STV: Protect journalism, stop the cuts
The NUJ is campaigning against proposed cuts to programming and jobs at STV, which, if allowed to go ahead, will be hugely detrimental to viewers and journalism in Scotland.
STV’s damaging plans
STV plans to make a number of redundancies and axe the STV North edition of the flagship News at 6 programme - a decision the company announced in September 2025 following a disappointing financial report.
The broadcaster currently provides two separate news services - one for the central belt and the other for the northern half of the country. However, the regulator Ofcom has provisionally approved STV’s request to produce a single news programme, anchored from Glasgow. The condition is that just 30% of the content will need to be specific to each licence area.
STV had initially planned to go further but watered down the proposed changes, following pressure from viewers, politicians and the unions. The NUJ opposes these new plans, which are still bad for viewers, bad for advertisers, bad for journalism and bad for the STV brand.
Why the proposals must be rejected
The STV North programme has been broadcast from Aberdeen for 60 years, and ending it would not just change the broadcasting map of Scotland forever but it would also be an act of cultural vandalism.
Ultimately, STV management has made a short-term decision - in response to its own financial mismanagement - that is going to have catastrophic long-term effects if allowed to go through.
Centralising coverage would lead to a further homogenisation of voices in Scotland and many important stories covering local and regional issues will receive less time on air or won’t be told at all.
This is a dispute about quality journalism, and making sure the north of Scotland can continue to have access to reliable, trusted, quality news coverage that is routed in their communities. The NUJ will also continue to fight for every single job in the newsroom.
A strong and unified reaction
The cuts put forward by STV have been opposed by its own journalists, leaders of the five main political parties in Scotland, business leaders, and 83% of viewers.
On 7 January, dozens of NUJ members at STV went on strike over the plans, braving the cold and snow to picket outside the Glasgow and Aberdeen STV headquarters. STV news programmes were forced to be cancelled as a result. Statements of solidarity and support for striking members poured in from MPs and MSPs across the political spectrum, as well as other unions and campaign groups. The strike action took place just one day after STV launched its new commercial radio station, STV Radio.
Picket line outside STV Glasgow HQ
Members carrying “stop the cuts” and “save local news” placards
Picket line outside Aberdeen HQ
Members holding up "stop the cuts" and "save STV North" placards
Ofcom and its duty to viewers
While STV’s proposed cuts have received widespread condemnation, this has not been a unanimous response. Ofcom has provisionally approved the plans and, in January, the NUJ blasted the regulator after its leadership astonishingly described them as the "best thing for audiences across Scotland."
The NUJ has responded to Ofcom’s consultation on the provisional approval, arguing that allowing STV to cut back its licence requirements will not only be a disservice to viewers, it will also set a dangerous precedent for other channel 3 licence holders to reduce their PSB obligations. This is a ratchet which only lowers investment and commitment in news and has the potential to degrade news output across the nations and regions. The NUJ told Ofcom that it has made a “fundamental mistake” in its provisional decision and by taking arguments made by STV management at face value.
Support from across the union
The NUJ’s Highland chapel at BBC Scotland passed the following motion:
“The NUJ’s Highland chapel at BBC Scotland expresses solidarity with colleagues at STV over planned cutbacks. The loss of dozens of jobs and the axing of the north of Scotland news programme would be damaging to communities across the Highlands and Islands. It’s vital the north of Scotland continues to have a robust journalistic capacity and we urge STV management to think again and protect jobs and this important news service.”
The NUJ’s Highland branch passed this motion:
“The NUJ’s Highland branch is deeply concerned by STV’s proposals to cut around 60 jobs and stop its STV North news programme. The plan would be a significant blow to journalism in Scotland, particularly across the north. There are 1.3 million people in the STV North region and these cuts would affect the disadvantaged and those in remote and rural areas hardest. Under these plans, TV viewers would lose crucial coverage of public interest stories in their communities, damaging local democracy in Scotland.”
The BBC Aberdeen, Dundee Orkney and Shetland chapel also passed a motion in solidarity with colleagues at STV. It said:
“The BBC Aberdeen, Dundee, Orkney and Shetland NUJ chapel sends its support and solidarity to our colleagues at STV who face job cuts and the planned axing of the North news programme. The North of Scotland has a robust and diverse local news offering, which STV greatly contributes to. Our chapel recognises the unique issues that matter to our local audience, and any reduction in journalistic capacity would inevitably harm the quality of coverage and, ultimately, the communities we serve. Cutting staff and removing the Aberdeen-produced programme is greatly concerning and we urge STV management to retain it and protect jobs.”