Independent News & Media (INM) is to merge editorial staff at The Herald and Sunday World newspapers as part of a digital strategy. The move will see a number of voluntary redundancies.

The editor-in-chief at INM, Stephen Rae, said "This is a fundamental restructuring of the production and reporting process by taking advantage of new systems, improvements and work-flows that have already been successfully introduced across the Irish Independent, Sunday Independent and The Herald."

"This approach, based on an audience-first strategy, will also ensure the continued uniqueness and identity of The Sunday World and The Herald" he added.

The plan will see new priorities put on its digital output, and is part of ongoing group re-organisation at INM.

Employees have been informed of the move and the company says it is engaging with its editorial staff to discuss the redundancies.