultimately leading to the dismissal of more than 300 editorial staff. The company has also chosen to shut down three online-only brands – KentLive, AberdeenLive, and GalwayBeo – due to their inability to establish a dominant presence in their respective regions.

These closures will result in the loss of approximately 60 editorial positions. Despite these job reductions, Reach intends to create 60 new editorial roles to boost digital revenue growth. This restructuring effort is driven by a major shift in how audiences consume content and journalism. To ensure the long-term sustainability of its journalism, Reach aims to shift its focus from producing a high volume of stories to delivering original content and unique brands.

The company attributes the decline in digital page views to a 46% year-on-year drop in traffic from Google, as features like Google's AI Mode and AI Overviews diminish the necessity for readers to visit its websites. Reach's chief content officer, David Higgerson, acknowledged the "expansionist BBC" as a competitor, mirroring the local output of commercial publishers up to 70% of the time.

Higgerson also highlighted that the 60 new roles created to drive digital revenues will primarily focus on subscriptions and longer-form video content. Digital revenues for Reach fell by nearly 1% to £128.9 million in the year ending March 3. The company's share price has plummeted by 90% over the past five years. Reach currently offers subscriptions for six major titles and boasts 50,000 paid digital subscribers, with an objective of reaching 75,000 subscribers by the end of its current financial year.

Higgerson further announced that Reach would no longer rely on page views as the primary metric for audience engagement. Instead, the company will prioritize "active engaged time" and encourage editors to make title-specific changes to maximize reach through journalism that aligns with their brand and converts more readers into paying subscribers.

In its latest annual report, Reach employed an average of 3,423 staff, generating a wage bill of £208.5 million. Of these employees, 2,494 were classified as editorial and production personnel.