Overview

• Guardian and Observer journalists will stage two 48-hour strikes on December 4-5 and December 12-13 in response to the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media.
• The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) claims Guardian Media Group (GMG) acted in bad faith, revealing its recommendation for the sale during negotiations despite earlier assurances of ongoing due diligence.
• Staff are concerned about Tortoise Media's financial stability, noting its £16 million losses since 2018, and fear job security risks for the 70 Observer journalists who would transfer under the deal.
• Tortoise Media has pledged £25 million in investment over five years and plans to introduce a paywall, but journalists question whether this will adequately address gaps in coverage or secure the paper's long-term future.
• The Scott Trust, GMG's ultimate owner, is expected to decide on the sale soon, while rival consortiums have expressed interest in buying The Observer, including one proposing a trust to safeguard its independence.