04 Informed


News Update


NUJ reps tell minister the real news story


Brexit may be all-consuming in Parliament, but behind the scenes officials at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport are beavering away on the recommendations made by Dame Frances Cairncross’ review of the press. To aid their deliberations, NUJ journalists were invited by Margot James, the then digital minister, to discuss what practical steps could be taken to aid an industry where, according to the review’s report, journalist figures had dropped from 23,000 in 2007 to 17,000 today, advertising spend by 69 per cent (£3.2 billion) and annual circulation revenue declined by 23 per cent (£500 million). For the minister it was an opportunity


to hear from reps in the local and national press, local democracy reporters (LDRs), photographers, freelances and those working on new- model news publications. She was told of the constant cuts to newsrooms and the pressure caused by the demands of digital journalism, where the emphasis is on maximising “clicks” and story rates.


Margot James listens to NUJ journalists “When I started in newspapers, I was


told ‘check it, check it’, now it’s ‘get it online, get it online, get it online’,” said one of the local newspaper reporters. Richard Palmer, royal correspondent


for Te Daily Express, said newspapers had to compete with social media peddling rumours and nonsense stories such as Prince Charles and Camilla about to split. “We want to find a way forward that


gives people the news they can trust and where quality news is supported,” he said.


Te influence and damaging effect of


Facebook and Google on journalism were discussed; last year the duopoly sucked


Reach takeover “a threat”


Te NUJ has raised concerns about offers made by Reach newspaper group to acquire some of the titles owned by JPI Media, which fell into the hands of its creditors last year. Reach, the largest regional newspaper


group in the UK, with titles including the Manchester Evening News and Birmingham Post, also owns the Daily Mirror and Daily Express. JPI Media, taken over by GoldenTree Asset Management from Johnson Press, owns


the i, Te Scotsman and Yorkshire Post. An NUJ statement said: “Any deal that includes JPI Media’s flagship regional titles would lead to the market being dominated by just two companies. “Te union is concerned that decisions on editorial policy, news gathering and practice will be concentrated in the hands of fewer people, so we are calling on parliamentarians to investigate the lack of media plurality in Britain.” Te NUJ has also asked Reach for


up more than half of the UK’s advertising revenue and it was suggested they pay a levy to fund public-interest journalism. Dame Frances had recommended an Institute for Public Interest News. Tim Dawson, a former NUJ president, said he could see value in an organisation championing public-interest journalism which shared good practice, investigated new news models and provided grants for start-ups. Te need for greater diversity in


newsrooms was emphasised. Pay played a role in this, the minister was told, with people leaving newspaper because they couldn’t live on their wages. LDRs can start on £22,000, but could earn £36,000 if they got a job in a local council press office, said Lucy Ashton, who spoke positively of her role as an LDR in Sheffield. As the journalists filed out of her office decorated with photographs of the Queen and Margaret Tatcher, the minister was leſt with plenty of food for thought. Two days later she resigned to vote against the government on Brexit – fortunately DCMS officials had been taking full notes. On July 21, the government announced a £2m Future News Fund, administered by the innovation foundation, Nesta, to help the regional press explore innovative ways to provide local, public interest journalism.


guarantees on realistic, sustainable staffing levels and job security. Reach chief executive, Simon Fox, is leaving the company in August and will be replaced by Jim Mullen, a former News International director of digital strategy and CEO of beting firm, Ladbroke Coral. Newsquest’s American parent group, Gannet, which has just seen off a hostile bid, is in advanced talks to combine with GateHouse Media in a deal that would merge the two largest owners of newspapers in the US by circulation.


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