View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
July 4, 2013

Johnston Press to introduce performance-related pay as it ends 18-month salary freeze

By William Turvill

Johnston Press is set to introduce a new performance-related pay system as it ends an 18-month salary freeze.

The move comes six months after the National Union of Journalists announced it was seeking urgent talks with the regional publisher over the freeze.

In an email to staff this week chief executive Ashley Highfield confirmed reviews would be reinstated.

He wrote: “This is the year I said we’d get back to growth and thanks to your efforts, your energy and your commitment we are heading in the right direction.

“We are turning the company around and I am pleased to announce we are reinstating pay reviews in recognition of your efforts.

“Reintroducing pay reviews will be the first step in changing the way we reward people. In the last staff survey you said you wanted more recognition for good performance, so in the coming year we are going to move towards linking salary increases to performance where we can.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“Essentially we want to start rewarding our best performers and top talent with larger pay increases than may be awarded to others and, over time, it could even mean that some people don’t receive a pay award when others do.”

According to the NUJ, a Johnston Press senior reporter typically earns £22,000 and trainees can earn less than £16,000.

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network