Media: ITN plagues by defections: Talk of the Trade

ITN, plagued by low morale, is increasingly worried about the loss of talent. Key staff from Fiona Armstrong and Tim Ewart downwards have been defecting to the new Good Morning television service, which replaces TV-am in January, the new London News Network, and even to the BBC. Insiders say that despite the tough 3.5 per cent, 18-month pay deal recently imposed on staff, extra payments are being quietly distributed. The key question, however, is how many of the production staff from the 750 workforce are facing redundancy, following tough negotiations with ITV over the contract for supplying the news.