Informed 05


Tree of the best: NUJ Members of Honour


An emeritus professor and leading expert on journalist ethics, a former government communications guru, and one of Scotland’s foremost theatre critics were celebrated for their contribution to the union and industry.


Being made a Member of Honour is the highest accolade the union can award and the latest recipients, Chris Frost, Charlie Harkness and Joyce McMillan were well-respected and popular choices. Te Stage magazine said of Joyce that her passion for theatre “is echoed by her passion for a society where theatre is a vital and integral part of the social fabric”. Fellow member of the Edinburgh


Freelance branch, Mark Fisher, said: “Her dedication through good times and bad has helped make the branch one of the most active in the union, kicking well above its weight and contributing significantly to the NUJ as a whole.” Joyce said the NUJ was a “beacon and


haven of common sense and solidarity” during the turbulent years of her 36- year membership, which saw the rise of neoliberal and individualist ideologies. Professor Chris Frost started in local


newspapers and soon became active in the union. In 1985 he was involved in negotiating the introduction of new technology in provincial newspapers. Since moving to Liverpool John Moores


University he has become the author of standard texts on journalist ethics and press regulation and chair of the union’s ethics council. It was Chris, an NUJ president in 1992, who, together with the general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, fronted the NUJ’s response to the Leveson Inquiry into the culture and ethics of the press. Michelle said: “Chris has played such a formative role in our ethics council,


Charities boost at DM socials Delegates raised almost £3,300 for the union’s charities, the George Viner Memorial Fund, which provides bursaries for BAME journalists, and the hardship fund, NUJ Extra.


In honour of the George Viner charity’s 30th anniversary, there was an 80s-themed evening of entertainment from poet Jess Green, Red Wedge comedian Steve Gribben, and a throw-back quiz with teasing questions from the decade. Pennie Quinton and Emma Kelly


Chris Frost, Joyce McMillan & Charlie Harkness


chairing it for many years, and has dealt with the thorniest of problems and most nuanced of issues straightforwardly, with honesty and integrity.” Charlie Harkness’s long and varied


career started on local newspapers and he later became deputy general secretary of the NUJ, working with Ken Morgan and Ken Ashton. From there he went on to head communications at the Post Office Engineering union from where he moved on to the Labour Party and worked with Michael Foot during the 1984 election and then Neil Kinnock in 1987. His knowledge of Whitehall led to jobs as a civil servant working in communications for a number of government departments, despite having an M15 file because of his union activities. He now edits Rye News, a community newspaper. Sian Jones, president, and fellow member of the PR & Communications branch, presented Charlie with the honour. Charlie recalled his first DM in 1972 when the train taking delegates to the venue in Tenby turned into a bar and disco. “It was a lively trip,” he said. “DM has gone downhill ever since.”


arrived in black, back-combed splendour , Chris Morley sported two-toned shoes. T-shirts spoted included logos from bands such as Depeche Mode and the Smiths, plus one collector’s item in support of Beirut hostage, John McCarthy. Chris Wheal, NUJ Extra trustee, said the charity was not just about giving out money – a former Sunday Mirror reporter who was lonely had requested a journalist who would visit him to talk to about his days in Fleet Street. Cash was also raised at the Gala Night’s famous raffle. NUJ charities htps://www.nuj. org.uk/about/nuj-charities/


Ratling good fund-raising fun


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