News is filtering through that the worst of the recession is over just at a time when it seems to be biting in the South West.
Despite claims of the end to the economic trouble it’s people you know who are being let go. And now there’s news of the radical restructuring of Newton Abbot-based publisher David and Charles.
The company had long since been hived off to the Reader’s Digest family, and its tumble down, prefab home on an industrial estate next to the train tracks made it look more like something to do with widgets than books. But the it was a testament to the diversity of the South Devon economy.
Speaking to the Bookseller, managing director Stephen Bateman said: “Change has been radical here. I won’t pretend we haven’t halved the work force.”
He doesn’t only blame the recession, but also the change in the media industry.
“What became apparent to us more than ever was that communities of interest were the way forward, and rather than being concerned with owning content, we need to own the communities,” he said.
But as Jeff Jarvis will tell you, you can’t own communities in this new media world.
• Are traditional companies ready to face the challenges of today’s economy? Comments below please
Come and enjoy Devon – book a hotel and get away!
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