'It's cultural vandalism': tears and anger as Observer staff end Guardian era inews.co.uk/news/its-cul... @theipaper.com @carolecadwalla.bsky.social @shattenstone.bsky.social @gonuj.org

I've reviewed dozens of books over the last decade for the Observer, which moves next week to new ownership. I'm grateful to books editor Ursula Kenny and the New Review. Here are some of the ones I've enjoyed, starting with Putin's People by Catherine Belton www.theguardian.com/books/2020/a...

Tomorrow is the final day at The Observer for the vast majority of journalists I know who work there - including the entire team of the New Review. I'll be interested to see in what form the paper continues at Tortoise, but whatever comes next it really is the end of an era. Very strange times.

Observer staff were ‘banged out’ of the building this evening. Our best wishes to everyone.

UPDATE: NUJ achieves concessions for Guardian & Observer journalists The union has been engaged in negotiations with the Guardian Media Group making significant progress over necessary mitigations for journalists www.nuj.org.uk/resource/nuj... @nujofficial.bsky.social

Please have a read of Penny's article! AI & Copyright, the ongoing saga.

👀 Observer newspaper deal attacts government scrutiny (£) "Officials have sent letters to the Guardian and Tortoise requesting information about the proposed buyout of The Observer, to help judge whether the deal needs further scrutiny" www.ft.com/content/20e2... @financialtimes.com

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🎶 And a Sunday paper for free 🎶 A reminder of the strength of feeling and sense of disbelief among Guardian/Observer @gonuj.org journalists over the mystery giveaway of the world’s oldest Sunday paper to a start-up podcaster that has trimmed its losses by cutting staff numbers ⤵️

As we head into the Christmas break, GONUJ want to thank everyone who has supported us, with donations, statements, letters, reposts, and of course joining us on our strike days. Your solidarity is so much appreciated. We also wanted to update you all on where things stand. 🧵 (1/8)

The Guardian/Observer chapel of @NUJofficial will meet tomorrow to consider the sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media. Thanks to all who supported the strikes in person - and via a digital picket. It is much appreciated. 🙏#savetheobserver @gonuj.org www.nuj.org.uk/resource/obs...

NEW: Tortoise-Observer deal signed and Lucy Rock named print editor pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...

So Tortoise now owns the Observer. For the sake of all involved let’s hope it works. If James Harding’s figures are to be believed the Scott Trust has just enabled and funded a potentially powerful competitor to the Guardian in the liberal media space. Strange times

The Scott Trust and Guardian Media Group (GMG) have signed a deal with Tortoise Media to buy the Observer. More to follow.

From @thetimes.com (£) "Tortoise is a thinly capitalised vanity project in search of a commercial model. Buying The Observer will give it a reason to tap backers for millions more in funding... The Guardian is paying too much for a stake that isn’t big enough." www.thetimes.com/article/guar...

Hello! Thanks again to everyone who supported our strikes over the last two weeks. It's meant a lot to us all. Stewart Lee was amongst us, as reported by @chortle.bsky.social www.chortle.co.uk/news/2024/12...

Journalists at the Guardian and Observer are taking industrial action over the proposed transfer of the ownership of the Observer. Regular features of comment & analysis are not appearing this weekend. That includes my column. For more information follow @gonuj.org www.nuj.org.uk/resource/not...

I knew about the walkouts by Guardian and Observer journalists over the proposed takeover of the Observer by Tortoise Media, but still learned much from this piece by @arusbridger.bsky.social. For example, what actually is the Scott Trust? Read his explainer to find out.

We've come to the end of our second 48-hour strike. Thank you to everyone who joined us today. Another great day with homemade mince pies, Christmas carols and guests such as Emily Thornberry and Gary Younge. You've all been amazing. To quote the great Billy Bragg: "Solidarity forever!" ✊

Thank you Gary Younge for your support today 🙏🏻 #savetheobserver

Thank you @owenjones.bsky.social for your support today 🙏🏻 #savetheobserver

Our former editor-in-chief @arusbridger.bsky.social on our strike, and the future of liberal journalism for @prospectmagazine.co.uk #savetheobserver 🙏🏻

Thank you for joining us on the picket line, novelist Amanda Craig, whose first article was published in The Observer. Lovely to see you 🙏🏻 #savetheobserver

Cartoonist-legend Martin Rowson, drawing live before our very eyes! #savetheobserver 🙏🏻 @martinrowson.bsky.social

“I’m dismayed by both the Guardian’s offloading of the Observer, and the way it is being conducted. It does not reflect the values the Guardian promotes, and that all those who have given so much of their lives to these papers hold dear. (1/2)

Thanks for your loudhailer-augmented support, Emily Thornberry MP! Great to see you here, and hear your concerns about the proposed Observer sale first hand. #savetheobserver 🙏🏻 @emilythornberry.bsky.social

Come see us on Thursday and/or Friday! And find us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/gonuj_93

Guardian & Observer journalists are entering final day of second 48-hour stoppage; they’ve braved the cold, spoken up for what they believe in to bosses, lost earnings & missed accolades. Please repost, support them on the picket line, donate & don’t click on Guardian links today 👊#SavetheObserver

Good morning. So many readers came to support our strike yesterday. This is John Dickinson, a lifelong reader of The Guardian like his parents before him. (1/2)

Guardian journalists won’t be attending the British Journalism Awards tonight in solidarity with the strike. But I’m chuffed to be up for Commentator of the Year again and cheering on all my colleagues - from The Guardian and The Observer.

Several Guardian and Observer journalists are shortlisted tonight for the #BritishJournalismAwards but aren’t attending because they are supporting the @gonuj.org @nujofficial.bsky.social strike in protest at the sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media. They have sent us this message to share:

Deeply impressed by the solidarity from Guardian journalists who have won awards tonight. Those are big moments of personal triumph so not attending the ceremony is no small sacrifice. Hats off.

Congrats @byrobdavies.bsky.social + @jacobsteinberg1.bsky.social for much deserved win at tonight’s journalism awards You’ll see they are not in the photo… b/c they are on strike against the Tortoise Obs takeover The solidarity from Guardian sport has been immense. You are the best in the biz 💪

Huge congrats to the brilliant Sirin Kale for winning the features journalism award at #BritishJournalismAwards Thank you Sirin for your solidarity. You are a truly inspiring journalist. 👊🏆🧡

Strike Day 3: going on strike isn’t meant to be fun. Yet here we are. Great colleagues, great craic & great @billybragg.bsky.social. What’s going on inside that building is the opposite of all these things. ‘Solidarity forever for the union makes us strong’ ✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊✊

“An Early Day Motion, put down by MPs, called on ministers to issue a “Public Interest Intervention Notice (PIIN), to allow for further regulatory consideration of sale’s likely impact” Lisa Nandy urged to intervene (& Guardian cancels table at tonight’s press awards) inews.co.uk/news/media/g...

"In full support of the Guardian/Observer journos striking for the future of The Observer, threatened by The Scott Trust's plan to sell to Tortoise Media. There's no logic behind the decision. The Observer risks becoming a stripped-down website" @carolvorderman.bsky.social ✊ #savetheobserver 🙏🏻

It’s the return of #dogsfortheobserver #savetheobserver 🙏🏻 🐶

This letter in today’s Guardian, signed by some of the UK’s finest journalists, warns that The Observer, bought by Tortoise Media, could be stripped of much of its excellent foreign reporting. www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...

Live absolute scenes as Billy Bragg (@billybragg.bsky.social) plays an impromptu gig in support of #savetheobserver 🙏🏻 Billy! ✊

We go again ✊ #savetheobserver

Our merch stand is up and running this morning! You can support us by making a purchase or a donation - all proceeds go to our hardship fund www.nuj.org.uk/resource/gua....

Good morning. In this letter published by @pressgazette.co.uk, former Guardian and Observer journalists ask: “If the Scott Trust is so bad at business and so bad at maintaining relations with the papers’ journalists, what is the Scott Trust even for anymore?” pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...

We strike again tomorrow and Friday. Please support us SHARE our posts WRITE to [email protected] JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow. The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️

👀 Memo to the Scott Trust: “We are often told how much our support is appreciated. It would be nice if someone rewarded our support by asking our opinion on the plan to sell off the Observer.” Our readers would like a word. #savetheobserver 🙏🏻 www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...

"All that the employees want is time to discuss the future calmly and properly. It is not too late to pull back from disaster." Thank you @stefanstern.bsky.social #savetheobserver

We strike again tomorrow and Friday. Please support us SHARE our posts WRITE to [email protected] JOIN US - the picketline was packed last week. Will be the same tomorrow. The strength of feeling is undimmed 💪⬇️

Some 42 current and former Guardian and Observer foreign coverage staff have written a letter to The Guardian expressing “alarm and dismay” over the planned sale of The Observer to Tortoise Media. pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/n...

Current and former contributors to the international pages of the Guardian and Observer respond to an article by Ole Jacob Sunde, chair of the Scott Trust www.theguardian.com/media/2024/d...