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The Press Association is currently consulting with staff in Leeds over whether to shut down its copytaking operation.

The service allows journalists to phone and dictate their work to PA staff, who then send it onto the journalist’s newsroom. However according to the news agency, the rise of electronic communication has put the use of this service in doubt.

The closure could affect up to twenty copytaker jobs.

A spokesperson for PA told Journalism.co.uk: "In the past the service was used by most national and regional newspapers - however, demand has significantly decreased in recent years."

The consultation is ongoing and a date for its completion is still yet to be set.

The operation is based in the same office as 11 other members of PA staff, including six journalists, but their jobs are not thought to be at risk.

When asked about the fate of the Leeds office if the copytaking operation were to be closed a spokesperson said that the office lease "has not yet expired and a decision about its renewal will be taken in due course".

Updated at 1pm:

The article has been amended to clarify that six out of 11 other members of staff in the PA Leeds office are journalists

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Written by
Jack Dearlove

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