The current proposed sale of the Observer is a worrying time for staff on the paper, who – along with Guardian journalists – have voted for industrial action. The Friends of the Observer, mostly former staffers and contributors, will attempt to update this site whenever we hear of developments.

https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/nationals/guardian-observer-tortoise-strike-december-2024/

Two interesting items to listen to here:
A podcast interview with James Harding
And BBC Radio 4 Media Show interview with Harding

 

Earlier background material:

On 17 September, the Guardian announced it was in talks to sell the paper to Tortoise Media.

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/sep/17/guardian-parent-company-in-talks-over-potential-sale-of-observer

On October 10 three former editors said the Scott Trust had a responsibility to maintain the Observer

https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/nationals/observer-sale-editors-letter/#:~:text=Former%20Observer%20editors%20voice%20’profound,round%20on%20The%20Scott%20Trust.&text=Three%20former%20Observer%20editors%20have,the%20newspaper%20to%20Tortoise%20Media.

The following day, the Scott Trust fired back, saying (in a nutshell) its responsibilities did not extend to the Observer.

https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/nationals/observer-falls-outside-scott-trusts-core-responsibilities-minutes-from-1993-suggest/#:~:text=The%20joint%20Guardian%20and%20Observer,Guardian%20News%20and%20Media%20Family”.

On the same day, the ‘i’ newspaper revealed that the Guardian’s chief executive has had long-standing friendship with James Harding, holidaying together on a £15m superyacht.

https://inews.co.uk/news/guardian-boss-holiday-observer-bidder-superyacht-3319071#:~:text=Guardian%20Media%20Group%20(GMG)%20confirmed,Charles’s%20telecoms%20firm%20Talk%20Talk.

On 1 November the Telegraph reported that a rival bid was being made to buy the paper.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/11/01/labour-linked-investors-gatecrash-sale-the-observer/