The loss of up to 465 jobs at regional newspaper group Wegener is worrying but little can be done about it, culture minister Ronald Plasterk told MPs on Tuesday evening.

In particular, MPs are worried about the loss of 85 journalists’ jobs which they say may reduce news coverage and stop the press doing its work.
‘The situation is acute so it is logical we talk about it,’ Plasterk. ‘In the autumn, I will publish a briefing on the situation the press faces, and this sort of development will be on the agenda.’
Journalists at Wegener’s seven regional papers – including Stentor, Twentsche Courant Tubantia and the Eindhovens Dagblad are threatening to strike over the job losses.
Staff at the Gelderlander have already said they may drop one issue this week or next. The paper has been told to improve its return on investment from 13% to 20% by new British owner Mecom, the Volkskrant reports on Wednesday.
The editors in chief of the seven papers have already said they will refuse to meet Mecom’s owner David Montgomery, who is currently in the Netherlands.