Local news outlet axed

Local news website Herts Live is to cease publishing new stories from Thursday 30th November.

Publisher of the Hertfordshire Mercury and Herts Live, Reach plc, are closing 13 of their local news websites and axing 320 editorial roles due to falling digital revenues.

The company operates over 130 titles, including the Daily Mirror, the Daily Express and the Daily Star.

It is no secret that changes in the media landscape and decisions made by large tech platforms have made life much harder for all media businesses.

Our paid-for sister print publication the Hertfordshire Mercury will still continue to be published. And as part of our commitment to the BBC-funded Local Democracy Service in Hertfordshire we will be continuing to publish stories from our Local Democracy Reporter for this area but on another website, we will update this article later with a link.

:: Herts Live

One of those axed is local reporter Cameron Rutherford, who posted in Twitter.com: "With this news, it means a new chapter arises and I am now on the lookout for my next job.". Along with Will Durrant and Charlotte Page, Mr.Rutherford was responsible for much of the outlet's news stories.

Reach plc closed their last Hertfordshire office in 2018, when staff at Stag House were relocated to Chelmsford. Previously the company had offices at Media House in Ware Road, the former home of Addis Housewares. 

The Hertfordshire Mercury was first published by Stephen Austin in 1772. Reach plc acquired the title in 2015 when it took control of publisher Local World.