Informed 07


Delegates call for a pay rise… and cake


Work-related stress and poverty pay were taking their toll on members, delegates were told. A shocking dossier of evidence


revealed the high levels of stress at Newsquest, the consequence of many years of cuts and crippling workloads; a health and safety survey carried out at Johnston Press showed a similar


picture. Te NEC was instructed to organise a campaign against work-related stress and for the stronger enforcement of health and safety legislation. Julia Armstrong, South Yorkshire


branch, won support for the launch of a Journalists Need a Pay Rise campaign for members who had suffered pay cuts.


Richard Evans, Leeds and Wakefield branch, said all editorial staff in Leeds had been invited for lunch on the longest day, with funds from the chapel to provide cake. DM agreed that the NEC should promote the initiative, to highlight the legal rights and the health benefits of taking a break, throughout the union.


New ownership models sought for press review


Te NUJ has welcomed the government’s review of the sustainability of the press, chaired by the economist and journalist, Frances Cairncross.


Te union has long campaigned for an inquiry into the crisis in the press, by launching public events such as Local News Maters Week in spring 2017 and working behind the scenes in Whitehall with the cross-party Parliamentary group to persuade ministers to take up the issue. Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP


for Dwyfor Meirionnydd in Wales, a former magazine writer, a longstanding NUJ member and guest speaker on behalf of the Parliamentary Group, said the events held in MPs’ constituencies and a successful backbench business debate culminated in a meeting with Mat Hancock, then digital minister, who later announced he would hold an inquiry into the future sustainability of high-quality journalism in the UK. Te only fly in the ointment is that the review panel set up


to advise Frances Cairncross does not include the NUJ or a grassroots journalist or photographer. Te NUJ has since asked the minister for a place at the table. Penny Kiley, Oxford and District


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branch, congratulated everyone who took part in Local News Maters Week, saying it had felt good to be part of a national campaign that generated support from politicians and the public. Debates at DM discussed


how new business models for journalism must inform how the NUJ takes forward its work on the issue. Joyce McMillan, Edinburgh freelance


branch, said the landscape was changing rapidly and the union needed to research emerging funding models such as crowd-funding, subscriptions and joint projects between consortia of investigative journalists and other organisations. DM agreed the union would carry out a


research project on the subject and hold at least one national conference to share the results. Claire Sawers, from the same branch, emphasised the importance of new models, such as the Bristol Cable and Te Ferret media co-operatives plus the employee-owned West Highland Free Press, in sustaining democratic accountability where traditional newspapers were failing. Nick McGowan-Lowe, for the NEC,


called on the union to lobby for newspapers to be able to become community assets if owners closed them. Scotish delegates said the loss of 59 local titles in the country meant new approaches were needed. Te importance of the role of hyperlocals was noted. Michael Foley, Dublin branch, said media plurality must be addressed, particularly in Ireland, given the concentration of ownership in the hands of Independent News and Media.


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