Some of Gloucestershire's most well-known and well-respected journalists are leaving or under threat of redundancy at The Citizen and Gloucestershire Live.

Jenny Eastwood (pictured right), former editor of The Citizen and more recently digital editor for Gloucestershire Live, has been put at risk of redundancy, as have a number of her colleagues including Andrew Merrell, the business news editor.

Ben Falconer (pictured below), former editor of Stroud Life and a senior reporter for The Citizen and Gloucestershire Live, is leaving of his own accord to take up the head of communications role at Stroud District Council.

Ben said: "I've been very fortunate to cover the county I love for so long, working alongside very hardworking professionals. I'm looking forward to a new challenge at the first council which I ever covered in 1998."

Jenny became editor of The Citizen in 2013, after five years as assistant editor and head of news at the paper. A popular and professional editor, she has managed the publications through the most challenging and difficult period of its history, taking the daily titles to weekly in October of last year.

It's thought that Trinity Mirror, which owns The Citizen, Echo and Gloucestershire Live, along with the Daily Mirror and around 100 regional papers, is making 49 journalists nationally redundant.

This is despite the company's chief executive saying this week that he remained optimistic about the future of journalism, both in print and online.

These changes follow the redundancy of Matt Holmes as Echo editor, when the paper switched to a weekly in October.

Punchline says: "With some of Gloucestershire's most experienced journalists going or under risk, it appears that Trinity Mirror is content to rip the heart out of its product.

"All of us in business know that every business needs to adapt and change. Cut staff and reduce costs. But there comes a point when there is no more meat on the bone to cut. Our hearts go out to the brilliant journalists who are moving on, but even more affection and best wishes and luck for those that are left (or leftovers)."

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