Reach chapel issues vote of no confidence in company leadership
The NUJ Reach group chapel has passed a vote of no confidence in Reach's editorial leadership, particularly its Chief Content Officer.
This vote comes after the latest wave of relentless cuts resulting in a net loss of 160 editorial roles and the closure of three titles.
The NUJ Reach group chapel passed the following motion unanimously:
"Following the latest announced mass job losses, the National Union of Journalist's Reach Group chapel has passed a vote of no confidence in the current editorial leadership of Reach, and particularly that of David Higgerson as chief content officer.
"Reach Group Chapel is appalled at the massive attack on jobs announced on 16th September which has put more than 360 journalists at risk of redundancy and the potential net loss of 160 editorial roles. This comes on top of 50 jobs already lost to voluntary redundancy in the summer.
"The continual rounds of redundancies are the result of substantial failures in strategy and the company gambling its future on algorithms controlled by US tech giants.
"While we strongly support the belated drive for digital subscriptions, the clear feedback from members is that they fear it may be too late - given the ruthless stripping away of journalistic talent and experience over many years - to provide the financial strength to nurse the company back to genuine financial security.
"The group chapel questions whether the senior management, who have presided over and ordered the diminution of editorial resources and capacities over the last decade, are the right personnel to pursue the new strategies that they have previously scorned.
"Our members understand there will be new leadership on the board in 2027 and believe that this gives the opportunity to bring in new thinking and expertise based around the clear support for the values of quality journalism."