Up to 25 editorial staff could go in the merger of the newsrooms of Edinburgh-based Scotsman and Scotland on Sunday. The sports desks of the two titles is included in the move to effectively a seven-day operation.
Staff on the daily and its sister Sunday title, published by Johnston Press subsidiary Scotsman Publications, were told the news yesterday.
Scotsman Publications will look to make the planned job cuts through voluntary redundancies.
John McLellan has been confirmed as editor-in-chief of Scotsman Publications alongside his current role as editor of the Scotsman.
Ian Stewart has been appointed editor of Scotland on Sunday, as well as retaining his current role as deputy editor of the Scotsman. Scotland on Sunday editor Les Snowdon left the paper in February to become sports editor at the Daily Mail.
Tom Little, currently deputy editor of Scotland on Sunday, has been appointed to the vacant post of Edinburgh Evening News editor.
McLellan, who took over at the Scotsman in February after the sudden departure of editor Mike Gilson, has indicated the the Edinburgh Evening News will remain largely independent within the new structure.
The merging of the sports and news desks and other operations is expected to begin next week. The picture desks were integrated earlier this month.
Johnston Press issued a statement saying that it had begun discussions with staff and the National Union of Journalists over the merger proposal and the planned redundancies,. It said it hoped to “avoid the need for compulsory redundancies”.
More on sports desk job cuts:
Lovejoy job “at risk†at Sunday Times
Redundancy round “complete” at Herald group
Mair and Knight leave Telegraph; Buckley goes from Obs
Express to cut more than 70 jobs
NUJ chapel protest at Independent‘s sports cuts
Click here to see a timeline of journalism job losses
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