Guardian/Observer NUJ chapel tells management: 'Don't close the Observer'

NUJ members on the Guardian and Observer have passed a resolution urging management to drop any proposals which will threaten the survival of the Observer, the country's oldest Sunday paper.
Management at the Guardian are considering options which include closing the title or turning it into a magazine.
The resolution said: "The Guardian and Observer NUJ chapel believes that the survival of the Observer as the world's oldest Sunday newspaper is essential for the protection of pluralism and diversity in the British media and calls on the Scott Trust and GNM/GMG management to reject proposals to drop the title, downgrade it to a weekly magazine or undermine its character as an independent and competitive Sunday newspaper.
“The chapel believes that the closing of a 200-year-old newspaper cannot be regarded as in any way comparable to other product changes currently being considered as part of the drive to reduce losses and offers its full support to the public campaign to save the Observer as an independent Sunday newspaper.
“The chapel is committed to the editorial autonomy, resourcing and identity of both the Observer and the Guardian - along with the protection of editorial standards and absolute rejection of compulsory redundancies across all platforms."
Barry Fitzpatrick, NUJ head of publishing, said: “There is already a large and growing degree of public support for the paper so its vital that management engage with the union now and listen to the paper's workers and readers.
“The NUJ will support the Guardian and Observer chapel in their fight against these potential cutbacks."
More info on the NUJ website.