Informed NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE issue 53 June 2026 Organising, Defending, Winning


On 1 May we published the first phase of our new recruitment and organising strategy, seting out a collective vision for strengthening our union at a time of significant change across the industry. Te strategy acknowledges the


challenges facing journalists today – from low pay, job insecurity and exploitative working practices, to the rise of AI, disinformation and the pressures caused by changing media consumption. To address these challenges, we must build collective strength. Te strategy stresses that recruitment and organising is a shared responsibility: every member can make a difference – whether it’s through simply encouraging colleagues to join the union, organising in your workplace, joining chapel meetings, building active branches or reviving old ones. Te strategy offers practical guidance, including creating sector-specific recruitment plans, providing clearer training pathways to develop activists, and making greater use of digital communication and social media. Tere’s also a strong focus on improving support for freelances, students and early career journalists. Tis is just the first phase of the strategy, which will continue to be developed through the National Executive Council (NEC). Members and officials are already puting these organising principles into practice and there have been numerous examples of the union’s impact in recent months. Members at Mediahuis, supported by Irish Organiser Ian McGuinness, recently secured a raſt of new terms and conditions for staff north and south or the border following months of negotiations and the tireless


Also in this issue:


Live from Laura Page 02


Organising defending


winning


work of reps. Tese include upliſts to paternity leave and bereavement leave, a 2% pay increase for 2027, and an increase in domestic violence leave from five days to one month of full pay. At the same time, members at ITN have achieved a significant improvement in pay. Tanks to members’ collective strength and sustained, skilful negotiation, 88% of eligible staff receiving an increase of 3% or more with an average increase of 3.5%. Te Spring Freelance Forum in Dublin, organised by the Dublin Freelance branch, shows the union’s role in connecting members and offering opportunities for professional development. Atended by around 70 journalists and student journalists, distinguished speakers such as Justice David Barniville, High Court president, and Gerry Curran, NUJ joint president, emphasised the role of court reporters in upholding transparency, accountability and open justice.


Health & Safety reps’ Page 05


Meanwhile the NUJ’s swiſt condemnation of a call by Patrick O’Donovan, media minister, for Coimisiún na Meán to investigate RTÉ over coverage of oil protests won widespread public and cross-party support. Tis prompted Simon Harris TD to reject O’Donovan’s call while re-iterating the importance of media freedom and Coimisiún na Meán’s independence as the media regulator. Te creation of a new Media City branch, bringing together members from the BBC and ITV, is another example of how the union fosters a sense of community and solidarity. Te creation of the branch was agreed at the last NEC meeting in late March. Te council also voted to begin consulting union bodies on the review of the union’s Delegate Meeting and expressed solidarity with members at BBC Persian and the family of Lyra McKee amid the traumatic trial surrounding her murder. Te NEC meeting on 26 June will be covered in the next edition of Informed.


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