The Press Complaints Commission has decided to take no further action over claims that Johnston Press’ new content management system is harming editorial standards.
A letter raising concerns about the publisher’s Atex system was sent to the PCC in June by the National Union of Journalists.
The move came after a leaked memo written by Paul Bentham, managing director of the group’s South Yorkshire titles, said editors ‘should not continue with the old practise of reading every story’.
The PCC contacted Johnston Press for reassurance after it received the letter and it has now emerged the watchdog was satisfied with the response from the company.
In the minutes from a PCC meeting held in July, it says commissioners discussed the issue but decided no further action should be taken at present.
The minutes say: “Commissioners agreed that no further steps were appropriate at this stage, Johnston Press having affirmed its commitment to the PCC – a commitment it said was unchanged by the latest technological developments.”
Chris Morley, the NUJ’s Northern regional organiser who wrote the letter to the PCC, said he still had concerns about the effects of Atex, saying it needed ‘constant vigilence’.
He said: “I think it is appropriate that they (the PCC) certainly spoke to Johnston Press about the issue, which I know they did.
“The thing that provoked it was a ridiculous instruction that was sent out to the editors about working protocol, which called into question the fundamental elements of an editor’s role.
“Some of the concerns have gone anyway in the fullness of time and with investment in better kit.
“The requirement for editors not to read every story, I don’t think it is being rammed down editors’ throats but their task is difficult.”
A spokeswoman for Johnston Press claimed 80pc of journalists who were using the new system were ‘very pleased’ with it, saying it gives them more control over content and responsibility for their copy.
She added the company believed it was working very well and that it had not had an increase in complaints.
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80 per cent of who? Certainly not the reporters who bear the brunt of this clumsy and chaotic way of working. The old one had it problems but was so superior. They must have asked senior managers. Call me a cynic, but I’d have said the same thing in the present jobs market. “more control over content and responsibility for their copy” means passing the buck to reporters, who I hear from colleagues elswhere have also now had the equally dreadful and cumbersome new web uploading system inflicted upon them in some areas. I think someone at top level may be getting out of touch with what is actually going on at the shop floor.
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Since Atex came in at our paper it has caused nothing but problems. Not one of the reporters who use it are happy. They have no time to write anything as they are too busy subbing. What we need are some dedicated staff members to put the paper together.. oh, that’s right we sacked them.
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editors ‘should not continue with the old practise of reading every story’. Maybe it’s because they just cannot spell! Or is that just MDs.
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I would have thought it would be more productive for the NUJ to send a letter to the insurance company that covers Johnston’s for libel. Without proper checking procedures by qualified staff, the premium will go up at the very least!
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The 80 per cent thing can’t be true. We’ve had it a couple of months now and have yet to hit our deadline once because we can’t get through the pages and copy fast enough with the staff we are left with. We lost four subs to Atex and have half the number of reporters we had 18 months ago. It’s not the system that’s at fault, it’s the implementation. If JP had used it properly, rather than simply to cut costs (ie experienced staff) it woudn’t have been so bad. But it has been the most stressful working experience of my life.
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I’d love to know where JP got their 80 per cent figure from. They certainly didn’t ask me or any of my colleagues if we’re happy with it.
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