Informed 07


Broadcasting Just aſter DM, BBC members announced further strikes and a return to work to rule in England over schedule changes to local radio and in Northern Ireland over cuts at Radio Foyle. DM delegates were told the dispute


was about sticking up for the 5.7m loyal UK listeners of local radio who would be cheated of a proper service by the BBC’s plans. Tere were emotional speeches describing how local radio members were made to re-apply for their jobs, in some instances given 60 seconds timed by a stopwatch to explain why they should not be sacked. Te BBC News Channel and BBC World were shut and replaced by a new rolling news service, with many job losses. Te World Service’s budget was slashed by £28.5m per year with almost one in five posts axed, the BBC Persian and BBC Arabic radio stations closed and more language services moved to digital-only. Te union will call on the BBC to conduct a full equality audit following a Black Members’ Council motion which revealed large numbers of black and minority ethic staff were leaving the corporation. Te only good news was the


government’s U-turn on the privatisation of Channel 4.


Equality Delegates heard how an Asian journalist at the BBC found herself passed over for promotion by less experienced white colleagues until the NUJ intervened, and a 2022 TUC survey revealed more than 120,000 of the UK workforce had quit their jobs because of racism. Conference agreed the union would lobby for mandatory ethnic minority pay gap reporting and for the industry to set up robust anti- racism policies. Following Baroness Casey’s review of behaviour in the Metropolitan Police Service, the union will meet the Met to discuss concerns about the safety of


women and other discriminated groups. A Disabled Members’ Council motion put in train a campaign to highlight and improve the accessibility of visual digital journalism, including infographics, for those with sight impairment. Te union will continue its support of the TUC Long Covid Support Employment Group and help increase reps’ and employers’ understanding of the condition. DM agreed to a call by wheelchair


tennis player and reporter, Gemma Stephenson, to lobby sport governing bodies to allow more online coverage of events so disabled journalists can report on them.


Te 60+ Council’s Jenny Vaughan said a “toxic cocktail of sexism and ageism” was pushing women out of work and the union’s campaign against ageist discrimination will continue”.


Te Equality Council’s constitution


will be changed to include a seat for a member aged 30 or under. A network to promote Irish language journalism and support journalists working in minority languages will be set up.


Media freedom


Supporting protection of sources, freedom of information and media plurality all featured in the media freedom debate. Te union will continue to work with organisations supporting press diversification. Motions paid tribute to NUJ member


and ex-MP, Chris Mullin, for his principled stand in the defence of his sources in the Birmingham pub bombings case.


A motion condemning the use of


Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) to stifle legitimate reporting and debate was carried.


Conference heard parts of the media


were prioritising page views over quality journalism, which skewed news values and replaced local news with generic content. Te union will continue to campaign for quality journalism and challenge these practices. DM instructed the union to work with the IFJ in its global effort to protect journalists’ rights under the Human Rights Act and the European Convention.


Te Ethics Council raised concerns about palace restrictions on the use of video clips from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. Deborah Hobson, for the NEC, said it was an atempt by the establishment to constrain the freedom of broadcast media.


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