Informed 09


Welsh democracy will be the loser


Communities without a vibrant local press become disengaged with local democracy, NUJ member Rachel Howells told a National Assembly inquiry into the future of news journalism in Wales. Te inquiry was called in large part thanks to the considerable efforts of the NUJ to promote and defend Welsh journalism and the publication two years ago of the union’s Media Manifesto for Wales


National organiser John Toner,


Welsh Executive Council vice-chair Martin Shipton and ITV Wales chapel representative Nick Powell appeared before the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Commitee. Martin Shipton said media crisis in


Wales was a feature of the English- speaking world in general. He said efforts


News in brief


Good communications Communications and PR workers in the union were able to network, share good practice, let off steam and discuss industry issues at a joint NUJ/ Comms2point0 event in Birmingham, following a similar get together in Manchester, organised by the Public Relations and Communications Council. Phil Morcom, council chair, said: “Working as a communications professional can sometimes be difficult. From unpaid freelance


by former journalists and community volunteers to fill news voids were “patchy” and that those venturing into community journalism required financial, business and legal support. John Toner called for more pressure to be put on large digital publishers such as Google and Facebook to pay for the content they utilise. Nick Powell emphasised the importance of training, saying broadcasting newsrooms are taking on younger staff oſten straight from university, rather than with experience from local papers. Te former editor of the Port Talbot


Magnet, Rachel Howells, shared her experience of being part of a start- up, which eventually closed, and the research she had done as part of a PhD thesis on local news provision.


She demonstrated how poorly-served communities could become disengaged from important local issues and detached from the democratic process.


fees, bullying and pressure not to follow ethical standards, the NUJ is there to back members when the going gets tough, but these joint events can also be fun to catch up with others in the industry.”


Communications Review Te aim of this review is to look at how we can improve our capacity to be the dynamic and campaigning and effective trade union we consistently aim to be. We have commissioned an independent consultant Mark Spilsbury to carry out a survey of membership atitudes to our


communications that will be going out in the coming weeks and all members will be encouraged to take part. Te review is being carried out by Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary and Séamus Dooley, acting general secretary. Individuals, branches, chapels and councils have until Monday 9 October to make general submissions, which should be sent to generalsecretary@nuj.org.uk and marked Comms Review. More details at htps:// www.nuj.org.uk/documents/ strategic-communications- review/


Super salon


Music critic turned comedy writer, David Quantick, and Radio 4’s Remona Aly were guest speakers at the union’s Freelance Salon in London on 13 July. David, who started his career at NME before going into gag and script writing, including the HBO series Veep, told members they must diversify to survive and Remona, who presents the radio programme, Something Understood, stressed the importance of networking, maintaining contacts and relationships and asking for payment for TV and radio appearances.


gbimages / Alamy Stock Photo


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