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Union urges MPs to probe ‘media plurality’ amid Reach/JPIMedia talks

nujlogoUnion chiefs have urged MPs to investigate a “lack of media plurality” in the wake of Reach plc’s confirmation that it is seeking to buy part of JPIMedia.

The National Union of Journalists has raised concerns about the move, saying it believes editorial policy in the regional press “will be concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people” as a result.

Reach confirmed yesterday it was in the “early stages” of discussions over the acquisition of “certain” JPIMedia assets, which have as yet not been named.

JPIMedia has since told staff it is up for sale, although it is understood all options are being considered including the offloading of individual assets or the sale of the company as a whole.

But the NUJ is concerned that a takeover of JPIMedia by Reach would lead to market domination by just two companies – Reach and Newsquest.

A spokesperson said: “If parts of JPIMedia are sold to Reach there will be an adverse impact on the market and those employed within it. A takeover of this kind would limit the scope for future jobs in the entire sector.

“Any deal that includes JPI Media’s flagship regional titles would lead to the market being dominated by just two companies – Reach and Newsquest. Both organisations have been relentless in reducing original content and the provision of local professional journalism.

“The union is concerned that decisions on editorial policy and news gathering and practice will be concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people and so we are calling on parliamentarians to investigate the lack of media plurality in Britain.

“The NUJ has been warning for years about the trend towards growing media monopolies and the reducing number of companies that own all newspaper titles and their associated websites. It has a profoundly damaging impact on public debate and democracy.

“This latest move is alarming; the NUJ is calling for meaningful engagement with the company and is seeking specific guarantees on realistic, sustainable staffing levels and job security.”

JPIMedia, Reach plc and Newsquest have all declined to comment on the NUJ’s statement.

8 comments

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  • July 19, 2019 at 12:08 pm
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    “…and is seeking specific guarantees on realistic, sustainable staffing levels and job security”
    When all the big groups are closing offices,, laying off staff(usually under the radar) consolidating roles and reducing departments adding pressure on those who remain?
    Good luck with that one

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  • July 19, 2019 at 12:09 pm
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    The NUJ should ask themselves: “Just what have JPI done for journalism since they arrived on the scene in November?”

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  • July 19, 2019 at 1:33 pm
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    The NUJ are completely and utterly out of touch with reality on this one, I’m afraid.

    It’s blindingly obvious that papers don’t compete with each other and that regional titles don’t have any political or proprietorial interference.

    Reach acquiring JPI’s titles will mean that some will have a chance of survival, something that won’t happen if they are retained by JPI.

    The NUJ are effectively calling for yet more job losses in an industry trying to compete with the Silicon Valley giants.

    Wake up!

    And, MP’s, please don’t stand in the way of this glimmer of hope.

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  • July 19, 2019 at 2:54 pm
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    @Northender
    The NUJ should ask themselves: “Just what have we done to help stem the decimation of jobs in the industry in the last ten years”

    Correct. They’ve done nothing. And issuing press releases about the ‘lack of media plurality’ sadly shows how irrelevant and toothless they really are.
    And I speak as a one-time member of the NUJ for almost 40 years.

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  • July 19, 2019 at 3:33 pm
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    Thoroughly agree with Nikkon. When my former employers were going through endless redundancy processes all the meaningful work was done by NUJ reps on the shop floor. The London official people were nowhere to be seen apart from the 2006 episode when one told us that the redundancy offers being made were better than average. Thanks for that. Not exactly sure what more than 25 years of subs went towards, and I speak as one of life’s natural union joiners.

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  • July 19, 2019 at 3:55 pm
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    The NUJ are irrelevant now, useless and out of touch. Releasing the occasional press release is pointless, has Michelle Stanistreet asked for a meeting with the CEO?

    The NUJ had an income of £4.7m last year, of which £118K went to Stanistreet in way of pay, pension and benefits.

    I am at a loss at how ineffective the NUJ has become.

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  • July 22, 2019 at 10:53 am
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    I was a member of the NUJ for many, many years during my 50 years in journalism but I left in 1990 because even then I wondered what on earth I was paying my subs for. They haven’t got a clue as to how to deal with the current, depressing situation.

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  • July 22, 2019 at 1:31 pm
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    Agree with a lot of these comments but it’s always better to be in a union than not! If you want to be in a union and I certainly do then what can one do?

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