Publisher of Beano and Sunday Post to shut Dundee site – but it says move will not impact newspaper operation
June 2010 — DC Thomson, the publisher of magazines such as the Beano and newspapers including the Courier, the Evening Telegraph and the Sunday Post in Scotland, is to close oner of its printplants, putting up to 350 jobs at risk of redundancy.
The Dundee-based company, which employs more than 2,000 staff, said that the possible redundancies would not impact its newspaper publishing operation.
DC Thomson added that it is proposing to close its gravure, sheet-fed printing production and bookbinding operations in Dundee.
"The proposal means up to 350 jobs are at risk of redundancy and the proposed closure of one of the company's three sites in the city," the company said. "No decision has yet been taken on where printing of the affected titles will take place."
DC Thomson, which was founded in 1905, said that it had "unusually" continued to print its own books and magazines over the past 25 years "despite increasingly difficult market conditions".
"This will not affect its newspaper business," the company added. "The company will continue to print the Courier, the Evening Telegraph and the Sunday Post for the Scottish market at its Kingsway premises, which is also the site for its gravure printing operation. It is proposed that the company's West Ward site in Guthrie Street would close."
DC Thomson, which alos publishes the Dandy, said that the proposed changes were necessary "to ensure a strong future for the business" and that it "remains fully committed to our newspapers, magazines and comics business".
The company, which has offices in Glasgow, Manchester and London, has entered a 90-day consultation period with staff affected by the closure plans.
Source: guardian.co.uk
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