Journalists at The Observer and sister title The Guardian will strike on Wednesday over plans to sell the Sunday paper to a digital start-up, with senior figures questioning whether editor-in-chief Katharine Viner can survive the revolt.
The first strike in more than 50 years at the bastion of liberal journalism, the 48-hour walkout is designed to cause the maximum disruption to Guardian Media Group’s print and online publications.
Timed to mark The Observer’s 233rd anniversary, the 48-hour industrial action, backed by 93 per cent of journalists across both titles, is a last-gasp attempt to halt the sale of the Sunday paper to Tortoise Media, a loss-making podcast and events producer.
Anger is being directed at Viner and GMG chief executive Anna Bateson, who have advocated for the deal, which would see The Observer’s 70 staff transferred to Tortoise, founded by James Harding, a former Times editor and director of BBC News.
One senior journalist said: “The chapel passed a vote of no confidence in the Scott Trust and a vote on Kath would probably go the same way. She has lost the support of staff and if the Tortoise deal collapses she would have to take responsibility having backed it so strongly.”
A former executive said: “It’s a mess, someone needs to restore trust between the trust, the editor and the journalists.
“It’s very difficult for Kath for re-establish staff relations if the deal goes ahead. If not, then why did she expend so much personal political capital on it? It’s going to be a sticky time for her.
“The trust is looking to protect itself with a stake in Tortoise if the thing implodes. The best solution would be to pause it.”
Another staffer said: “People have gone into meetings with Kath wanting to be convinced, and actually come out more opposed. Many of us supported her in the staff ballot for next editor (in 2015) because she promised to protect The Observer.
“Now she says it has a bleak future, unless it’s sold to protect The Guardian. They feel betrayed. The management has totally lost touch with staff.”
Harding promises £25m in investment and a plan to turn The Observer into a profitable digital subscription business.
Staff fear Tortoise lacks the funds and experience to run a print and online news operation.
They say the sale is a betrayal of a promise Viner made to staff to protect and nurture The Observer alongside The Guardian, when the daily paper’s owners, the £1.3bn Scott Trust, bought the Sunday newspaper 31 years ago.
Insiders believe the 12-person trust, which must approve the sale, cannot now ignore the prominent voices ranged against the deal – six former Guardian and Observer editors including Alan Rusbridger, along with current senior writers Simon Hattenstone and Carole Cadwalladr, have called for bosses to abandon a plan they say puts The Observer’s future at risk.
Concessions, including a promise that Observer staff would retain their enhanced redundancy terms and a suggestion that the trust retains a “golden share” in The Observer, with a buy-back option should Tortoise’s finances fail, have failed to assuage staff concerns.
A Guardian source said that Viner had made clear to staff that her priority is to secure the future of The Observer.
Others said anger should be directed at Bateson, whose friendship with Harding preceded the deal discussions – the pair had holidayed, with family members, on a £15m superyacht and been in the same party during a ski trip in France.
The campaign to stop the deal, backed by figures including conservationist Chris Packham and TV producer Armando Iannucci, needs the support of 25 per cent of the voting trust members to bring it to a halt.
Meanwhile, green energy businessman and Forest Green Rovers FC owner Dale Vince last week threw his hat into the ring, saying he had discussed the potential of buying the title if the Tortoise deal breaks down.
Bosses are putting in place contingency measures to maintain publication during the first of two 48-hour strikes called by The Guardian’s NUJ chapel.
Copy is expected to be presented under a “Guardian staff” byline to preserve the anonymity of anyone who does break the picket line. Editors will rely on wires and pre-written copy to fill what is set to be a reduced print edition.
Strikers said they may ask readers to join a “digital picket” by boycotting The Guardian website during the strike period, which begins at 11am on Wednesday.
A Guardian Media Group spokesperson said: “We recognise the strength of feeling about the proposed sale of The Observer and appreciate that NUJ members wish to make their views heard.”
“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. We have a plan in place to minimise the impact of strike action on staff, readers and subscribers and we continue to publish online and produce the print edition as usual.”
The media group rejected suggestions that senior staff had been “pressured” to work during the strike period. A source said: “Standard internal communications have gone to all staff offering information and support about the planned NUJ industrial action.”