Halewijn intends to lay off 21 of its employees, the Antwerp-based publisher of religious books announced on Thursday.
The company said it was facing a “sharp and continuing decline” in the number of subscriptions to its flagship 'publication, 'Kerk&Leven.'
The number of subscribers to the religious magazine has fallen by 60,000 since 2019, when it was 178,000. This year, it is down to 118,000, whereas 20 years ago it had over half a million subscribers. According to editor-in-chief Koen Vlaeminck, this is due to “changes in the social context.”
The publisher intends to wind down its typesetting and printing operations and reduce its editorial staff. If confirmed, 21 employees could lose their jobs.
According to Vlaeminck, nothing will change for readers of the Catholic weekly, which carries parish news, among other things.
Kerk&Leven remains one of the most widely read magazines in Flanders. "We were once the biggest, but we're still big," its editor-in-chief said.
The company also runs the Kerknet.be website.
