The National Union of Journalists is to hold a public meeting on what it calls the ‘crisis in Midlands journalism’.

Speakers at the meeting, organised by the Birmingham & Coventry branch, will include Don Hale OBE, awarding winning former editor of the Matlock Mercury and Neil Elkes, reporter for the Birmingham Post & Mail.

The meeting next Thursday follows Trinity Mirror’s shedding of 50 journalist jobs in the Midlands this month.

Barbara Goulden, branch chair, who was made redundant from the Coventry Telegraph two years ago, said:  “If those who tell the stories are no longer there to report, everyone will be the poorer and wrong-doing, abuses of power and other injustices will flourish.”

The meeting being held on Thursday 8 December from 6.30pm-9.30pm, Committee Rooms, Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square and is open to all.

Michelle Stanistreet NUJ general secretary said: “The destruction of the media in the Midlands – in newspapers, radio and TV – is a scandal and a tragedy.  Excellent, hard-working journalists are being thrown on the scrap heap and the citizens of this region are losing a vital check on the activities of local politicians and businesses.”