IMPORTANCE OF A FREE PRESS

Motion Text

leave out 'welcomes' to end, insert, 'further notes that in July 2017 Johnston Press threatened to close 24 local newspapers across Scotland; notes at the same time there were around 12 vacancies in the three Scotsman titles creating a lot of stress and demands on journalists to work extra hours; notes that following the National Union of Journalists intervention and negotiation there were no closures; and one company stated filling vacancies; and notes current dissatisfaction within the Johnston Press Board, and real concerns in the direction of the company, affecting the quality of the titles.'.