AddThis SmartLayers

Union laments loss of ‘centuries of experience’ at London titles

nujlogoMore than 300 years’ worth of experience has been lost from Newsquest’s South London titles in the past two years, the National Union of Journalists has claimed.

The regional publisher recently announced plans to switch production of its South London papers to Weymouth, leaving up to six sub-editors facing the choice of relocating to the Dorset coast or taking redundancy.

According to the union, it is the fourth round of redundancies Newsquest has imposed on its South London division since the early summer of 2014.

It says earlier cutbacks have resulted in the departures of staff with combined experience totalling 330 years, leaving what it called “a void of local and specialist knowledge.”

Earlier this week the London Assembly passed a motion asking Mayor Boris Johnson to write to Newsquest about its decision to move production jobs out of the capital and called on the Assembly’s economy committee to investigate the state of local press in the capital.

The Assembly said it believed the loss of production jobs would threaten the quality and long term survival of local papers in South London.

A South London NUJ chapel spokesman said: “The feeling you have after you are told by well-paid Newsquest executives that they plan to lay off your colleagues and friends is hard to describe. But the emotional toll is plain to see when leaving speeches are made and they disappear out of the door for the last time.

“The draining of hard-won journalistic experience not only hurts those left behind, but also does a disservice to trainee reporters joining the newsroom, who now have far fewer wise heads to rely on for guidance.”

Laura Davison, NUJ national organiser, said: “Newsquest’s contempt for its staff and its complete disregard for investing in strong, local newspapers for its readers has not going unnoticed. Local politicians and MPs gave their support during the strike and the London Assembly has stepped in again to show its disquiet about the conduct of the Newsquest management.

“London, by head of population, is one of the least well served by newspapers and Newsquest seems hell-bent on making the situation worse.”

Newsquest has been approached for a comment.

4 comments

You can follow all replies to this entry through the comments feed.
  • December 4, 2015 at 10:23 am
    Permalink

    Apart from nailing together a few angry union quotes, where is the story here? There’s nothing new, everyone knows NQ has been cutting for ages.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(3)
  • December 4, 2015 at 10:35 am
    Permalink

    It’s the same throughout the industry. Get rid of the ones who might be earning marginally more than a pittance and replace them with starry-eyed kids, who can download, copy and paste a press release to present as all their own work, complete with by-line. It’s a no-brainer for the corporate bean counters.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(5)
  • December 4, 2015 at 12:43 pm
    Permalink

    I am afraid johnners is right and it’s symptomatic of the rapid decline of the sector. One ex-newspaper company owner said (before he sold out) “loyalty” was not what he needed in the ranks – presumably meaning people who stay and become accomplished at their jobs might demand better pay. Also, one of my neighbour’s kids, a great lad but lacking academic qualifications, has worked his way up to becoming a supermarket deli counter manager – on more money and perks than a couple of ultra-qualified, university-educated reporters of the same age I know. Sad but true.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(6)
  • December 4, 2015 at 1:02 pm
    Permalink

    True enough @johnners1712 but at least those, “starry-eyed kids, who can download, copy and paste a press release”, are almost certainly better informed about mental health issues than Clive Smith of the Portsmouth ‘News’.

    Report this comment

    Like this comment(5)