As reported by the National Union of Journalists: Editorial production of the publication, which specialises in the industrial heritage and social history of the Black Country’s four boroughs – Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall – is to move to Tamworth and be the responsibility of an editor who already runs five weekly titles in Staffordshire and the West Midlands.
The Bugle was founded as an independent in 1972 but became part of Iliffe Media, then Local World and finally part of Trinity Mirror when it took over Local World in October last year. Its offices are in the Dudley Archives and Local History Centre, owned by Dudley council.
When it moved there 12 months ago, the mayor, Steve Waltho, said at the opening ceremony: “It is an absolutely perfect partnership. The Dudley Archives Centre is so proud that such a well-respected and well-established paper is coming to its premises.”
The weekly Bugle sells around 8,500 copies and has been starved of investment, with no dedicated circulation or sales staff and no marketing budget since the weekly prize of a Parker pen for the week’s star letter ended. The cover price increased from 60p to 80p in recent years, which has affected sales.
It is unclear where the two remaining reporters will work because the company’s Tamworth centre, on a trading estate, is outside the Black Country in Staffordshire and is a 64-mile round trip from its present base.
Chris Morley, Northern & Midlands organiser, said: “Having been a reporter in the Black Country, I know how much the million people in the area respects their industrial tradition. The Bugle is a vital part of life, remembering that heritage and stimulating debate about what can be learned from the past.
“It has punched above its weight and even won a regional journalism award despite being badly neglected and starved of the investment necessary to make it the great success it should be.
“I believe these plans are ruinous for the future of the Bugle and potentially commercial suicide if carried out as they have been presented. With no dedicated editor in the area and only two staff, I fail to see how it could work.
“I believe there is a big opportunity here and would challenge its Trinity Mirror masters to seek a buyer for this loved publication – someone who believes in its intrinsic value and the great editorial team who have about 50 years of experience between them.
“The NUJ will do all it can during the redundancy consultation period to identify what issues are driving this announcement and work to develop a better alternative that can be positive, not only for the staff but also for the company.”
The news follows swiftly on from Trinity Mirror's decision to turn the daily Nuneaton News into a weekly and close the town’s office.
The Press Gazette has reported that six editors have left Local World titles since it was bought by Trinity Mirror in a deal which valued the group at £240m. Lynne Fernquest is leaving the Bath Chronicle and Rob Stokes is to quit the Western Daily Press. The others are David Atkin (Scunthorpe Telegraph), Neil White (Derby Telegraph), Kevin Booth (Leicester Mercury) and Paul Brackley (Cambridge News).
