IT is no exaggeration to say that local newspapers are facing a crisis.

And it was with great sadness that I today had to announce proposed job cuts within the editorial department.

Due to the rapidly deteriorating economic outlook, it is proposed that approximately 17 posts will be lost within the editorial department serving The Northern Echo, the Darlington & Stockton Times, Durham Times and the Advertiser Series.

In addition, district offices at Stockton, Redcar, Barnard Castle, Richmond and Thirsk are to close, although those areas will continue to be covered by reporters working either from other offices or from home.

It is a worrying time for people in all walks of life and I appreciate how upsetting it is for the staff who put so much effort into producing our newspapers.

My concerns are to deal as sensitively as possible with those members of staff who are directly affected, and to work as hard as possible to continue to produce a paper which is true to the proud traditions of The Northern Echo.