A "furious letter" was written to Mecom chairman David Montgomery by seven editors-in-chief from the Netherland's biggest regional newspaper publisher, Wegener, describing how worried they were about the future of their newspapers.

Wegener's editors are worried that job cuts will take place in their titles as well and hinder the editorial quality of their papers. Last year, Mecom took an 87% stake in the group.

"The employees are under extreme pressure. There are not enough people, resources and incentives to achieve product differentiation quickly in order to achieve the necessary large-scale success in the multimedia field," the editors stated in the letter.

"As the editors-in-chief, we would like to stress that our papers are not just an economic product.

The concerns of the Dutch editors echo similar situations in many countries where newspapers have been faced with declining ad revenues. Their letter serves as an important reminder that cutting costs and stripping newspapers of their resources can be more detrimental than helpful - editorially and commercially.

"We are also a cultural element, and this is the key factor in the core value of our product. The newspapers are more than an information provider for the inhabitants of the relevant regions - they are a bearer of historical and cultural awareness and social cohesion."

Mecom owns many titles in Europe, such as in Norway, Germany, Poland and Germany, including the "prestigious" Berliner Zeitung, where some 30 journalists positions were cut.

Although Mecom refused to comment on the letter, a senior official mentioned that the situation has improved since it was written and that issues like "local responsibility for publishing" will be resolved soon, the Guardian reported.

Source: Guardian Online

See also:
Mecom grows European assets
Montgomery buys Dutch shares