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.
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.
“This deal came as a complete shock to me. As far as I can see it offers us a very, very precarious future in a small loss-making start-up where it’s a very expensive and complex process to produce a stand-alone Sunday newspaper.
“It doesn’t offer the kind of resource we need. It’s generally very, very bad news, I think, for The Observer.”
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.
“The Observer holds a unique and important place in public life and our members care about the next chapter in its history.
“The union is calling for a pause in the exclusive talks to provide more time to consider alternatives and ensure decisions are in the best interests of both titles.”
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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.
“There are moves to sell The Observer which might imperil its future. Not good, that’s why I stand in solidarity with its striking journalists.”
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.”