Journalists at the Guardian and its sister publication, the Observer, have begun a two-day strike in protest over the proposed sale of the Sunday newspaper to Tortoise Media. This marks the first strike at the Guardian in over 50 years, with staff walking out on Wednesday and Thursday (4 and 5 December).
Tortoise Media, which is led by former Times editor and ex-BBC News director James Harding, has offered to buy the Observer. However, the move has sparked significant opposition from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), which represents staff at the publications. NUJ members have expressed concerns that the sale would undermine the values of the Guardian Media Group (GMG) and betray the commitment made by the Scott Trust, the group’s owner, to preserve the historic newspaper.
A Guardian spokesperson acknowledged the strong emotions surrounding the proposed sale but emphasized that the company did not believe strike action was the best response. “We recognise the strength of feeling,” the spokesperson said, adding that a plan was in place to minimize the impact of the strike on staff, readers, and subscribers. The spokesperson also confirmed that the newspaper would continue to publish online and produce its print edition as usual, though readers may notice some disruptions on the website and in print.
The NUJ passed a motion last month declaring that selling the Observer to Tortoise would be a “betrayal” of the commitment to editorial independence and liberal journalism. If the sale proceeds, Observer staff will be offered voluntary redundancy with enhanced terms or the option to transfer to Tortoise under the terms of their existing contracts.
In a recent email to staff, GMG Managing Director Anna Bateson confirmed that “constructive talks” would continue to ensure the protection of Observer staff if the deal moves forward. She also stated that freelance contracts would be extended until September 2025, after which they would be renegotiated.
Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of the Scott Trust, emphasized that the goal throughout the sale process was to safeguard both the Guardian and Observer, ensuring they continued to uphold liberal journalism and press freedom. He assured staff that the Scott Trust would remain part-owner of the Observer if the sale went ahead and that the new owners would have to respect editorial independence.
Tortoise Media’s Harding has argued that his company’s proposed investment of £25 million over five years would allow for editorial and commercial renewal of the Observer, extending its legacy. However, NUJ General Secretary-elect Laura Davison stressed that the strike was a significant move to highlight concerns about the future of the 233-year-old newspaper.
A GMG spokesperson stated that while they respected the right to strike, their priority remained ensuring the Observer’s journalism continued to play a leading role in the liberal media landscape.
