NUJ to take co-ordinated action over local newspaper cuts

Profiteering by local newspaper publishers is destroying the industry, the National Union of Journalist's (NUJ) general secretary said today, as plans for protests and strike action in response to sweeping job cuts were announced.

Following an emergency meeting on Saturday involving Trinity Mirror, Johnston Press and Newsquest representatives, the union will now back industrial action in the coming weeks and will organise a day of action against the job losses, a release from the NUJ said.

Last week Trinity Mirror announced 78 jobs will go in its north west division, while Newsquest announced the loss of 17 journalists at the Northern Echo and plans to close five of its district offices.

According to research conducted by the union, more than 500 journalist posts have been left unfilled or axed and more than 30 local newspaper offices shut since June.

"Instead of greater investment in quality online content, more localised coverage and strengthened editorial teams, for years the vast profits of local newspapers have been largely shovelled in to shareholders pockets, directors' pay rises and executive pension pots, amidst reckless borrowing and poor investment decisions," said Jeremy Dear in the statement.

"Local newspapers in print and online remain viable and profitable businesses. We can't stand by and see this profiteering destroy our industry.

"The question needs to be asked what have they done with the billions of pounds of profits in the last 10 years? If you ran your family budgets in such a way you would risk ending up homeless and penniless."

The co-ordinated campaign will also target 'unwarranted pay freezes' and lobby parliament across the UK for support to stop local media job cuts.

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