British publisher Reach plc is implementing significant redundancies, impacting approximately 220 full-time equivalent roles across its Irish and UK operations. The company announced the closure of three online news sites, including GalwayBeo, as part of these cost-saving measures. Reach plc attributes these decisions to a broader decline in the publishing industry and shifts in how audiences consume news, citing factors like AI overviews and Google algorithm changes. Despite the job losses, the company plans to create about 60 new positions, resulting in a net reduction of around 160 roles. The National Union of Journalists has strongly criticized these "relentless" cuts, calling them an "act of self-sabotage" that will negatively affect public access to local news.
https://www.thejournal.ie/galwaybeo-layoffs-7164491-Sep2026/