STUC passes motion calling for Scottish government to protect local journalism
The Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) unanimously passed a motion calling for the Scottish government to help protect local journalism amid widespread cuts, including at STV.
The motion passed yesterday (22 April) - the same day the NUJ and Bectu announced that staff at STV will be going on strike on 8 May over management’s decision to make a 0% pay offer, despite increased workloads and pressure.
The motion calls on the STUC General Council to lobby the Scottish Parliament to investigate the current state of Scottish journalism and to “work with unions, employers, and the Scottish Public Interest Journalism Institute to put forward solutions to protect local journalism.”
It noted that “quality local journalism plays a vitally important role in an informed democracy,” adding that cuts at STV and across Reach titles show that it is under threat. It also cited the refusal of Malcolm Denmark - owner of The Scotsman and numerous other titles through Iconic Media - to engage with trade unions.
During the debate, Conrad Landin, NUJ delegate, said:
“Over the past two and a half decades, the lifeblood of our fourth estate, local news, has been aggressively and recklessly slashed by profit-seeking corporations. They cut staffing levels to the bone, close down local papers, pay huge dividends to shareholders – and then plead poverty and keep their reporters on poverty pay.”
Landin called on politicians to intervene and “protect democracy and the ability of independent journalism to hold power to account.” He added that “the rot” has now spread from newspapers into broadcasting with cuts to jobs and programming at STV. Landin also rejected the narrative of STV leadership that the cuts are due to people failing to tune into news bulletins or changing audience behaviours. The “real explanation” is the financial mismanagement of the company under its chief executive Rufus Radcliffe. Meanwhile, the decision to make a 0% pay offer to staff adds “insult to injury” he said.
Seconding the motion, Suvi Wallendahr, (Bectu sector of) Prospect, said:
“The Bectu sector of Prospect represents the crews that work behind the scenes to bring you what you see on your telly. I’m talking about the folk operating the cameras, those recording sound, the people who edit the footage, those who direct in studios, the producers. You might not see them, but they are all there.
“Local journalism is done by people, for people. And let’s not forget it’s 2026. We live in the age of AI and deepfakes. It’s becoming harder and harder to tell what is real. Local journalism is real. It is done by people: they plan it, they report it, they record it, they edit it, they broadcast it. And while doing it, they are held to standards. This is not something that can be cut or replaced. In this, Bectu and NUJ members stand together. Both have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.”
Mary Senior, Scottish secretary of UCU, said:
“We’ve heard over the past three days that we’re in the fight of our lives: a cost of living crisis; attacks on jobs, terms and conditions; the rise of the far right. Our ability to communicate and present our case as we fight back via regional broadcast news output and local press and media is also under attack. Our comrades delivering this vital news and public information service are seeing their livelihoods on the line.
“At a time when misinformation and disinformation circulates all too readily -pushed by the billionaire tech brothers - a vibrant free press is fundamental to our democracy and for social cohesion [...] Congress please support local journalism, buy your local newspaper or subscribe to its digital version. Support NUJ colleagues in their fight to save their jobs and industry.”
Colin Brown, representing the Fire Brigades Union, said:
“As a small single sector union, the FBU need to maximise our reach using any and all means available [...] The understanding, engagement and reach of local journalism and local coverage of FBU campaigns has repeatedly ensured cuts to fire services have not been forced through without widespread challenge.”