Journalists in Scarborough are today staging a one-day strike over the introduction of the new Atex content management system.

Around 24 National Union of Journalists members working for the Scarborough Evening News and associated Johnston Press titles are due to take part in the action, which followed plans to make sub-editors move to a new production hub in Sheffield in order to keep their jobs.

Meanwhile, the NUJ is due to announce the result of a company-wide ballot on possible strike action across the whole of JP at lunchtime today.

A yes vote could result in hundreds of local press journalists walking out at a time when some titles are reportedly struggling to make the new system work.

A statement from the Yorkshire Regjonal Newspapers NUJ chapel in Scarborough reads: “There are several reasons why we feel we have been left with no alternative other than to take this drastic course of action, but essentially it is because we are about our the standards of our profession and we are very worried about the quality of newspaper now being sold to our readers.

“The ‘straw which has broken the camel’s back’ for NUJ members is the rushed introduction by Johnston Press management of newspaper production computer software called Atex, which forces journalists to write to fill boxes on the page.

“Worse still, it has meant the entire sub-editing department has been lost, with two members deciding to leave and others being re-deployed in different roles. Reporters now have to do the work of sub-editors, writing headlines and working on pages, as well as their existing workload of reporting and writing.

“Drastic cuts in staffing levels mean we as journalists can’t do the job we want to do. We are not getting out to speak to people, and we can’t cover court stories or council meetings often enough. We have to work unacceptably long hours to cover staff shortages and our health and safety is being put at risk.

“Journalists have accepted many new technologies and work practices, but this loss of valued and skilled colleagues’ jobs, and the extra workload imposed on us is unacceptable. We feel our flexibility and willingness to adapt and learn has been taken for granted by management.

“Our managers are cutting corners and compromising on quality so much that we have reached the point where enough is enough. We feel it’s time to make a stand.

YRN managing director Jason Rewse-Davies has said he is “disappointed” with the strike action and claims the company has avoided compulsory redudancies.

Comments

Major Eyeswater (30/04/2010 12:14:36)
Ah yes, the old “avoiding compulsory redundancies” line. By that I pressume he means offering people the choice of a similar job many miles away or voluntary redundancy.
JP is forcing people to leave, as for many subs, a job at a hub many miles away (usually on a reduced salary) is just not an option. So “voluntary” redundancy is the only choice left – unless you want to be a reporter somewhere, being told how many words your story is worth by someone who has no idea what story you are writing.
Atex is not fit for purpose. It is just a way of reducing the number of staff management believe are needed to produce papers.
Who cares about quality – just make it fit.

woldsman (30/04/2010 12:25:54)
It is wrong to claim YRN has avoided redundancies – an experienced editor was made redundant last August and since then his newspapers have gone to pot with a much lower news content and little grasp of what is happening in their respective circulation areas. The initiative is clearly being handed to their rivals with the local evening benefiting greatly. There is no substitute for experience – wake up JP.

Alan Salter (30/04/2010 13:55:55)
I trained at Scarborough. And went for block release at Richmond College, Sheffield. They were an awful long way from each other.

Wolfie (30/04/2010 16:21:32)
Disappointed Jason? Shame on you. The company has avoided its responsibilities . . . remember the JP mantra? We act with integrity . . .etc etc