A SECOND walk-out by members of the National Union of Journalists at the Herald group of newspapers has arguably hit harder than the first strike action.
Today’s Herald newspaper was produced under the shadow of a 24-hour walk-out begun at 9am yesterday, in response to proposed sackings of staff at sister title, the Evening Times, as owners, Newsquest seek budget cuts of up to three million pounds.
But while the first walk-out, on Friday, was being hailed a success by the NUJ – not least because of the solidarity shown by staff – yesterday’s could be said to have been even more disruptive: the sum total of today’s Herald newspaper is 26 pages, plus a ‘going out’ supplement, no bylines on either pages one or three, precious little sport, and no features.
That said, last weekend’s newspapers may have seemed bulky enough, but a lack of personnel was evident in at least one regard. As eagle-eyed readers will have spotted in the Sunday Herald, while there was a supplement praising the beach near Edinburgh, there was also a news story shaming the very same beach – because of being at risk of failing sewage contamination limits.
