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.
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.