As reported by the National Union of Journalists: The American-owned group stepped in to take over NWN Media, an independent publisher of titles including one daily and number of weeklies in north and mid Wales, Cheshire and Shropshire. This follows its purchase of the independent Isle of Wight County Press in July.
The titles include the daily The Leader, which publishes in Wrexham and Flintshire, and weeklies including the Chester Standard, South Wirral Standard, Oswestry & Border Counties Advertizer, Rhyl Journal, Powys County Times, Denbighshire Free Press, Whitchurch Herald, North Wales Pioneer and North Wales Chronicle. NWN Media is based in Mold, near Wrexham, and employs around 300 people.
The NUJ said it was concerned for the future of journalists who will now be working for Newsquest and urged them to join the union.
Chris Morley, coordinator for Newsquest NUJ group chapel, said: "There is great disquiet among NUJ members within Newsquest that a company that keeps its journalists on poverty pay can splash out many millions to takeover independent newspapers left stranded by the market.
"Newsquest has shown no interest in professional standards and is doing all it can to edge out quality journalism in pursuit of free user generated content. Its record on takeovers has been dubious in the past with a ruthless axe taken to the Romanes Group titles just weeks after takeover to the shock and dismay of its journalists.
"Our members in Newsquest are screaming out for investment in their titles, not more victims to be squeezed dry and discarded for the benefit of boosting boardroom pay and rewarding US shareholders."
John Toner, NUJ Welsh national organiser, said: “Newsquest seems to be buying up newspapers at an alarming rate while making staff redundant. Their brutal treatment last Christmas of the sub-editors employed at Newport is still fresh in the memory in Wales. We urge the company to reassure staff that their jobs are secure and that there is no threat to terms and conditions. All editorial staff who are not yet NUJ members should join the union as quickly as possible.”
