Reach to cut 220 editorial jobs amid falling online traffic and AI summary trend

Reach plc, the publisher behind the Daily Mirror and the Express, announced a further reduction of 220 editorial positions as it confronts a sharp decline in online traffic. The company said the cuts are a response to what it described as a “mammoth shift” in audience behaviour, with readers increasingly turning to concise, AI‑generated summaries rather than traditional news articles. The restructuring will affect staff across its portfolio of national and regional titles, including the Manchester Evening News, the Birmingham Mail and the Liverpool Echo, as Reach seeks to align its workforce with the evolving digital landscape.

The publisher emphasized that the job reductions are intended to secure the long‑term viability of its news operations amid changing consumption patterns. By streamlining editorial resources, Reach aims to focus on content formats that better match the demand for quick, AI‑driven news bites while maintaining its core journalistic output across its extensive network of titles. The move underscores the broader industry challenge of adapting to technological shifts that reshape how audiences access information.