Apparently there are going to be a lot of redundancies on the Shrewsbury Chronicle during the next month. The editor is being made redundant and three reporters are leaving, and the whole operation is going to be edited from Telford. This is shocking. It's a bloody good paper that's been running for more than 100 years, won a lot of awards, the editor was awarded an MBE last year for his work on the paper, and with all these cuts the town is going to lose something very special.

Yes sad news for Shrewsbury... I hope those involved find employment elsewhere.

I think with the advent of the internet, newspapers will suffer unfortunately. You can read all the tabloids virtually online now and this is comparitivly free. I know a few journalist from the Star are fighting for their jobs. On the positive side think of all the trees that will be saved in not producing these newspapers.

Yeah but for local news the internet is not that good.

I find it ridiculous the the Star and Chronicle are both going to be fully edited, etc in Telford. It's supposed to be the Shrewsbury Chronicle - how are the journalists meant to report on the news happening in the town now? Are they going to have to go between Telford and Shrewsbury each time there's a news story or photographs to take, etc?

Another example of Shrewsbury being reduced to small market town status. Maybe the best we can do in a year's time will be the quarterly parish newsletter, published by the town clerk.

I see the BBC have an article on what's happening:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/7862607.stm

So what's happening to the Shropshire Star? That's not disappearing is it?

Reporters will stay in Shrewsbury - it's just the editors and sub editors that are going to Telford.
Nothing's happening with the Star...yet...

I dont think the Star is that comprehensive, even on the web! Most reputable tabloids now have very good internet sites. As I said I know several star reporters who are being made redundant so this could be a cost cutting exercise perhaps. The Star also have a stake in Commercial Radio and I know smaller stations now are struggling through lack of income through commercial revenue. Internet radio is on the up as is digital now meaning you can listen to many more stations, including commercial ones well out of reach if you have an analogue (FM) receiver. I think most tabloids are aware of this as news can be sourced far quicker on the internet and has a more interactive feel as readers can often leave comments on articles

Midland News Association

Ironic that only a couple of weeks ago our MP was singing the praises of the local newspapers during a debate at Westminster Hall. The Shrewsbury Chronicle and its editor came in for special mention. He can't be happy about this move so will questions be asked in the House?

It's a wonder some newspapers survive these days. Our local paper The Whitchurch Herald is extortionately priced and really plastered in adverts. Looks like times they are a changing!

Shropshire journalists in strike vote by holdthefrontpage staff

Union members at Shropshire Newspapers Ltd have voted in favour of strike action.

The National Union of Journalists chapel voted 85pc in favour of some form of industrial action while 58pc went for full strike action.

The vote was taken amid union fears that the company is looking to make 12 positions redundant – predominantly on the weekly titles – which could affect trainees working towards their senior exams.

The chapel is meeting again next Wednesday to discuss what industrial action should take place.

The NUJ said the positions under threat are the weeklies group editor John Butterworth, one other weekly editor, five reporters, two sub-editors and three editorial assistants.

Shropshire Newspapers' titles include the daily Shropshire Star and weekly titles around the county.

This latest development is part of a wider cull by parent company the Midland News Association which said it was looking to axed around 135 positions in October.

NUJ northern organiser Chris Morley said: "We've had a clear vote of more than four-to-one in favour of industrial action.

"The chapel will decide on its next steps at Wednesday's meeting, when our members should have a clearer idea of the company's intentions.

"The vote sends a clear signal to management that they must address journalists' concerns over job cuts."

The company had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication.

Property valuers were seen measuring up The Shropshire Star Ketley site a month or so back. Why? Valuing the site with a view to possibly selling it.

One plan under serious consideration is moving everyone to Wolves/West Brom and possibly even going back to the pre-1964 idea of having an "Express and Star: Shropshire edition" instead of the Shropshire Star.