Gal-dem closes due to financial pressures
Publication announces it is "no longer feasible" to operate citing pressures from the pandemic, an economic downturn and budget reductions.
The online platform created in 2015 published news and stories focused on the experiences of marginalised genders and people of colour. Last year, the National Union of Journalists secured trade union recognition to negotiate on behalf of members on issues including pay.
Despite making changes to its structure to ease financial pressures, the independent media company has announced it will cease operating its membership model and close the platform.
Pamela Morton, NUJ national freelance organiser, said:
"Gal-dem's closure is a loss to communities and to the wider media landscape. Investment in independent media is urgently needed to allow platforms to remain sustainable, protecting jobs and journalism, while providing the breadth of diverse content relevant to the communities served.
"The NUJ has called for funding in proposals outlined in our News Recovery Plan but without swift action from government, we run the real risk of losing more quality media.
"We continue to support members at gal-dem who have lost jobs as a result of this news, alongside NUJ reps and staff who've worked tirelessly over recent months with the company."
Read the goodbye letter from gal-dem, including a list of publishers to support.