08 Informed


NUJ’s two-year plan


While recruitment will be the priority, DM has set out a huge programme including a review of the union’s structures and campaigns for beter wages, gender parity and equal pay, more equality reps and a boost in training


Union modernisation Te NUJ will review ways to modernise the union’s democracy and structures and consult on how DM can be made more effective; delegates from the past three DMs will be surveyed. With almost a third of the membership now freelance, a significant proportion of the membership is no longer based in the workplace. Te union has been given a “clean sheet” to put forward a blueprint to take account of the situation and change the way it is organised.


Future of the media Te union’s frequent calls for an inquiry into the UK press have been realised by the Cairncross Review (see page 7). It will showcase members’ good work and liaise with organisations promoting new journalism models. Te Irish Executive Council will lobby for a Commission on the Future of Media in Ireland. Tere will be another Local News


Maters Week, ensuring that “the issue of media ownership and control is highlighted”. Chapels will promote the value of local newspapers in their communities. A Reps’ Summit will bring together staff workers and freelances to “encourage beter exchange of good practice in industrial activity”, including a session on equality reps’ training. Te union will campaign against


work-related stress with local activities, promote health and safety training and call on employers to introduce training for managers on mental health and workplace pressures. A wages campaign will


lobby for a pay rise for media workers, action on gender pay gaps and unequal pay, a minimum payment of the Living Wage and professional fees for professional work, including images.


Training and skills Te union provides a full programme for reps, including its three-stage reps’ course, plus training on health and safety, dealing with bullying, equality, developing confidence and a new workshop on pensions. Te union will boost its training of equality reps and support the journalists dealing with equality issues in their work. Te Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU) runs England-wide, free, professional development workshops and NUJ Scotland and NUJ Wales offer government- funded courses for journalists. More online training will be available for members and the


NUJ will work with education providers, the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) and the Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) to ensure disabled students and journalists do not face barriers to the profession.


Journalists’ safety Te union’s health and safety (H&S) commitee will collaborate with organisations such as the Rory Peck Trust, an international NGO that supports freelance journalists in crisis, and Dart Centre Europe, which campaigns for effective reporting on violence and trauma, to provide writen guidance for journalists on how avoid the effects of trauma and will lobby employers who send staff and freelances to hazardous environments to provide training in minimising risks. Te H&S commitee will lead work to prevent workplace harassment and establish suitable policies as part of house agreements, including raising


awareness of cyberbullying, how to deal with it and how to report it.


See you in court? A survey to establish the extent of court reporting in the UK and Ireland, what barriers it faces and journalists’ lack of access to special courts will be set up and the results will be disseminated via the NUJ’s Parliamentary Group to relevant departments of the UK and Irish governments. A skills-based event will be organised and the union will liaise with the NCTJ and BJTC. Te health and safety council will also highlight incidences of reporters being atacked while using mobile phones to take pictures outside courts.


Improving equality Te union will launch “a union-wide campaign to end discrimination in pay


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