The National Union of Journalists has reportedly claimed that the Johnston Press Group is supplementing its journalists pay by offering them the opportunity to play bingo for free at its online bingo sites.

Employees can play 40 free games of online bingo, but that they are not allowed to win the largest prizes. The media group is also offering its readers 30 free online bingo games.

The NUJ negotiator, Jenny Lennox, said: “It seems that the real lottery for journalists at Johnston’s is whether or not they will still have a job in a year’s time.”

Lennox added: “The NUJ has frequently drawn the attention of Johnston shareholders to the shambolic management of the group, and its determination to dilute and even destroy the quality journalism which its journalists are still providing across the UK.

“But we are entering a whole new never-never land when we find that the company is now resorting to bingo to keep afloat – and pay massive management salaries – while cuts to its journalistic service to local communities are driving away readers, advertisers and revenue.

“We have been warning for more than a year that the Johnston Press group is being run into the ground. This once-proud newspaper group has destroyed the bond of trust with its journalists, and is destroying a well-regarded brand, further reducing the credibility of the titles in the eyes of its readers.

“It will take a lot more than Bingo to restore that reputation, and the NUJ demands that Johnston management begins today to work with its skilled and dedicated journalists to rebuild a stable of newspapers of which readers, staff and the group can be proud.”