I am now not on duty as a reporter for the Sutton Coldfield Observer and/or Birmingham Live for a minimum of three weeks as my employers, Reach Plc, are taking up the Government’s furlough (Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme) to pay 80 per cent of my wages 1/

While Reach pays 10 per cent more. So I’ll be OK. But if you follow this through the inevitable conclusion you’ll reach (no pun intended) is the Sutton Coldfield Observer is also being ‘furloughed’ too. It will be out this week on Friday (April 10) and then we don’t know 2/

I understand the reasons - advertising revenue during the coronavirus crisis has collapsed & that is the very lifeblood which allows me to report & for the paper to be printed and delivered. No advertising = no paper. But I consider this a time when the community needs it most 3/

And I have lobbied Andrew Mitchell MP, who has in turn contacted senior members of his party to see if anything can be done to support local journalism, so we can provide a lifeline, particularly to the old and vulnerable in this difficult time 4/

But alas, nothing significant enough has been forthcoming so we are where we are. What I find perverse is I am being paid NOT to work, when I could still report online at least at no extra cost or risk to anyone. I feel that would be something 5/

Our revenue has collapsed but the need for what we do I have argued has never been stronger. I’m in effect banned from reporting for three weeks. I have prepared stories on my final day (April 6) and these are in the system 6/

When these are published I will share them from my personal account but I am not allowed to use the Sutton Coldfield Observer Facebook page or Twitter account. I aim to keep abreast of what’s going on and continue to Tweet things I find of interest. I hope to be back 7/

When that may be - your guess is as good as mine! The furlough requirement of not allowing work I don’t think was designed for community reporters who can’t now make money but can do good. We’re considered key workers by the Government but seem the only group abandoned by them 8/

Most key workers ( https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-51972793) are taxpayer funded from medics to teachers, to police or waste collecting staff. Those that aren’t like supermarkets are making money. One key industry - buses - not making money has been handed a £167 million bailout. But not us 9/

I want to work, I’m able to work at zero risk to others but I’m legally banned from doing so. Surely @RishiSunak this isn’t what the furlough scheme intended? I live in hope of help for a newspaper bailout or at least permission to work and help others 10/

But I’ll end by saying my last task was to interview an intensive care doctor at Good Hope Hospital. While I’m hugely disappointed not to be working what’s going on with me pales into insignificance when you hear what others are going through right now #StayAtHomeSaveLives 11/11