The dramatic fallout from The Guardian and Observer staff over the sale of the world’s oldest Sunday newspaper to Tortoise, a loss-making startup, is yet another illustration of how the unions and their allies in left-wing journalism are too often their own worst enemies.
What has this got to do with journalists and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), who are employees—not shareholders? Why do they constantly stick their oars into matters best left to business strategy?
Let’s not mince words: the Scott Trust has approved a £5 million investment in Tortoise as part of the deal. This isn’t some capricious decision made overnight but a calculated move to secure a sustainable future for The Observer. And yet, journalists are in uproar, striking and posting snarky signs about “morality and decency” in the office.
Employees, Not Owners
The core issue here is that journalists seem to have forgotten their place in the structure of the organisation. They are employees, not the proprietors. The Scott Trust, as the custodian of The Guardian and The Observer, is tasked with making the tough decisions to ensure both publications survive and thrive in an increasingly challenging media landscape. A £5 million investment is no small gesture and indicates a commitment to preserving jobs and their so called “liberal journalism.” Do the striking journalists seriously believe that throwing tantrums will bring in better options or more cash?
Unions Sticking Their Oars In
Once again, we see unions, like the NUJ, inserting themselves into the conversation with accusations of “betrayal.” Would they rather the paper collapse than see new investment? The Scott Trust has been transparent about the challenges facing the industry and the need for bold decisions. Yet the unions’ solution appears to be to let the status quo linger until it’s too late.
Strikes, walkouts, and union bluster won’t pay the bills. They won’t reverse the decline in print journalism or address the rise of AI, which is already capable of writing basic news stories faster and cheaper than humans. And let’s be frank: as AI capabilities expand, journalists who focus more on walking picket lines than writing compelling stories will be the first to lose their jobs.
A £25 Million Lifeline
James Harding, the head of Tortoise and a seasoned journalist himself, has pledged to invest £25 million over the next five years to revitalise The Observer. He’s generously vowed to keep all 70 journalists on staff, offering voluntary redundancy to anyone unwilling to make the move. Compare that to the “rival” bidders who’ve yet to table a concrete offer, and the logic of the Scott Trust’s decision becomes evident.
Yes, Harding plans to put The Observer behind a paywall and transform its digital identity, aligning it with models like The Atlantic and The Spectator. But perhaps that’s exactly the kind of forward-thinking, sustainable strategy the publication needs here? A decision for the boardroom. If the journalists don’t like it they can jog on.
A Better Path Forward
Journalists and unions would do well to remember that their role is to deliver quality journalism—not to dictate the terms of ownership. If they disagree with the direction, they’re free to move on. This constant antagonism, however, only erodes trust between management and employees and jeopardises the very future they claim to be fighting for.
Instead of biting the hand that feeds them, perhaps it’s time for the unions and journalists to engage constructively with management. After all, preserving journalism in an age of digital transformation requires cooperation, not constant confrontation. Otherwise, they may find themselves replaced—not by new owners, but by algorithms. And when that happens, the unions will only have themselves to blame.
By B Rose
