I was standing having a drink at a gig/film screening last night in support of an excellent project Jail Guitar Doors, when I was announced as the next speaker. It's one of the perils of being General Secretary - getting it sprung on you at a few seconds notice that you're going to speak. Don't get me wrong, I was happy to support the project and have done so in the past - but there's still a moment of panic when you hear your name mentioned.
It was great to go and be inspired by the work being done by musicians, trade unions, prisoners and prison staff which is really making a difference to people's lives. It was also good to get a lift after another days of unrelenting redundancies across the media industry. There were almost too many to keep up with but it's clear the gloom is turning increasingly to anger and Saturday's emergency local newspaper reps meeting will be the springboard for a major fight back against both the doom and the continued profiteering. As part of the build-up to Saturday, last night I took part in a telephone conference with reps from Newsquest where action against cuts is already threatened at Bradford, York and Darlington.
Before that we had the NEC Policy Committee which discussed the jobs crisis as well as our Parliamentary work, our activity at the TUC, recent meetings I've had with Gordon Brown, Vernon Coaker and Jeremy Hunt, copyright issues, the killing of Kate Peyton and impunity as well as our international solidarity campaigns with journalists in Zimbabwe.
Today it's the union's Development Committee and a chance for us to put some flesh on the bones of our campaign against the job cuts - it really is coming down to a battle to save the industry.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Unlawful killing verdict should be a wake up call
Somalia is dominating today - first the decision in the inquest in to the killing of Kate Peyton and then the news that a British journalist, who we believe is an NUJ member - has been kidnapped in north east Somalia. I am in contact with our sister union in Somalia who are helping to keep us informed.
The coroner ruled that Kate Peyton had been unlawfully killed - and the comments made by the coroner highlight concerns we have been expressing for some time - that too many journalists, particularly those with precarious employment status are being forced to take on dangerous assignments to prove their worth. The decision should force media employers to take a long hard look at their procedures and more importantly how they put them in to practice.
Back to other issues this week. I spent Monday morning working on the union's submission to Ofcom's review of Public Service Broadcasting and the afternoon meeting with staff.
I had a meeting Tuesday morning with the union's staff in the broadcasting department followed by a discussion with Neal Lawson from Compass about a possible project on media ownership.
Tuesday evening I began a run of three nights of emergency telephone conferences with reps from Trinity Mirror, Johnston Press and Newsquest building up to an emergency regional newspapers reps meeting on Saturday to talk about how we tackle the jobs crisis and pay issues facing the industry. In reality it is about how do we save the industry.
It is to borrow a phrase the "economics of the madhouse" that an industry which has had 15 years of huge profits and which is still for the most part profitable is hacking at its very core, axing hundreds of journalists and in effect destroying the ability of many of their titles to be able to thrive the bother side of a recession.
Later on Tuesday evening I spent a couple of hours in a gay bar with a bunch of young anarchists, a spook and various photographers - don't ask! It was some party though...
BBC M/FoCs met this afternoon to discuss threats of compulsory redundancies in a couple of areas - and took a strong position for us to be able to take in to tomorrow's negotiations at the World Service.
Then I met with campaigns staff and the editor of The Journalist to talk about online integration followed by a Johnston Press telephone conference.
The coroner ruled that Kate Peyton had been unlawfully killed - and the comments made by the coroner highlight concerns we have been expressing for some time - that too many journalists, particularly those with precarious employment status are being forced to take on dangerous assignments to prove their worth. The decision should force media employers to take a long hard look at their procedures and more importantly how they put them in to practice.
Back to other issues this week. I spent Monday morning working on the union's submission to Ofcom's review of Public Service Broadcasting and the afternoon meeting with staff.
I had a meeting Tuesday morning with the union's staff in the broadcasting department followed by a discussion with Neal Lawson from Compass about a possible project on media ownership.
Tuesday evening I began a run of three nights of emergency telephone conferences with reps from Trinity Mirror, Johnston Press and Newsquest building up to an emergency regional newspapers reps meeting on Saturday to talk about how we tackle the jobs crisis and pay issues facing the industry. In reality it is about how do we save the industry.
It is to borrow a phrase the "economics of the madhouse" that an industry which has had 15 years of huge profits and which is still for the most part profitable is hacking at its very core, axing hundreds of journalists and in effect destroying the ability of many of their titles to be able to thrive the bother side of a recession.
Later on Tuesday evening I spent a couple of hours in a gay bar with a bunch of young anarchists, a spook and various photographers - don't ask! It was some party though...
BBC M/FoCs met this afternoon to discuss threats of compulsory redundancies in a couple of areas - and took a strong position for us to be able to take in to tomorrow's negotiations at the World Service.
Then I met with campaigns staff and the editor of The Journalist to talk about online integration followed by a Johnston Press telephone conference.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Knuckledraggers of the world unite!
Still dealing with the fall out from the leak of the BNP's membership list.
Sacked Talksport DJ Jon Gaunt put it well in his column in The Sun (I never thought I'd ever use that combination of words!) and I put it in different words in a Comment is Free piece but the sentiment is the same.
But we're also dealing with the fall out of journalists being threatened who write about the leak and provide any details and/or links. I understand the BNP legal team and security will be visiting errant journalists. The police have been alerted.
Sacked Talksport DJ Jon Gaunt put it well in his column in The Sun (I never thought I'd ever use that combination of words!) and I put it in different words in a Comment is Free piece but the sentiment is the same.
But we're also dealing with the fall out of journalists being threatened who write about the leak and provide any details and/or links. I understand the BNP legal team and security will be visiting errant journalists. The police have been alerted.
BBC Trust caves in
The BBC Trust has rejected proposals to allow the BBC to create up to 65 local online video news services. The decision was made in large part because the commercial lobby of the newspaper industry who said the plans would damage local journalism.
This is the very same industry which has cut thousands of jobs in loocal journalism over the past few months, which is imposaing pay freezes, which is under-resourcing newsrooms, which is cutting back on training budgets and which is closing titles. Trinity Mirror alone have closed 44 titles.
Cowed by critricism of the Brand/Ross affair the BBC Trust have failed local journalism.
Here's the statement the union put out a few minutes ago...
The rejection of plans by the BBC Trust for investment in local journalism is a missed opportunity to enhance local media.
The BBC Trust today turned down plans to create a network of 65 local online video news services.
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "This decision is a missed opportunity to improve local news for communities around the country.
"Local papers are closing and job cuts mean thousands of journalists don’t have the time to do their jobs properly anymore. ITV is withdrawing from its regional and local news commitments. Against a significant decline in local journalism, here was an opportunity to take a small step in the opposite direction by actually enhancing local news provision.
"The BBC made commitments to invest in local and regional news services. We expect the corporation to stick to its promises and ensure that other news services now benefit from this investment."
The plans were rejected after a vigorous lobby by the newspaper industry.
"Newspaper employers have spent years taking huge profits out of local media whilst cutting jobs. Now they have helped stop new jobs being created because they said such competition would stifle their investment.
"Now is the time for them to put their money where their mouth is and invest more in local journalism - in jobs, in training and in resources for hard-pressed newsrooms."
This is the very same industry which has cut thousands of jobs in loocal journalism over the past few months, which is imposaing pay freezes, which is under-resourcing newsrooms, which is cutting back on training budgets and which is closing titles. Trinity Mirror alone have closed 44 titles.
Cowed by critricism of the Brand/Ross affair the BBC Trust have failed local journalism.
Here's the statement the union put out a few minutes ago...
The rejection of plans by the BBC Trust for investment in local journalism is a missed opportunity to enhance local media.
The BBC Trust today turned down plans to create a network of 65 local online video news services.
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "This decision is a missed opportunity to improve local news for communities around the country.
"Local papers are closing and job cuts mean thousands of journalists don’t have the time to do their jobs properly anymore. ITV is withdrawing from its regional and local news commitments. Against a significant decline in local journalism, here was an opportunity to take a small step in the opposite direction by actually enhancing local news provision.
"The BBC made commitments to invest in local and regional news services. We expect the corporation to stick to its promises and ensure that other news services now benefit from this investment."
The plans were rejected after a vigorous lobby by the newspaper industry.
"Newspaper employers have spent years taking huge profits out of local media whilst cutting jobs. Now they have helped stop new jobs being created because they said such competition would stifle their investment.
"Now is the time for them to put their money where their mouth is and invest more in local journalism - in jobs, in training and in resources for hard-pressed newsrooms."
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
And the news just gets worse...
Trinity Mirror staff are currently being told a pay freeze is to be imposed on them. Here's our press release going out now.
"The NUJ has hit out at Trinity Mirror’s senior management after it announced plans to impose a pay freeze across the company.
Journalists were called into briefings today to be told that the 2009 annual pay review is to be cancelled and existing bonus arrangements suspended.
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "Today’s announcement just goes to show how little senior managers at Trinity Mirror value the journalists that have been earning the company massive profits over the last few years.
"This is yet another slap in the face for our Trinity Mirror members and comes at a time when they are being put under greater pressure than ever before.
"Many of our members will be seriously worried about the news. Sly Bailey has said she will forego her bonus next year, but earning a salary of more than £720,000 will probably help her get over the loss.
"It will be for our chapels to decide how they plan to react to these proposals. Our members will be asking why shareholders’ dividends were put ahead of maintaining journalists’ standards of living. It’s one thing to make proposals like this which include commitments to stop redundancies, it’s quite another to impose a freeze whilst slashing jobs from the business. That’s a massive insult to Trinity Mirror journalists.
"The announcement also just goes to expose the sham of local consultation behind which the company hides whenever we try to open talks on a national basis. The imposition of a pay freeze across the group knocks down the myth of local managers having authority and autonomy to negotiate their own deals."
"The NUJ has hit out at Trinity Mirror’s senior management after it announced plans to impose a pay freeze across the company.
Journalists were called into briefings today to be told that the 2009 annual pay review is to be cancelled and existing bonus arrangements suspended.
NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said: "Today’s announcement just goes to show how little senior managers at Trinity Mirror value the journalists that have been earning the company massive profits over the last few years.
"This is yet another slap in the face for our Trinity Mirror members and comes at a time when they are being put under greater pressure than ever before.
"Many of our members will be seriously worried about the news. Sly Bailey has said she will forego her bonus next year, but earning a salary of more than £720,000 will probably help her get over the loss.
"It will be for our chapels to decide how they plan to react to these proposals. Our members will be asking why shareholders’ dividends were put ahead of maintaining journalists’ standards of living. It’s one thing to make proposals like this which include commitments to stop redundancies, it’s quite another to impose a freeze whilst slashing jobs from the business. That’s a massive insult to Trinity Mirror journalists.
"The announcement also just goes to expose the sham of local consultation behind which the company hides whenever we try to open talks on a national basis. The imposition of a pay freeze across the group knocks down the myth of local managers having authority and autonomy to negotiate their own deals."
BNP expose their members - and their hypocrisy
Like thousands of other trade union and anti-racist activists i'm busy scouring through the BNP membership list which has been published (and is on wikileaks) this morning. I've had neo-nazis threaten me at home, publish my details on Redwatch, the right-wing website designed to target and intimidate journalists and trade unionists, and was once physically assaulted by them and had to go to hospital. The BNP have staged demonstrations outside the NUJ's head office and have issued threats to dozens of our members - particularly in Yorkshire. How sickening to hear Nick Griffin on Five Live this morning say he would use the Human Rights Act against to protect privacy when he stands for abolishing the act. Hypocrite.
Anyway, back to business. It was an inspiring weekend. I spoke in the morning at the Labour Representation Committee conference to around 250 trade union activists at Conway Hall in London.
Here's a couple of reports of the conference
http://www.socialist.net/lrc-conference-report.htm
http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/11/16/185658/19
Key among my demands was:
"The TUC should be convening an urgent summit to mobilise the labour movement to defend jobs and living standards – building a united struggle across the public services. Building on joint action over pay to develop a labour movement wide campaign against job cuts".
The NUJ is already waging lots of fights against the job cuts and to build on that - and with dire predictions of what is going to happen next year and the news over the past few days - from the Independent to Time Out to Haymarket to Trinity Mirror and beyond - we are holding a summit on tackling the jobs crisis in January. Details will be published here in the next few days.
Then it was a quick dash across to the London School of Economics where I spoke at and chaired sessions at the Islam, the War and the Media conference organised by Media Workers Against the War.
It was very strange to find myself on a platform with Peter Oborne - but his work in exposing the anti-muslim prejudice in many newspapers has been outstanding. Other speakers at the conference included civil rights lawyer Louise Christian, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzem Begg and journalist Nick Davies, the author of Flat Earth News.
In my speech I both praised good journalism and criticised poor journalism.
I said: "Let no-one be under any illusion, just as we welcome journalism which challenges stereotypes we should also welcome journalism which puts the claims and policies of all religions under public scrutiny – from Christianity to Buddhism, from Judaism to Islam.
This isn’t - as some of our detractors would have people believe - about censorship or tacit support for jihadists or providing special protection for islam or muslims. It is about truth, accuracy, balance.
And that is where our media is failing. According to a study carried out by the GLA in just one week in May 2006, 91% of the 352 articles that referred to islam and muslims were negative – 96% of tabloid coverage.
The same report highlighted the fact that the tone and terminology was overwhelmingly emotive, immoderate, alarmist or abusive. 80% of the terminology related to problems, threats or opposition to dominant British values. The most common nouns used were terrorist, extremist, Islamist, suicide bomber and militant. The most common adjectives were radical, fanatical, fundamentalist, extremist and militants.
The terms demonise, dehumanise and create an environment in which attacks on muslims are legitimised and the abuse of their human rights is seen as a just response.
And whilst we bandy around statistics in theories on the streets of Britain the impact of such reporting is there for all to see in the violence against muslim communities in the imam blinded in London, in the mosque destroyed in Basildon, in the Muslim cemetery vandalised in Southall, in the daily harassment and intimidation, in stop and search and much more.
Such poor journalism is no laughing matter. The clear conclusion of all the recent research was that the reporting was likely to provoke and increase feelings of insecurity, suspicion and anxiety amongst many non Muslims while at the same time causing many Muslims to feel vulnerable and alienated. It is a recipe for driving people to the extremes – to the BNP and worst criminal elements of the far right and to those who espouse violence in the name of Islam".
Here's some reports of the conference
http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/236
http://marcvallee.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/journalists-and-the-terror-laws/
No rest for the wicked. Sunday it was off to the NUJ Left meeting.
Monday started by welcoming Miles Barter back to the NUJ staff - he has joined us as our new campaigns officer before meeting with Foster Dongozi, General Secretary of the Zimbabwean journalists union. A video interview with him will appear later today here.
Next stop Parliament and a meeting with John McDonnell MP and senior leaders of the RMT, FBU, PCS and NAPO under the banner of our newly established Trade Union Co-ordinating Group which brings together like-minded unions on a number of common issues. Then it was back to the NUJ for a meeting on staffing issues before heading off to the BBC for meetings with HR (or BBC People as they are called) and a meeting with Director General Mark Thompson and the other FEU unions at which we covered issues such as the move to Salford, BBC finances and BBC Local.
Tuesday morning it was off to the TUC for the Executive which was dominated by the economic crisis and our lobbying of the government to halt forced repossessions. We also endorsed the TUC's submission to Ofcom on Public Service Broadcasting.
Back at Headland House I had a couple of staff meetings before the first meeting of our reconvened Multimedia Commission which produced the Shaping Our Future report last year. We're reviewing the changes in the industry in the intervening twelve months and updating the recommendations for union action.
Anyway, back to business. It was an inspiring weekend. I spoke in the morning at the Labour Representation Committee conference to around 250 trade union activists at Conway Hall in London.
Here's a couple of reports of the conference
http://www.socialist.net/lrc-conference-report.htm
http://www.labourhome.org/story/2008/11/16/185658/19
Key among my demands was:
"The TUC should be convening an urgent summit to mobilise the labour movement to defend jobs and living standards – building a united struggle across the public services. Building on joint action over pay to develop a labour movement wide campaign against job cuts".
The NUJ is already waging lots of fights against the job cuts and to build on that - and with dire predictions of what is going to happen next year and the news over the past few days - from the Independent to Time Out to Haymarket to Trinity Mirror and beyond - we are holding a summit on tackling the jobs crisis in January. Details will be published here in the next few days.
Then it was a quick dash across to the London School of Economics where I spoke at and chaired sessions at the Islam, the War and the Media conference organised by Media Workers Against the War.
It was very strange to find myself on a platform with Peter Oborne - but his work in exposing the anti-muslim prejudice in many newspapers has been outstanding. Other speakers at the conference included civil rights lawyer Louise Christian, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzem Begg and journalist Nick Davies, the author of Flat Earth News.
In my speech I both praised good journalism and criticised poor journalism.
I said: "Let no-one be under any illusion, just as we welcome journalism which challenges stereotypes we should also welcome journalism which puts the claims and policies of all religions under public scrutiny – from Christianity to Buddhism, from Judaism to Islam.
This isn’t - as some of our detractors would have people believe - about censorship or tacit support for jihadists or providing special protection for islam or muslims. It is about truth, accuracy, balance.
And that is where our media is failing. According to a study carried out by the GLA in just one week in May 2006, 91% of the 352 articles that referred to islam and muslims were negative – 96% of tabloid coverage.
The same report highlighted the fact that the tone and terminology was overwhelmingly emotive, immoderate, alarmist or abusive. 80% of the terminology related to problems, threats or opposition to dominant British values. The most common nouns used were terrorist, extremist, Islamist, suicide bomber and militant. The most common adjectives were radical, fanatical, fundamentalist, extremist and militants.
The terms demonise, dehumanise and create an environment in which attacks on muslims are legitimised and the abuse of their human rights is seen as a just response.
And whilst we bandy around statistics in theories on the streets of Britain the impact of such reporting is there for all to see in the violence against muslim communities in the imam blinded in London, in the mosque destroyed in Basildon, in the Muslim cemetery vandalised in Southall, in the daily harassment and intimidation, in stop and search and much more.
Such poor journalism is no laughing matter. The clear conclusion of all the recent research was that the reporting was likely to provoke and increase feelings of insecurity, suspicion and anxiety amongst many non Muslims while at the same time causing many Muslims to feel vulnerable and alienated. It is a recipe for driving people to the extremes – to the BNP and worst criminal elements of the far right and to those who espouse violence in the name of Islam".
Here's some reports of the conference
http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/236
http://marcvallee.wordpress.com/2008/11/18/journalists-and-the-terror-laws/
No rest for the wicked. Sunday it was off to the NUJ Left meeting.
Monday started by welcoming Miles Barter back to the NUJ staff - he has joined us as our new campaigns officer before meeting with Foster Dongozi, General Secretary of the Zimbabwean journalists union. A video interview with him will appear later today here.
Next stop Parliament and a meeting with John McDonnell MP and senior leaders of the RMT, FBU, PCS and NAPO under the banner of our newly established Trade Union Co-ordinating Group which brings together like-minded unions on a number of common issues. Then it was back to the NUJ for a meeting on staffing issues before heading off to the BBC for meetings with HR (or BBC People as they are called) and a meeting with Director General Mark Thompson and the other FEU unions at which we covered issues such as the move to Salford, BBC finances and BBC Local.
Tuesday morning it was off to the TUC for the Executive which was dominated by the economic crisis and our lobbying of the government to halt forced repossessions. We also endorsed the TUC's submission to Ofcom on Public Service Broadcasting.
Back at Headland House I had a couple of staff meetings before the first meeting of our reconvened Multimedia Commission which produced the Shaping Our Future report last year. We're reviewing the changes in the industry in the intervening twelve months and updating the recommendations for union action.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Editors - they're like buses
Blimey - they're all at it. No sooner does one editor speak out than, like buses another comes along, calling on media owners to "stop milking papers dry". If only we'd thought of that.
Press Gazette today has come up with some useful figures on job losses - 140 per week (and climbing) it estimates. But that seriously underplays the problem which is in large part caused by non-replacement of staff. The true picture in some newsrooms is grim. For example yesterday I spoke to a journalist at a daily regional paper who was the only reporter there that day. The reporting staff as a whole has dropped by half. It's a familiar story for those working in local newspapers. But it is also now becoming more familiar to those working across the media - Time Out is the latest to announce cuts today.
And Mark Thompson at the BBC is threatening yet more cuts - despite commitments given just a few months ago. Bectu General Secretary Gerry Morrissey and I have written a letter to Ariel setting out our opposition to such threats. The BBC cannot make compromises on quality at the same time as campaigning to defend its future funding. More staffing cuts will compromise quality.
I'll just climb off my high horse and go back to keeping you updated on work.
On Tuesday I met with Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. We discussed Conservative Party policy on public service broadcasting and Ofcom's proposals and I made representations on the future of ITV local and regional news, BBC funding, regulation and a number of other key issues for journalists.
On Wednesday amongst many other meetings I met with the Colombian ambassador to make representations about Carlos Lozano, a journalist facing trumped-up charges of 'rebellion'.
I also set out the terms of a new agreement we have reached with Johnston Press to handle restructuring across the group and highlighted the broad support for our campaign against job cuts at UTV.
Press Gazette today has come up with some useful figures on job losses - 140 per week (and climbing) it estimates. But that seriously underplays the problem which is in large part caused by non-replacement of staff. The true picture in some newsrooms is grim. For example yesterday I spoke to a journalist at a daily regional paper who was the only reporter there that day. The reporting staff as a whole has dropped by half. It's a familiar story for those working in local newspapers. But it is also now becoming more familiar to those working across the media - Time Out is the latest to announce cuts today.
And Mark Thompson at the BBC is threatening yet more cuts - despite commitments given just a few months ago. Bectu General Secretary Gerry Morrissey and I have written a letter to Ariel setting out our opposition to such threats. The BBC cannot make compromises on quality at the same time as campaigning to defend its future funding. More staffing cuts will compromise quality.
I'll just climb off my high horse and go back to keeping you updated on work.
On Tuesday I met with Jeremy Hunt, the Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport. We discussed Conservative Party policy on public service broadcasting and Ofcom's proposals and I made representations on the future of ITV local and regional news, BBC funding, regulation and a number of other key issues for journalists.
On Wednesday amongst many other meetings I met with the Colombian ambassador to make representations about Carlos Lozano, a journalist facing trumped-up charges of 'rebellion'.
I also set out the terms of a new agreement we have reached with Johnston Press to handle restructuring across the group and highlighted the broad support for our campaign against job cuts at UTV.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
At last an editor speaks out (even if he is a 'former editor')
Congratulations to Chris Rushton for breaking ranks at the Society of Editors Conference and exposing the failings of management at Trinity Mirror.
In a blog a few days ago I reported that after my comments about BBC Local had caused some controversy at a meeting at Parliament I received an email from Trinity Mirror's corporate communications bods telling me why I didn't know what I was talking about.
I hope they are reading Chris Rushton's comments - one of their former editors - who says of the local newspapers' opposition to the BBC's plans: "You can't say it's your patch if you don't use it. You've not invested - you've just announced 20% redundancies in Newcastle. How are you going to do that and cover a patch?"
Read the full article here
In a blog a few days ago I reported that after my comments about BBC Local had caused some controversy at a meeting at Parliament I received an email from Trinity Mirror's corporate communications bods telling me why I didn't know what I was talking about.
I hope they are reading Chris Rushton's comments - one of their former editors - who says of the local newspapers' opposition to the BBC's plans: "You can't say it's your patch if you don't use it. You've not invested - you've just announced 20% redundancies in Newcastle. How are you going to do that and cover a patch?"
Read the full article here
Darren Bent for Prime Minister
I left you on tenterhooks as I was off to meet Gordon Brown with a delegation from the TUC Executive. Mark Serwotka, PCS General Secretary was unable to make the meeting as he was in negotiations over the civil service pay dispute but he texted me after to ask how it had gone. I was at Tottenham watching Darren Bent score a hat-trick against Dinamo Zagreb - so my reply was 'Darren Bent's better'.
It's not just a flippant comment. The meeting with Gordon Brown was frustrating. Bringing forward major public spending, the cut in interest rates and the pressure put on banks to reduce their rates are all welcome. But there is still a paucity of ambition.
The government have a significant share in many banks now - and outright ownership of others - and they need to be making sure social policy - putting a stop to repossessions, job protection and so on - are being supported by the banks. They need to clampdown on tax avoidance and use that money to shore up employment and tackle fuel poverty, they need to address the impact of the crisis on pensions. But I left feeling they are not really getting to grips with the magnitude or the opportuni9ties it represents to put social needs ahead of the vast profiteering that has been going on for years in our economy.
From Gordon Brown to the Tories. Today we're meeting Jeremy Hunt, the shadow DCMS Minister to talk about Conservative policy on public service broadcasting. Later in the day we're meeting Ofcom again with other media unions.
On Friday I met with other pensions trustees to put the final touches to our agreement on the staff pension scheme which has been given the green light by the pensions regulator. It gives us time to meet the shortfall in funding. I also met a journalist and lawyers involved in a very difficult potential libel case which has big press freedom implications.
Saturday I played football (against the Daily Mail!). I'd love to report a victory for the forces of enlightenment against the forces of darkness but instead it was a rather friendly 1-1 draw.
Monday I met again with lawyers to talk about the same (confidential!) case and then welcomed our new Head of Personnel and Adminsitration, Lorna James. Michelle Stansistreet and I talked her through some of the key issues facing the union and tried to explain our structure - never easy!
It's not just a flippant comment. The meeting with Gordon Brown was frustrating. Bringing forward major public spending, the cut in interest rates and the pressure put on banks to reduce their rates are all welcome. But there is still a paucity of ambition.
The government have a significant share in many banks now - and outright ownership of others - and they need to be making sure social policy - putting a stop to repossessions, job protection and so on - are being supported by the banks. They need to clampdown on tax avoidance and use that money to shore up employment and tackle fuel poverty, they need to address the impact of the crisis on pensions. But I left feeling they are not really getting to grips with the magnitude or the opportuni9ties it represents to put social needs ahead of the vast profiteering that has been going on for years in our economy.
From Gordon Brown to the Tories. Today we're meeting Jeremy Hunt, the shadow DCMS Minister to talk about Conservative policy on public service broadcasting. Later in the day we're meeting Ofcom again with other media unions.
On Friday I met with other pensions trustees to put the final touches to our agreement on the staff pension scheme which has been given the green light by the pensions regulator. It gives us time to meet the shortfall in funding. I also met a journalist and lawyers involved in a very difficult potential libel case which has big press freedom implications.
Saturday I played football (against the Daily Mail!). I'd love to report a victory for the forces of enlightenment against the forces of darkness but instead it was a rather friendly 1-1 draw.
Monday I met again with lawyers to talk about the same (confidential!) case and then welcomed our new Head of Personnel and Adminsitration, Lorna James. Michelle Stansistreet and I talked her through some of the key issues facing the union and tried to explain our structure - never easy!
Thursday, November 06, 2008
MPs turn tables on journalists
Yesterday I met with MPs from the NUJ's Parliamentary Group and representatives from Ofcom as we continue to lobby against ITV's cuts and for fair and adequate funding for public service broadcasting.
There's a report of the meeting from John McDonnell MP here as well as a short interview he did with me for his website. MPs turning the tables on journalists!
Tuesday I met with Guy Smallman, a freelance photographer who was badly injured covering the G8 protests in Geneva five years ago - and who is fighting for compensation. His appeal needs to be lodged later this month and we are helping generate some coverage and support for his case.
I also met with Suzanne Ashley from Skillset to discuss the NUJ's work with the sector skills council and in particular its publishing arm. Wednesday evening I met with NUJ officials to discuss the latest situation at Johnston Press.
Earlier today I met with Claire Walker who authored the NUJ's guidelines on suicide reporting in Scotland. We are working with Madeleine Moon MP to try and get funding to extend the guidelines to cover England and Wales too.
Now I'm off to meet Gordon Brown as part of a delegation from the TUC Executive. I've even got a tie on - sell out?
There's a report of the meeting from John McDonnell MP here as well as a short interview he did with me for his website. MPs turning the tables on journalists!
Tuesday I met with Guy Smallman, a freelance photographer who was badly injured covering the G8 protests in Geneva five years ago - and who is fighting for compensation. His appeal needs to be lodged later this month and we are helping generate some coverage and support for his case.
I also met with Suzanne Ashley from Skillset to discuss the NUJ's work with the sector skills council and in particular its publishing arm. Wednesday evening I met with NUJ officials to discuss the latest situation at Johnston Press.
Earlier today I met with Claire Walker who authored the NUJ's guidelines on suicide reporting in Scotland. We are working with Madeleine Moon MP to try and get funding to extend the guidelines to cover England and Wales too.
Now I'm off to meet Gordon Brown as part of a delegation from the TUC Executive. I've even got a tie on - sell out?
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
He came not to praise capitalism..Paul Foot remembered
Attended the Paul Foot Awards last night at the Media and Spin Bar at Millbank - an excellent event which showcased some great journalism. Despite all the cuts, all the problems there are still committed journalists doing great investigations of which Paul Foot would have been proud.
As Ian Hislop mentioned Paul Foot had already predicted the current banking crisis when the building societies were demutualised - but then he was written off by many as a mad Trotskyist.
Paul, in particular, would have been proud of those like the South Yorkshire Newspapers team from Rossington (all NUJ members!) who showed that good local journalism is still possible and can get the the local community involved in campaigning and build support for the local paper.
As Ian Hislop mentioned Paul Foot had already predicted the current banking crisis when the building societies were demutualised - but then he was written off by many as a mad Trotskyist.
Outside of glitzy parties with the great and the good i've been tied up with National Executive Council business.
The NEC met all day on Friday discussing the union's financial situation, the jobs situation in the industry, recruitment strategies, important industrial disputes at ITV, Johnston Press, our lobbying over photographers' rights, pensions and a lot else, including that BBC row!
The NEC also took time to say thank you to Linda York who retires at the end of the year after more than 30 years service at the NUJ.
Despite the hefty agenda we finished on Friday night, giving me an unexpected break on Saturday. I love it when that happens!
On Friday I also met with Meic Birtwistle the NEC member for Wales to discuss the union's work there.
Yesterday I wrote my monthly Tribune column - it's sad to hear that it is again facing a real financial struggle to survive - and started trying to get all the work done that flowed from the NEC.
As Ian Hislop mentioned Paul Foot had already predicted the current banking crisis when the building societies were demutualised - but then he was written off by many as a mad Trotskyist.
Paul, in particular, would have been proud of those like the South Yorkshire Newspapers team from Rossington (all NUJ members!) who showed that good local journalism is still possible and can get the the local community involved in campaigning and build support for the local paper.
As Ian Hislop mentioned Paul Foot had already predicted the current banking crisis when the building societies were demutualised - but then he was written off by many as a mad Trotskyist.
Outside of glitzy parties with the great and the good i've been tied up with National Executive Council business.
The NEC met all day on Friday discussing the union's financial situation, the jobs situation in the industry, recruitment strategies, important industrial disputes at ITV, Johnston Press, our lobbying over photographers' rights, pensions and a lot else, including that BBC row!
The NEC also took time to say thank you to Linda York who retires at the end of the year after more than 30 years service at the NUJ.
Despite the hefty agenda we finished on Friday night, giving me an unexpected break on Saturday. I love it when that happens!
On Friday I also met with Meic Birtwistle the NEC member for Wales to discuss the union's work there.
Yesterday I wrote my monthly Tribune column - it's sad to hear that it is again facing a real financial struggle to survive - and started trying to get all the work done that flowed from the NEC.
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