Informed 03


sustainable solutions, and map the work taking place and evaluate its success. How to make worthy and much- needed initiatives sustainable and able to scale up to match the need – in an environment where digital change is fast and constantly evolving – is a challenge that has yet to be met.


Trust in journalism underpins all of this


work. Whatever the platform, however we access our news and information, how we build relationships of trust in information that has integrity and a provenance is key – not just soaking up content and treating something as fact that merely bolsters our instinctive beliefs or prejudices. Tere’s nothing new in this, but the reality is that people are bombarded with more information from a wider range of sources than ever before – boosting our critical capacity to weed out what’s been fact-checked, from what has not, is the challenge we all face and a skill we need to help our children acquire from the earliest possible age. In an age where distrust is rife it is


therefore heartening to see that the BBC leads the way – Ofcom’s recent research found 79 per cent of people rate the BBC’s news highly, with 73 per cent rating the BBC as trustworthy. Tere’s no room for complacency there – and definitely scope for improvement – but it’s just one of the reasons why the NUJ’s work to sustain our public service broadcaster is so vital. Te latest batle is to ensure the BBC is not lumbered with the cost of funding what is a welfare benefit – the provision of free licences for the over-75s. Our view is clear – the government must pay. Te BBC’s public consultation will soon come to an end - it is time for the BBC leadership to be bold and brave. It must refuse to fund the free licences and put this issue back in the Government’s court. If the Conservatives want to preserve free licences they should deliver on their manifesto commitment and fork out the money to ensure the over-75s retain their free licences.


Sian Jones, NUJ president, says come out fighting this February and boost the union’s membership


With the start of a new year, there are so many ways to support your union, and some too-good-to-miss opportunities for us all to get into recruitment mode. Heart Unions Week is coming up very soon from February 11 to 17, so why don’t you start the year as you mean to go on and make a resolution to recruit colleagues and contacts? It’s the perfect opportunity to


promote the NUJ and bring people into membership. Te TUC and our sister unions across the movement will all be out recruiting and promoting the good work of unions. We’ll be joining the party and leting media workers know we’re the home for them. Te NUJ’s theme is geting a pay rise –


a sure reason why you should be in a union.


Drink with us! Yes, dry January is now


over, so come and visit the new café bar at NUJ HQ. Claim your union discount at Bread and Roses @ Te Chapel, the new union-owned Workers Beer Company venture and a must-visit ethical venue. Great beer, wine, coffee and street food in comfy laid-back surroundings just a five-minute walk from King’s Cross. Puting on speakers and special


events is always a good way to atract new members. Te NUJ has quality meeting spaces in London and there are opportunities during the day in our Glasgow office. Whether it’s for branch meetings,


events, work, or leisure, at Headland House, London, we have a variety of reasonably priced spaces and catering options to suit. You’ll be in good


NUJ president Sian Jones


hands and supporting your union too. Contact lauraf@nuj.org.uk for more information. Be active in your union. Atend a chapel or branch meeting, become a rep or get involved in a campaign. We thrive on the involvement and expertise of our members. A full range of training is available for


reps so you’ll be supported. Trough your skills and dedication we can stand up for and give a voice to our members in media workplaces across the UK, Ireland and beyond. A list of meetings is available on the NUJ website www.nuj. org.uk/events/ Promote the NUJ in your email


signature. It’s a simple but effective way to spread awareness of the NUJ among media contacts and direct non- members to our quick and easy online joining portal, as well as news and campaigns work. Simply link to www.nuj.org.uk And don’t forget our new range of


recruitment materials which you can download as posters or jpgs for your events and campaigns. Tey’re on the website at htps://www.nuj.org.uk/ about/nuj-resources/recruitment- materials-for-every-member/ With challenges in our industry we need our union more than ever. It’s an important and exciting time to be an NUJ member so spread the word and get involved.


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