Irony-meter explodes as Guardian hacks offered people management skills course

As journalists at the Guardian and Observer strike today and Thursday over the proposed sale of the Observer to Tortoise Media, many are wondering how to occupy their spare time once their shift stoking the Kings Place brazier is done.

Perhaps enrolling in an online course is just the ticket? The Guardian itself may have the answer. The media group’s internal Learn programme is this month focussing on courses in “Great People Management”.

What will candidates learn? “Our Great People Management programme has been specifically designed to help you cover off the fundamentals and equip you to get the best out of your teams,” says the blurb.

Certainly any tips are gold dust right now. Practically the entire editorial staff of the Guardian and Observer are furious with both CEO Ana Bateson and editor-in-chief Kath Viner for driving through the sale of the Observer to loss-making start-up Tortoise Media. “Morale has never been lower,” one striker told Rats. “It’s what you might call Shite People Management.”