RTL, Bertelsmann to axe 1,000 jobs

NEWS BRIEF: German media group Bertelsmann and its subsidiary RTL are looking to cut a total of 1,000 jobs from their television and magazine businesses.

Thomas Rabe

RTL aims to shed 300 jobs at its base in Cologne over the next three years and hopes to do so without compulsory redundancies. Bertelsmann, led by CEO Thomas Rabe, also wants to discontinue or sell 23 magazine titles at Hamburg-based publisher Gruner + Jahr. A total of about 700 jobs will be axed, the vast majority in administrative areas rather than editorial, the companies said, but core brands such as Stern, Geo and Brigitte will remain.