Sun Media cuts 200 more jobs across company

MONTREAL Sun Media Corp. is cutting another 200 jobs across the company, of which about one-quarter will come from its editorial operations outside Quebec.

The company said it regrets the cuts it says are necessary to ensure its sustainability in the face of the unprecedented changes in the print media industry.

“It is very tough to announce job cuts,” said president and CEO Julie Tremblay. “But as distressing as they are for the employees involved, these restructuring initiatives are necessary to maintain our leading position and ensure the corporation’s sustainability.”

The subsidiary of Quebecor Media Inc. has 36 paid-circulation daily newspapers and three free dailies as well as almost 200 community newspapers, shopping guides and other specialty publications.

Vice-president Martin Tremblay said none of the 50 editorial job losses announced Wednesday will be in Quebec, although some of the 150 other affected positions are in the province.

The cuts come after the company slashed 360 jobs and shut down 11 publications earlier this year and cut 500 jobs at Sun Media newspapers last November.

The latest round of layoffs will leave Sun Media with 3,800 employees, including more than 1,000 journalists.

The union representing most Sun Media employees in Ontario said 18 positions are expected to be cut at several papers.