The parliamentary lobby – organised by the National Union of Journalists – discussed possible solutions to the crisis in commercial newspapers, websites, TV and radio.

Many companies are making huge job and budget cuts to shore up short-term profits, yet they have no long-term strategy for the future of their businesses. The meeting was hosted this afternoon (25 March) by the NUJ Parliamentary Group, and was attended by NUJ members from across Britain.

Speaking after the lobby, NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: “We want the government to help, but it needs to be supporting quality journalism – not profits for greedy shareholders.”

The MPs heard journalists from around the UK explain how their regions had been hit by media cuts.

Then there was a chance for MPs to talk face-to-face with journalists from their region.

Jeremy added: “Newspaper companies in particular have made massive profits and sucked money out of local communities.

“Now that times are harder they are trying to keep up unrealistic profit margins at the expense of jobs and quality journalism.

“Any state support must serve communities – not provide speculators with a taxpayer-funded cash machine.”

Many MPs urged the union to investigate alternative ownership models that would root journalism in local communities. They also vowed to do all they could to ensure the government heard the NUJ’s message.

John McDonnell MP, secretary of the NUJ Parliamentary Group, said: “MPs rely on local media to communicate with constituents. We know the important role journalism plays in a democracy.

“Now the fight is on to ensure we have a properly funded media that’s accountable to local people.”

Eighty-seven MPs have so-far signed EDM 916, a parliamentary motion outlining the NUJ’s concerns.

Earlier in the day Andrew Gwynne, the MP for Denton and Reddish, used Prime Minister’s Questions to raise concerns with the government about job cuts by Guardian Media Group in Manchester. In his question to Harriet Harman MP, who was standing in for Gordon Brown, he urged the company to rethink its plans to consolidate its operations and close offices.

25 March 2009