Thursday, November 29, 2007

Hope for the future?

Spent yesterday evening talking to students at Liverpool Hope University as part of the union's Stand Up for Journalism campaign. I always feel a bit guilty when i do sessions like that because you're highlighting all the bad things happening in the industry to lots of eager young journalists. All I can give them is the hope that through joining the union, joining our campaign to speak out and fight for quality media that things can change. They all seem up for that!

I travelled to Liverpool after attending the Guardian Chapel Committee meeting which decided unanimously to recommend the latest offer but with a clear message to the company that there are no blank cheques and any breach of the letter or spirit of the agreement will result in the chapel calling mandatory meetings and considering a ballot for industrial action. The full Chapel meeting will vote on the deal later today.

Elsewhere so far this week I have done an interview with Newspepper, a news website aimed at 18-30year olds (I think i was in their grumpy old men slot!) about journalism and met with the NUJ's Parliamentary Group to talk through current and future work, especially around our campaign to save ITV News, the abuse of work experience and the pension changes taking place at Newsquest.

We also issued a statement in support of the US Screenwriters' strike.

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