Guardian and Observer journalists strike over proposed sale of Sunday newspaper
The strike is the first by participants of the Nationwide Union of Journalists (NUJ) on the newspapers in better than 50 years.
The action on Wednesday and Thursday is in remark in opposition to the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media, a start-up essentially based 5 years previously by worn Occasions editor James Harding.
The union acknowledged the strike coincides with The Observer marking 233 years because it first started newsletter in 1791.
On Monday, Sky News reported it had got a memo despatched to Guardian Media Neighborhood workers by chief executive Anna Bateson outlining a revised bundle geared in opposition to placating journalists inflamed with the proposals.
Then on Tuesday, Sky News reported Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of The Guardian’s guardian company the Scott Have faith, insisted it will remain a part-owner of The Observer if the deal goes ahead.
Workers mounted a wood line outside the London headquarters of the newspaper titles.
Journalists told Sky News there had been a “big amount of uncertainty” in latest months – and in addition they mediate “these two extensive papers belong collectively”.
Paul Webster, worn editor of The Observer, joined the journalists preserving the remark and told Sky News: “I oppose this deal as a consequence of I form no longer mediate it affords a loyal future at serious about The Observer and I form no longer mediate it’s loyal either for The Guardian.
“I mediate that The Observer is effectively placed in its latest relationship as piece of the Guardian community.
“This deal got here as a total shock to me. As a long way as I’m in a position to glance it affords us a truly, very precarious future in a little loss-making start-up where it’s miles a truly expensive and refined direction of to manufacture a stand-on my own Sunday newspaper.
“It would no longer offer the form of handy resource we desire. Or no longer it’s usually very, very execrable news, I mediate, for The Observer.”
NUJ long-established secretary-elect Laura Davison acknowledged: “Guardian and Observer participants have confidence the elephantine backing of the NUJ as they undertake this fundamental industrial action – the first for over 50 years.
“The big vote to raise this step exhibits journalists’ want to publicly highlight to readers and these responsible their collective issues relating to the blueprint forward for the title.
“The Observer holds a uncommon and tense design in public lifestyles and our participants care relating to the next chapter in its historical past.
“The union is soliciting for a pause in the uncommon talks to offer extra time to raise into consideration doubtless decisions and verify that choices are in the most easy pursuits of both titles.”
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Ahead of the strike, wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham issued a video of make stronger on his social media, announcing: “I form no longer mediate we may perchance well just mild effect a cost on the truth. Or no longer it’s exhausting to search out this present day.
“But we enact regain it in The Observer and The Guardian.
“There are strikes to sell The Observer which can perchance well imperil its future. Now no longer loyal, because of this I stand in solidarity with its putting journalists.”
When the strike was first launched, a Guardian spokesperson acknowledged they recognised the “strength of feeling” relating to the proposals, nevertheless added: “Whereas we appreciate the perfect to strike, we enact no longer have a strike is the most easy direction of action in this case and our talks with the NUJ continue.
“Our priority is to wait on our readers and make stronger our team, so as that The Guardian and The Observer can continue to advertise liberal journalism and thrive in a tense media environment.”