Guardian journalists in revolt over ‘miserable' website redesign
Guardian journalists are in 'open revolt' against editor Katharine Viner over a website redesign which they claim means their work is not being read.
The newspaper this month rolled out a new app and homepage, which it said would help readers 'stay informed without feeling overwhelmed'.
But journalists have complained that the new format prioritises international stories and features at the expense of UK news, leaving readers in the dark and staff 'miserable'.
In an email to editors, reporters wrote: 'We'd like to point out that aside from the handful of UK news stories which are given a prominent front page slot, though often for a brief period of time, the rest of our stories are simply getting lost.
'There is arguably a correlation between the decimation of local news and the rise of Reform – we worry that taking the focus off UK news makes it harder for us to do exactly this kind of reporting there is currently such a market for.'
They added: 'And in turn, not being read, thus not having impact, is miserable! Please understand how demotivating and demoralising this is.'
A Guardian spokesman said: 'The recent redesign has in fact increased the amount of news shown on the homepage and it has been well received by readers, with early data demonstrating they are spending significantly longer on the homepage, with a broader range of articles being read.
'We continue to be committed to in-depth coverage of the UK – it remains our biggest edition and we now have more regional reporters across the UK than ever before.'
While website redesigns often prove controversial at first, the backlash underscores tensions between Guardian staff and management over its direction.
The newspaper has been investing heavily to expand in the US and Australia, while in 2023 it launched a dedicated Europe edition.
In a memo to staff on Friday, Ms Viner said: 'We have found new audiences by delivering fantastic journalism across the world, which, in turn, has led to a significant growth in our reader revenue. That global strategy has allowed us to invest in Britain and abroad.'
But bosses are now battling to win journalists over to the strategy, with senior editors summoned to a two-day off-site meeting this week. A separate team has been assembled on a longer-term project to explore ways to 'future-proof' the organisation.
Sources close to The Guardian insisted its strategy was working, with revenues hitting a record £275m last year while the company trimmed its cash outflows from £37m to less than £25m.
Revenues from outside the UK are understood to have topped £100m, while 70pc come from digital.
The website saga has reignited discontent about Ms Viner in the aftermath of the sale of The Observer to Tortoise, a start-up run by former BBC News boss James Harding.
Journalists mounted a vocal campaign against the sale of the world's oldest Sunday newspaper, which they branded a 'betrayal'.
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