NEWSPAPER publisher Reach has been told to end its culture of cuts after the company published a poor financial statement.

The Daily Mirror, Daily Star and Daily Express publisher has revealed a further decline in sales after a sharp fall in online views directed through Google.

Page views on its platforms dived by 40 per cent for the past half-year, amid increased use of AI answers and overviews on search engines.

Shares in London-based Reach, which also publishes regional titles, plunged by almost a quarter in early trading on Wednesday as a result.

The group revealed that total revenues dropped by 9 per cent to £232.9 million for the six months to June 30, compared with a year earlier.

Reach has announced that it is planning to cut 24.2 full-time equivalent roles in regional print production, placing 67 jobs across the country at risk.

The National Union of Journalists Reach group said: “We want to put on record that the stress on staff caused by the lack of clarity on the company’s coming actions is hitting morale and leaves them in a form of purgatory.

“We will be looking to have honest consultations and negotiations with management at all stages of this process.”