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play in providing sustainable funding to future proof journalism, I’ve spent a lot of time over the past year talking to ministers, MPs and policymakers, and sensed a shift in view as the pandemic has progressed about what intervention could be palatable or achievable. That’s made events in Australia in recent weeks and days fascinating and salutary to witness – with Facebook’s decision to “defriend” a country and turn off its news to Australian citizens, in an unvarnished two finger salute to the government’s legislation to introduce a media code. It’s hard not to view the government’s subsequent deal, struck to meet all of Facebook’s own red lines, as a capitulation that should send shivers through democratic states everywhere. Earlier this week I met with leaders


from sister trade unions in the States, Canada, Australia and the IFJ to discuss our collective view on what is a global problem. We issued a joint response condemning the bully boy tactics and urged governments around the world to take urgent steps to protect and sustain news, boosting diversity, increasing quality information and delivering more journalist jobs. [https:// bit.ly/2NuFEBY] At a time when the need for quality trustworthy information is vital, in the midst of a global pandemic, instead we’re seeing across the world the axing of journalists’ jobs, the closure of titles and creation of more news deserts, the censoring and restriction of information, and journalism being pushed around as simply a commodity to be bought, sold and used as leverage by hedge funds, corporations and tech giants. Bilateral deals – clinched on Google


and Facebook’s terms directly with companies they wish to do business with – misses the opportunity for a transparent repurposing of support for a sector that cannot and should not be treated like just another business. Journalism is a public good. Journalism is essential for democracy. With disinformation and conspiracy


theories on the rise, a more diverse, pluralistic news industry is vital. We want bigger and bolder measures to ensure that money does not just go to propping up the same monopoly media owners, or failing business models that are starving journalism of investment and short-changing the public. We want to see public-interest media supported and strengthened, with journalists paid a fair share of the profits made from their work, new jobs forged, and new and more diverse voices created and sustained. An independent fund could use money


received through a tax on revenues or profits, directly funding national news recovery initiatives - saving jobs, sustaining media, supporting new voices, tackling disinformation and boosting media literacy. Journalism should not just be a business – nor can it just rely on charity, philanthropy or the crumbs from the tech giants’ table. Governments need to step up, acknowledge the crisis facing journalism, and take urgent measures to protect and sustain news and information. The whole package of measures we and other unions have put forward – using tax and fiscal policy, public advertising campaigns, job retention and creation subsidies, all with conditionality that goes directly to funding journalism in the public good – could radically transform the economic crisis facing media. Standing together with journalists elsewhere in the world with a collective mission to rebuild journalism as a public good is what is driving our efforts across the NUJ’s nations and regions. That work, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities thrown up during the pandemic and campaigning into the rest of this year and next will be the focus of NUJ delegates coming together in the postponed Delegate Meeting – taking place virtually on Friday 21 and Saturday 22 May. Taking advantage of technical opportunities means we’re hoping chapels, branches and the wider membership will make that week a busy


Delegate Meeting 2021


Following the postponement of the NUJ Delegate Meeting following the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown, an online conference will now take place in May alongside a programme of broader events taking place across the union’s nations and regions. DM will take place online, with the main business and motions happening on Friday 21 May and Saturday 22 May, following a formal opening of proceedings on Monday 17th May that will include events focussing on the union’s News Recovery Plan, our safety of journalists campaign, the union’s international solidarity work and a celebration of our Members of Honour. We will showcase a package of


training seminars and professional skills sessions, including collective bargaining and mental health and wellbeing training. Branches will also be encouraged to organise online events during a week of activity to make the role of journalists and journalism. Branches will be able to amend their delegations. Late Notice Motions will operate in the usual way, with a deadline for receipt to the NUJ Standing Orders Commitee of noon, Friday 14 May. A fuller briefing for branches will be


circulated.


and diverse reflection of the great work happening throughout the union, with a programme of meetings and events that all members can dip into and engage with.


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