WORCESTER News publisher Newsquest has announced at least eight job losses in its Worcester division as the economic crisis continues to have an adverse effect on the newspaper industry.

The proposed job cuts affect most departments in the division, which also publishes the Berrow’s Worcester Journal, the Malvern Gazette and the Evesham Journal.

All staff affected by the proposals, part of cost reductions aimed at protecting the company’s long-term future following declines in advertising revenues and volumes, are being consulted fully and Newsquest managers have pledged to do everything possible to avoid unnecessary redundancies.

In a message to staff, publisher Ian Richardson said: “Trading conditions have been very challenging for some time now and the market has become more uncertain in many areas.

“Against the backdrop of an unsettled economy we must, therefore, take opportunities to reduce costs so we can protect the overall business for the future.”

Newsquest publishes 17 daily and around 300 weekly newspapers and associated websites across the UK.