On March 10, Guardian Media Group announced that it would make 78 journalists redundant and close all its weekly newspaper offices in Greater Manchester – 39 jobs will go at the Manchester Evening News and another 39 at the weeklies. For the first time in its history, this will bring compulsory editorial redundancies at the MEN. Further cuts in advertising, distribution and IT will bring the total job losses to 150.
Journalists take out advert in the Guardian
31 March 2009
In the latest move in its campaign against proposed job cuts, the NUJ Chapel at the Manchester Evening News paid for a full-page advert in the Guardian, appealing for support from Guardian readers on behalf of its own journalists and those under threat at the Greater Manchester weeklies. The advert also appeared in the New Statesman.
Manchester job cuts raised in Commons debate
19 March 2009
MPs expressed concern and shock at the Guardian Media Group's decision to axe journalists' jobs at the Manchester Evening News and close down its weekly local paper offices with further job losses during a Commons topical debate on local and regional news.
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Concerned local MPs write to the Guardian
14 March 2009
A letter from six Greater Manchester area MPs about redundancies at the MEN and local weeklies was published in the Guardian on March 14.
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Journalists condemn sweeping job cuts at MEN
11 March 2009
Following the announcement by the Guardian Media Group that it is to make 78 journalists redundant, including 39 at the Manchester Evening News, the MEN NUJ Chapel held a lengthy and well-attended meeting, which unanimously passed a motion condemning the proposals.
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Commons motion backs Manchester journalists
11 March 2009
Mark Hunter, the Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle, has put down an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons, noting "with regret and concern" the decision by the Guardian Media Group to announce further job losses at the Manchester Evening News and within its weekly newspaper group".
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Manchester journalists’ fury over jobs bloodbath
10 March 2009
The Manchester Evening News and Greater Manchester Weekly Newspapers NUJ workplace chapels have issued a statement following the announcement by the Guardian Media Group that it is making 78 journalists redundant and closing all its weekly newspaper offices in Greater Manchester.
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