The introduction of new technology in which non-editorial page designers work next to page editors with journalism training is leading UK publishing group Archant to merge its two Ipswich daily papers, Press Gazette reported Tuesday.

The East Anglian Daily Times and the Evening Star will begin operating as a combined newsroom in early 2009, after Archant implements the new content management system, Atex/Polopoly. (Note: Atex supports SFN as one of the project's strategic business partners).

As a result of the merger, jobs will be at risk, but redundancies may be reduced if new roles are found or created, Press Gazette reported. The two titles will also keep committed editors, deputy editors, and news editors.

“The challenge is to retain the brand identities of fiercely independent and well-loved newspapers in their community on their attached Web sites – to retain the difference between the two,” said Nigel Pickover, editor of the Evening Star, who sell serve as head of live Web news for the new operation. “People will be dedicated to titles – but everybody will be working for everything.”

The new system will allow journalists to place their stories, photos and video.

“Despite a gloomy economic backdrop, I believe this is a hugely exciting time for our news operation in Suffolk,” Pickover told Press Gazette, adding that the titles' Web sites are giving them “a huge new audience.”

The East Anglian Daily Times, saw its sales drop by 4.2 percent in the first half of 2008, down to 34,055. The Evening Star was down 6.9 percent, to 19,319.