JOURNALISTS at STV walked out today as part of a dispute over changes to news programmes in the north of Scotland.

The broadcaster announced plans to cut the north edition of its flagship News At 6 programme, with 28 editorial jobs at stake.

It will see a single STV News At 6 programme produced and presented from Glasgow, with about 30 per cent of the programme being specific to the north of Scotland area.

A total of 94 per cent of National Union of Journalists (NUJ) members who voted in a strike ballot in December backed a walkout, while 98 per cent supported action short of a strike.

Picket lines were set up outside the broadcaster’s Glasgow offices from 8.30am-1pm and at its Aberdeen offices from 11am-1pm.

At the Glasgow walkout, the news team chanted “stop the cuts” and were cheered on by passers-by and commuters travelling through the city.

NUJ general secretary Laura Davison was present at the picket line and says the proposed cuts will affect not only the broadcaster’s staff, but will have a knock-on effect on the quality of journalism consumed by its viewers.

She said: “I think it’s a dispute that really resonates, because it affects everybody.

“If these cuts go through, there’s going to be a really visible impact on the reduction of local news and a more generic programme with fewer staff to produce it.”

The NUJ branded the broadcaster’s plans both “bad for viewers” and “bad for journalism” in the north of Scotland.

A spokesperson for STV said: “The NUJ’s action is ill-timed as consultation with unions and colleagues is ongoing and significant progress has been made in reducing the impact on jobs.”