View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
April 7, 2004updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Meridian rejects staff plan to keep open Kent studios

By Press Gazette

Staff protesting in November

Journalists were in low spirits at Meridian Television this week after their alternative plan for staff to remain in the New Hythe studios at Maidstone in Kent was rejected by management.

As part of its overhaul of its coverage in the South East, ITV intends to relocate and pool Meridian’s technical staff in Hampshire, away from editorial staff, in a bid to save money.

The local NUJ insists that ITV’s costsaving targets could be met without separating and relocating the staff.

But the union has now returned to the drawing board to draft another proposal to present to management.

“Based on the limited amount of information we’ve been able to get from them, it would have met all their requirements,” said one Meridian journalist close to negotiations.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“Basically, we want the dedicated people working on our service based here [in Kent]. We think – not unfairly – that we’re all part of a team that’s worked together since day one.”

ITV was said to have rejected the plan on “three or four points”.

A meeting between the union and Meridian management is set for next week, in which the company is expected to set out its reasons for rejecting the NUJ’s proposals.

One senior Meridian journalist said there was “a growing feeling of despair among people and a mood for industrial action among some. People are just genuinely fed up now.”

In a new development, the Meridian viewers’ query answering service is moving from Kent to Birmingham.

“So, in future if there’s a query from Margate, it will be someone in Birmingham answering the phones who doesn’t know the area, which is absolutely ludicrous,” he said. “It is the death of ITV in the regions. Nobody should be in any doubt about that.”

By Wale Azeez

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network