Journalists at The Guardian and The Observer have launched a 48-hour strike in protest at the proposed sale of the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper.
The strike is the first by members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the newspapers in more than 50 years.
The action on Wednesday and Thursday is in protest against the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media, a start-up founded five years ago by former Times editor James Harding.
The union said the strike coincides with The Observer marking 233 years since it first began publication in 1791.
On Monday, Sky News reported it had obtained a memo sent to Guardian Media Group employees by chief executive Anna Bateson outlining a revised package aimed at placating journalists angry with the proposals.
Then on Tuesday, Sky News reported Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of The Guardian’s parent company the Scott Trust, insisted it will remain a part-owner of The Observer if the deal goes ahead.
The artist Grayson Perry joined journalists on the picket line
Staff mounted a picket line outside the London headquarters of the newspaper titles.
Journalists told Sky News there had been a “massive amount of uncertainty” in recent months – and they think “these two great papers belong together”.
Paul Webster, former editor of The Observer, joined the journalists holding the protest and told Sky News: “I oppose this deal because I don’t think it offers a good future at all for The Observer and I don’t think it’s good either for The Guardian.
“I think that The Observer is well placed in its current relationship as part of the Guardian group.”
The Observer writers Miranda Sawyer, left, and Philipps Perry on the picket line
NUJ general secretary-elect Laura Davison said: “Guardian and Observer members have the full backing of the NUJ as they undertake this significant industrial action – the first for over 50 years.
“The massive vote to take this step shows journalists’ desire to publicly highlight to readers and those in charge their collective concerns about the future of the title.
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The Guardian and Observer writer Carole Cadwalladr
Ahead of the strike, wildlife TV presenter and conservationist Chris Packham issued a video of support on his social media, saying: “I don’t think we should put a price on the truth. It’s hard to find these days.
“But we do find it in The Observer and The Guardian.”
When the strike was first announced, a Guardian spokesperson said they recognised the “strength of feeling” about the proposals, but added: “While we respect the right to strike, we do not believe a strike is the best course of action in this case and our talks with the NUJ continue.
“Our priority is to serve our readers and support our staff, so that The Guardian and The Observer can continue to promote liberal journalism and thrive in a challenging media environment.”
The writers here don’t feel like their bosses are listening
From whippets wearing protest T-shirts to celebrity supporters, outside of The Guardian and Observer offices clustered together in the freezing cold are writers more used to sitting inside in front of their laptops than rising up as one and taking to the streets.
“Isn’t there a brazier anywhere?” cackles artist Grayson Perry, here to support his wife – the psychologist Philippa Perry who writes a weekly column.
“Us middle class liberal elite are under threat,” he teases, telling me if “one of the great old ladies of progressive media is under threat from the modern world then, I think, it’s worth standing up for”.
Journalists here haven’t taken this decision lightly. Some tell me they feel blindsided, baffled, by the deal that’s come to light with Tortoise Media.
“We only know about this because Sky News got the story,” investigative journalist and features writer Carole Cadwalladr tells me.
She adds: “You guys got the scoop and at that point they were forced to tell us.”
The Guardian Media Group insists it was already talking to staff when Sky News broke the story and that there has been a nine-week consultation with staff as they carry out talks with Tortoise. But certainly those who are outside don’t feel like their bosses are listening.
They question the validity of Tortoise sweeping in and positioning itself as their great saviour, that the deal is the only means of securing The Observer’s future at a time when print sales are in freefall.
Ms Cadwalladr explains: “We really feel this is a betrayal of the values that we thought The Guardian and Observer stood for. Our demands are so modest, all we’re asking for is a pause to look at other options… to have a rational converstaion which involves the journalists but also critically one that includes the readers.”
