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Newsquest staff vote for strike action


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ournalists at Newsquest titles in south London were scheduled to begin a work- to-rule as The Journalist went to press,


after votes in favour of strike action and industrial action short of a strike. The vote came days after the company said it planned to put nearly all newsroom staff at risk of redundancy. The titles affected include the Croydon,


Epsom, Sutton, Wandsworth and Wimbledon Guardians, the Richmond & Twickenham Times, the Surrey Comet and the News Shopper (Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham editions) as well as their websites. Some 71.4 per cent of staff voted for strike action and 81 per cent backed action short of a strike. They were balloted over staffing levels, workloads, quality, health and safety, and pay. Just before the ballot closed, Newsquest said


all newsroom staff, except the group managing editor and the web editor, were at risk of redundancy. Four reporters, two content editors, three subeditors, an editorial assistant and the deputy managing editor will be dismissed by the middle of October. The


announcement followed a decision that none of the titles would employ professional photographers. An NUJ chapel spokesperson said: “This ballot result shows members are more than up for the fight to save jobs and boost investment in our newsrooms. If the company expects to implement these cuts with little resistance, it’s in for a nasty surprise. The timing of the announcement smacks of cynicism and underhand tactics. Almost all ballot papers were in the post. We couldn’t react to the news, because it was past our deadline to get our votes in.”


“ ” HSE STRESS SURVEY AT JOHNSTON PRESS S A


tressed journalists at Johnston Press are taking matters into


their own hands with a Health & Safety Executive survey after the company refused to cooperate in a national survey on stress.


NUJ reps have repeatedly raised issues of unsustainable stress, staffing levels and workloads with the company. At the annual shareholders’ meeting in May, testimony from some staff was read


out: “We are at a point where having two reporters on duty to staff three newspapers is a surprising luxury. We covered an election (two 12-page supplements plus four spreads in each title) with two reporters. When experienced


staff who are, frankly, tough as old boots, start to cry with sheer frustration, surely anyone can recognise that it simply cannot continue ...” To take part in the survey, speak to an NUJ rep or email publishing@nuj.org.uk.


Short life for northern daily


daily newspaper that aimed to be the “national” for the north of England closed in the summer less than six weeks after its launch. The tabloid 24 had promised a “distinctly northern perspective” on major


news stories.


Publisher CN Group said it was a “calculated risk” to start a title but it “launched quickly and failed quickly”. Editor Dave Helliwell said: “We were proud of the design and content and had


encouraging feedback and buy-in from advertisers but, unfortunately, copy sales are just not high enough to justify continuing daily publication.” No jobs were lost.


Some 71.4 per cent of staff voted for strike action and 81 per cent backed action short of a strike


in brief...


LIVERPOOL COUNCIL BACKS THE SUN BAN A campaign urging Liverpool retailers to stop selling The Sun has been unanimously backed by city councillors. The Sun has been widely boycotted in Liverpool because of its coverage of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. The Society of Editors said the council was “stretching towards censorship”.


HOLMES LEAVES SKY BREAKFAST Sky News breakfast show presenter Eamonn Holmes is departing after 11 years in the job. He will now focus on documentaries and other broadcasting work. He is a one of a several people to leave Sky as it moves to new studios at its base in west London.


FORMER SUNDAY INDY EDITOR RISES AT MAIL Former Independent on Sunday editor Tristan Davies has become co-deputy editor at the Mail on Sunday alongside Tobyn Andreae, executive editor (features) at the Daily Mail. The pair will report to the editor Geordie Greig. Davies has been promoted from his role as assistant editor on the Mail on Sunday.


PICTURE AGENCIES STAY IN THE FAMILY Atlantic Images, a picture agency, has been launched by brothers Christopher and Peter Whittle, sons of Cavendish Press picture agency founder Brian. The brothers have been working in the photography industry for more than 20 years and will run their agency from London and Vancouver, with an additional team in Los Angeles.


LOCAL MAG IS A SIGN OF A MICRO FUTURE Two former regional paper journalists have started a magazine for Winchester. Guy Hanson and Sue Hughes are posting Winchester Resident Magazine to about 7,500 homes every two months. Previously, the two worked for Archant’s Lifestyle division. Hanson said he believes micro publishing is the industry’s future.


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