GMG has signed a contract with Trinity Mirror to take on the responsibility of printing both the Guardian and The Observer titles from early 2018. GMG’s printing sites in Trafford and Stratford will be closed.
The move signals GMG’s ongoing commitment to high-quality print journalism, in a bold new format, say the publishers.
It will also make a significant contribution to the financial target set out by CEO David Pemsel and editor in chief Katharine Viner in their three-year transformation plan for Guardian News and Media.
The three-year programme includes building a deeper set of relationships between the Guardian and its readers, developing and growing the membership offering, restructuring the advertising business, and reducing the business’ cost base in order to break even at operating level by 2019.
David Pemsel, chief executive, Guardian Media Group, said: “This is an important step in our three-year transformation plan. More people are reading and supporting our journalism than ever before, but the print industry continues to evolve, and we must evolve with it. We plan to continue the Guardian’s record of producing bold, brilliantly designed award-winning print journalism.
“This will impact a number of our print site colleagues and we will honour our commitments to them as part of the transition process to Trinity Mirror.”
Katharine Viner, editor-in-chief, Guardian News & Media, said: “The Berliner is a beautiful format which has served our readers brilliantly for 12 years but we know that it is our award-winning, quality, independent journalism that our readers value most, rather than the shape or size of the newspapers.
“We are going to create a new look tabloid Guardian and Observer that are bold, striking and beautiful - and which still contain the agenda-setting journalism for which we’re renowned.”
The Guardian and The Observer newspapers have been printed in the Berliner format since 2005.
