Axel-Springer-Verlag wants to advance its austerity measures in the Bild-Zeitung with leaner regional structures. The number of regional editions will be reduced from 18 to twelve and smaller venues will be closed completely, as the group announced on Monday in Berlin. According to dpa information about 200 digits be affected. The group is trying to avoid layoffs for operational reasons and find socially acceptable solutions, it said in an email to Bild’s workforce.
“We are disposing of products, projects and processes that can never again be economically successful”, read the letter that was available to dpa. It was composed of editors-in-chief Marion Horn and Robert Schneider, as well as managing directors. Claudio Senst It is Christoph Eck Schmidt signed.
The plans were also explained on Monday at the so-called general meeting – these rounds are convened at Bild to announce important innovations for all employees. The new structure, with which the digital-only strategy announced in February will be implemented, will come into effect on January 1, 2024 – the first changes should take place from July.
The management level must also be significantly simplified. The framework under which the digital-only strategy announced in February will be implemented on January 1, 2024.
“Unfortunately, we also have to part ways with colleagues…”
The greater use of artificial intelligence also plays a role: “Unfortunately, we also have to part ways with colleagues who have tasks that are replaced by AI and/or processes in the digital world or who don’t find themselves in this new formation with their current skills”, said in an email to the officials of “Bild”, which was at the disposal of the dpa.
The group is trying to avoid layoffs and find socially responsible solutions. Firstly, the Handelsblatt reported on the new savings measures.
Reichelt’s cause
For a long time, the board stood still before the appointment of a new editor-in-chief due to allegations of abuse of power against the former editor-in-chief Julian Reichelt in the headlines. Eventually he had to leave the company. Reichelt rejected the allegations and later spoke of a “smear campaign” against him.
Springer filed a lawsuit against Reichelt in April. This is the allegation of breach of contract in relation to its end in the media. The group also accuses Reichelt of robbing employees. Springer therefore demands back payment of the compensation paid. In early June, there was initially no agreement at the Berlin Labor Court.
As part of the new regional structure, the Leipzig, Dresden and Chemnitz editions will be merged into one Saxony, Düsseldorf and Cologne edition in the “Bild” Rhineland, and the smaller (tabloid) edition will be discontinued in Hamburg. The scope of the regional report for all regional editions is therefore standardized into a local page and a local sports page.
The number of locations is also reduced in line with lower expenses. The large locations in Hamburg, Leipzig, Essen, Frankfurt/Main and Munich are to be maintained.
The new structure should contribute to digital growth – particularly in terms of reach. “Digital alone offers enormous opportunities for the image.” The management level must also be significantly simplified. Among other things, flatter hierarchies are the goal. “The roles of editor-in-chief, editors, proofreaders, secretaries and photo editors will no longer exist as they do today,” the courier continued.
Circulation dropped dramatically
The circulation of Germany’s biggest tabloid has dropped sharply in recent years. At the end of 2022, the print run was 1.1 million copies (with the Berlin tabloid BZ). In the fourth quarter of 2013, more than twice as many copies were sold every day.
In March, the photo tip was surprisingly switched. Past editors-in-chief john boie, Alexandra Wuerzbach It is Claus Strunz resigned from their previous posts. marion horn, who had worked for the Springer Group for over 25 years, returned and took over as editor-in-chief. The reason for the change at the time was the digital strategy.
In April, the previous head of “Focus”, Robert Schneider, joined as co-editor-in-chief.