Oppose the Reach cuts
Publisher Reach announced huge redundancies in September 2025 as part of a proposed restructure for its editorial function putting 600 journalists at risk and threatening 321 jobs. With 135 new roles expected to be created, there could be some mitigation of the overall number of individuals leaving the company. However, job losses will still have a significant impact on journalists and journalism more widely.
Whether you are a journalist at Reach, at another organisation, or a member of the public standing in solidarity - we need your help.
The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has strongly condemned the cuts. We are urging you to write to your MP to raise concerns over Reach's strategy and its impact on sustainable journalism. The union is also worried about the publisher's use of artificial intelligence, and has made clear that AI must never be a substitute for journalism.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
“Yet again, journalists at Reach must bear the burden of huge cuts announced by the organisation, leaving many understandably worried about their future at the company. With every restructure and redundancy round, experienced journalists leave behind already-stretched teams left to manage burgeoning workloads.
“It is time Reach considers a long-term sustainable strategy that recognises the value its journalists bring in contributing to its success. Their ability to pivot and adapt to meet company needs in recent years has been evident, yet these significant redundancies proposed show no regard for this. The company’s leadership must recognise that endless job cuts serve as a threat to the standards of journalism at the publisher, impacting the journalism audiences deserve.”
Read the union's full statement.
Write to your MP
- Send an email - by using our online tool to contact Westminster MPs. Don't forget to amend the template letter to add your own concerns/experiences.
The model letter/email references Early Day Motion 1892 urging Reach leadership to "engage meaningfully with the National Union of Journalists to minimise the impact of cuts, and urgently consider sustainable approaches that protects the company's public interest journalism upholding UK democracy."
- Download the template letter below to email parliamentarians in the Scottish Parliament. Search contact details for your MSP.
Statements from MPs
Grahame Morris, MP for Easington, raised the issue of mass redundancies at Reach and “the continued erosion of our media landscape” in Parliament on 16 October.
Morris said:
“Despite previous reassurances from Reach plc, owners of The Mirror, Daily Record, The Express, and many regional papers, they have announced redundancies that put 600 journalists’ jobs under threat.
“Many of us, on all sides of the House, are concerned about the continued erosion of our media landscape, particularly the loss of experienced and professional journalists, which risks driving people to fake news and misinformation on social media.
“Can I ask, will the minister meet with the NUJ and concerned MPs from the All-Party Group to discuss this pressing issue?”
Responding to Morris, Lisa Nandy, secretary of state for culture, media and sport, said:
“[Local journalists] are an essential part of our democracy. It wasn’t lost on me during the disorder last summer the way in which local newspapers helped to counter the mis- and disinformation that was spreading like wildfire online. It’s why we’re developing a local media strategy…, but I'd be delighted to meet with him, other members of Parliament, and the NUJ to discuss this further.”
NUJ Reach Group chapel statement
The savage cuts announced by Reach plc to its editorial teams are condemned in the strongest possible terms by the Reach NUJ Group Chapel on behalf of our hundreds of members. Details of where the axe will fall have been given piecemeal, but it is obvious from the overall total of 321 jobs in line for the chop that the concept of quality journalism itself is imperilled at the UK and Ireland’s largest commercial publisher.
The creation of a Live News Network and significant restructuring around the principle of fewer text-based stories and more video content with the reassuring pledge to enhance and promote the group’s valued and trusted national and regional brands, is in fact doublespeak. The exact opposite is in fact the case with, for example, a near halving of dozens of dedicated journalists at The Mirror that have been put at risk. A similar picture of sweeping cuts to specialist journalists around the group is evident from the plans unveiled.
Our members have no faith or confidence in a strategy that will lead to a further and faster hollowing out of staffing on these historic and respected titles. A new business case must be found - and fast - away from a path to nowhere.
The greatest concern is that despite the loud denials from the company that AI is behind its thinking that it can cut hundreds of journalists and still enjoy a reputation for quality journalism, it is evident that AI is indeed the enabler for it. Be it from the use of AI to replace skilled notetakers in redundancy consultation meetings now underway, to relying on the Guten software programme to cut out the “duplication” of separate news creation for the leading titles, it is obvious to all that there is a desperate bid to use flawed technology to plug gaping holes.
Journalists are not opposed to AI where it helps them do their job better, frees them to do more valuable work and improves the overall journalism produced. Clear commitments must be given about the use of AI to save the company’s reputation and longer-term future. AI must not be used to replace journalists; there must be full disclosure on all ways AI is being used and a binding commitment to meaningfully consult the Union on any new proposed uses of AI.
The group chapel will be raising this with the NUJ Parliamentary Group and we will now be launching a consultation with our members via chapels as to next steps. The Group Chapel rules nothing out at this stage.
Solidarity statements
The Financial Times chapel has joined fellow NUJ members at Reach plc in condemning the cuts:
"A planned total headcount reduction of 321 will seriously damage quality journalism at the UK and Ireland's largest commercial publisher. Despite management claims for the creation of a Live News Network, the target would halve the number of dedicated journalist jobs at the Mirror, for example.
"We fully support the Reach Group chapel in their statement that 'AI must not be used to replace journalists [and] there must be full disclosure on all ways AI is being used.'
"We send support and solidarity as the NUJ consults members over next steps."
The PA chapel passed the following motion:
“The PA chapel is concerned to learn of a planned restructure at Reach putting more than 300 jobs at risk of being cut. We understand and appreciate that the British media needs to adapt to changes in the way the general public consume our content.
“However, the PA chapel believes that embarking on a wave of mass redundancies affecting titles including The Express, The Mirror, Manchester Evening News, Daily Star and Liverpool Echo is not just a body blow for those directly involved but also bad for the health of the whole industry.
“We believe the British media has the potential to not only survive but thrive through innovation, talent, training and diversity. Swathing cuts, albeit potentially mitigated by the creation of 135 new roles, are a blunt instrument that could have a damaging effect on those remaining. Having undergone a period of restructure at PA earlier this year, the PA Chapel understands all too well the negative impact this can have on staff wellbeing, morale and productivity.
“At a full PA chapel meeting on Tuesday, 23 September, members voted to pass a motion for a public show of support for our colleagues at Reach.”
Solidarity from the NUJ PR & Communications branch:
The PR & Communications Branch of the NUJ sends its support and solidarity to our colleagues at Reach PLC who are facing a further round of massive redundancies.
The PRC Branch joins other union members in condemning these planned cuts which have created uncertainty for 600 journalists across the company’s titles. The proposals are that 321 roles would be cut, with the creation of 135 new roles to mitigate some of those losses. However, it is far from certain that those roles will be suitable for some of those at risk, meaning many of our Reach colleagues’ livelihoods are under threat, and the proposals would halve the number of dedicated journalists’ jobs at The Mirror, for instance.
We recognise that, without trained and qualified journalists to work with, the PR & Communications sector would fail. We also fully support the Reach Group Chapel in their statement that 'AI must not be used to replace journalists [and] there must be full disclosure on all ways AI is being used' - transparency is critical to maintaining public trust when it comes to Artificial Intelligence.
We reiterate our support and solidarity with members working across Reach titles as the union engages in consultations, and call on Reach management to engage meaningfully in this process.
The Birmingham & Coventry NUJ Branch passed the following motion:
“Birmingham & Coventry NUJ Branch is dismayed by Reach plc’s plans to make sweeping redundancies that have put 600 journalists at risk of losing their livelihood – including in the West Midlands. These are uncertain and worrying times for members and their families.
“Newsroom staffing levels are already very stretched and we express support and solidarity to all members affected by the company’s plans. The threat of AI to remaining jobs is concerning. We call on Reach to engage closely with the Union to minimise any job losses and to ensure that wherever possible those being made redundant are volunteers who want to leave.”
The Broadcasting, Entertainment and Arts Unions (BEAU) shared the following statement:
"The Broadcasting, Entertainment and Arts Unions sends a message of solidarity to journalists across Reach plc in the face of cuts announced by the publisher in September. Journalists at the company have proven their dedication, talent and passion time and time again, yet have been informed that across Reach, over 300 jobs will be cut with 600 journalists at risk.
"BEAU recognises the immense contribution of journalists and journalism in upholding democracy and is gravely concerned by recent proposals, even with plans to create some new posts. Journalists' role in holding our politicians to account and scrutinising policies to ensure the public can make informed decisions whilst exercising their right to democratic participation must never be understated. As our unions stand in full solidarity with NUJ members at this time, we urge Reach to lead with greater transparency on its use of artificial intelligence both now and in the future, recognising that AI can never be a substitute for journalism."