In layoffs, Thomson Reuters cites 'need to simplify'

There was no public announcement but a US website that monitors the company said the redundancies include at least nine editorial staff, according to a Newspaper Guild of New York memo.

“Yes, I can confirm there have been layoffs across Thomson Reuters today, including editorial,” Barb Burg, the company’s vice president and global head of communications, told Talking Biz News on Tuesday. “Similar to efforts across the company, the Reuters organization is focusing attention on our global cost structure as well as the need to simplify and ensure we have the skills and expertise within our organization so we can continue to contribute maximum value to the business and our customers.”

Talking Biz News said the job cuts were across the company in places such as training and sales but some were in editorial in New York as well.

A Guild representative told members of the union that Reuters has proposed eliminating nine editorial jobs. Others would come from non-union positions. One editorial manager said Reuters was over headcount in editorial almost all of last year. ■