Informed NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE issue 22 March 2018


Trinity Mirror’s decision to extend its digital pilot, Birmingham Live, makes it essential that the major newspaper groups answer questions about the impact their policies will have on the sector.


Concerns about the threat to media


plurality were raised aſter Newsquest’s recent takeover of the independent, family-owned CN Group, which owns two regional dailies, five weeklies and magazines. Te deal could result in the UK’s local newspaper industry becoming a duopoly of Newquest and Trinity Mirror since Johnston Press’s debts make its viability appear at risk. Te NUJ will be calling for the big three


Newsquest strikers at the Swindon Advertiser


NUJ welcomes May’s review of the press


Te union has welcomed the government’s announcement of a review of national and local press will look at the sustainability of the sector and investigate new ownership models, but it will be seeking assurances that the NUJ will play a major role in the inquiry. Te review announced by Prime Minister, Teresa May, will look at: • Te overall health of the news media, with a focus on the local and regional press.


• Range of news available and the


different business models for high- quality journalism. • How the press is adapting to the digital market and online platforms.


Also in this issue:


Equal Pay Win Page 5


• Te digital advertising supply chain. • “Clickbait” and low-quality news. Te review will make


recommendations and a final report is expected in early 2019. Tis is a victory for the union which has long called for a review, particularly during Local News Maters week last year, as part of our Parliamentary work and in talks with ministers. Te government’s announcement was accompanied by a quote from the newspaper publishers’ organisation, the News Media Association, but the NUJ insists the voice of journalists will be heard, loud and clear. Te latest news that 49 jobs are being lost, and more expected, by


Murdoch Deal Page 8


news groups, Newsquest, Trinity Mirror and Johnston Press, to be called to account for failing to invest in journalism and presiding over the loss of hundreds of titles and thousands of journalist and photographer jobs. Te union intends to involve itself in a constructive dialogue which will look at new ownership models and solutions to the industry’s financial crisis, which has seen advertising hoovered up by Google and Facebook and the move to digital not replicating the revenues of print. Te year started with a two-day strike


at Newsquest’s Swindon Advertiser. Te staff went out because of cuts, poverty pay and heavy workloads. Te chapel said: “A senior reporter in Swindon gets £19,000-£20,000 and the chapel believes Swindon Advertiser reporters are now among the lowest paid on a daily title in the UK.” Te strikers braved the rain and


remnants of Storm Eleanor as they picketed outside the Advertiser office and earned huge support from colleagues, members and local politicians.


Local News Maters, page 11


Whistle- blowing Page 10


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