The study, done by Dr. Andrew Williams and Professor Bob Franklin from the university's school of journalism, media and cultural studies, was commissioned by the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) and warns Trinity Mirror to invest in quality journalism, both in print and online, or destroy its own future.

Williams and Franklin spoke with journalists from the Wales regional and local press and found staff producing online video and podcasts for no extra pay and without proper training. The report states that these practices, along with staff level reductions and long hours endanger the quality of newspapers and digital media alike.

The report offers Trinity Mirror a choice. “It can continue to make cuts with an eye on maintaining short-term profit margins and watch the quality of its news decline over time, or it can 'invest in journalism' with the aim of producing quality print and digital news products with a view to creating sustainable long-term profits,” Williams and Franklin say.

The NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear agreed, saying “We have been telling Trinity Mirror for years that they must invest in quality journalism to ensure the future of their titles or watch them decline.”

Trinity Mirror declined to comment, saying that it had not seen the report in full.

Sources: Media Guardian and Hold the Front Page