Guardian ‘considering’ cost-cutting move to tabloid

In an effort to cut costs, the Guardian is considering outsourcing printing to a rival publisher such as News UK, Reuters has reported, in a move that would also see one of the UK’s oldest national newspapers cut down to a tabloid.

An unnamed source told Reuters: “The company is working on a whole range of efficiency projects and the print programme fits into that.”

The move, which would see Guardian and Observer newspapers printed at around half the size they were when in broadsheet format, is reportedly one of a series of options that publisher Guardian News & Media is considering as it looks to cut costs by more than 20% over the next three years.

Last year, GNM announced that it is looking to shave off more than £53 million from its current £268 million annualised cost base in an effort to offset both declining print revenues and slower-than-expected growth in digital revenues, which no longer sustain outgoings.

The Guardian and Observer are currently printed in mid-sized Berliner format after switching from a broadsheet back in 2005.

GNM declined to comment on the rumour, while a News UK spokesperson told Reuters: “NewsPrinters is an active industry printer and is always looking at new opportunities.”