ITV regional staff to know fate by December

Michael Jermey

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ITV regions director Michael Jermey has told ITV News Group (ING) staff facing redundancy that they will "know where they stand" by early December.

Jermey wrote to all ING staff this morning to outline the timetable for the company cutting 430 jobs.

• Click here to read the letter in full

The letter said: "We have always indicated the urgency of the need to make cost savings. It's essential for the business that we stick to the timetable we have already set out. Subject to consultation, we anticipate applications for jobs will be made in October, selection will take place in November and people should know where they stand by early December."

Jermey, who described the job cuts as "painful but necessary", continued: "We don't underestimate the impact on people's lives. The job losses are, of course, very sad for everyone in the ITV regions but they're an inevitable consequence of the changed economics of commercial public service broadcasting. We will ensure that the process is conducted carefully and professionally."

The letter also revealed that ING will take over responsibility for the production of the content for ITV Local. The ITV Local staff, who are based in the company's regional newsrooms, are transferring from ITV Consumer to ING, but the Consumer division will retain commercial responsibility for the service.