Canary staff not paid amid fears for news website's future
News Source
β’Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:27:35 GMT
π° What Happened
Workers at the left-wing news website the Canary fear it may not survive the year. Staff were not paid at the end of August. The outlet employs about 50 full-time and part-time people, and many doubt its future.
The trouble started in July. The Canary said it could not pay staff because Lloyds Bank blocked access to a large amount of its money. The bank gave no reason. The site blames the unpaid bills on that.
Some journalists disagree. They say the banking problem hides money troubles. They claim more than Β£2m was spent on a short-lived newspaper and buying other websites. Staff have started forming a union branch.
π The Backstory
The Canary launched in 2015 as an independent voice on the left. It grew fast during the wave of support for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Its stories spread widely online, and it drew a loyal audience.
Last year the site looked set to expand after a big injection of cash. Investors put in millions of pounds. Instead of growth, staff say the money vanished on failed projects. Trust inside the newsroom has eroded.
Independent media struggle to survive on donations and ads. Many small outlets close or shrink when cash runs short. This case shows how fragile online news can be.
π― Why It Matters
Independent news outlets give readers views they do not get from big media. When one fails, fewer voices remain. This story also matters because workers went unpaid, and that can happen anywhere money is managed badly.
Workers at the left-wing news website the Canary fear it may not survive the year. Staff were not paid at the end of August. The outlet employs about 50 full-time and part-time people, and many doubt its future.
The trouble started in July. The Canary said it could not pay staff because Lloyds Bank blocked access to a large amount of its money. The bank gave no reason. The site blames the unpaid bills on that.
Some journalists disagree. They say the banking problem hides money troubles. They claim more than Β£2m was spent on a short-lived newspaper and buying other websites. Staff have started forming a union branch.
The Canary launched in 2015 as an independent voice on the left. It grew fast during the wave of support for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Its stories spread widely online, and it drew a loyal audience.
Last year the site looked set to expand after a big injection of cash. Investors put in millions of pounds. Instead of growth, staff say the money vanished on failed projects. Trust inside the newsroom has eroded.
Independent media struggle to survive on donations and ads. Many small outlets close or shrink when cash runs short. This case shows how fragile online news can be.
Independent news outlets give readers views they do not get from big media. When one fails, fewer voices remain. This story also matters because workers went unpaid, and that can happen anywhere money is managed badly.