View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
June 15, 2011

Newsquest London journalists begin two-day strike

By Andrew Pugh

Newsquest journalists in London have kicked off a two-day strike in protest at redundancies and pagination cuts.

NUJ members took to the picket lines today dressed as cowboys and cowgirls and carrying ‘wanted’ posters claiming Newsquest was responsible for the “death of local journalism”.

The walkout comes after a series of disputes between staff and senior Newsquest management since the beginning of the year.

NUJ Members in Twickenham and Sutton have been working to rule since April and last month passed a vote of no confidence in two senior managers.

Newsquest has told staff it is making a number of journalists redundant on the titles – which include the Croydon Guardian and the Surrey Comet – including its entire sport and leisure team in South London.

NUJ general secretary-elect Michelle Stanistreet said: “Newsquest journalists are fighting for their communities and their jobs.

‘It is time that Newsquest got the message that readers need their newspapers and the NUJ defends members and the quality journalism they provide.”

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

NUJ head of publishing Barry Fitzpatrick added: “Our members’ overwhelming decision to take strike action in defence of jobs and quality was the inevitable result of a wrong-headed management policy. But it is not too late for the company to show some sense and sit down with us to discuss the future security of the papers which are so important to our members and their communities.”

When Press Gazette contacted Newsquest’s head office in Weybridge, Surrey, we were told that chief executive Paul Davidson was the only person who could comment on the strike but that he was not in the office today.

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