Informed NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE issue 51 Dec 2025 STV members vote to strike


As we near the end of the year, this edition of NUJ Informed reflects the issues highlighted during our recent National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. Te NEC agreed the union’s 2025-26 budget following lengthy but collegial debate. Te Budget Working Group


recommended ways to address the deficit aſter the delegate meeting did not secure the required two-thirds majority to increase subs and a prospective tenant withdrew from Headland House. A clear NEC majority agreed to consider reductions to the cost of the 2027 delegate meeting, including an aſternoon- only Friday session so most delegates won’t need hotel accommodation the night before. Te NEC also agreed to reduce the collective budget for Te Journalist, with practical implications to be determined through discussion between the Editor and General Secretary. It was noted that further significant savings will be required in coming years unless union revenue increases through improved recruitment and retention.


Te NEC discussed the impressive


response of branches across the UK, Ireland and Europe in organising summer vigils showing solidarity with journalists killed in Gaza. On 3 November the union held a public event marking International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, mourning colleagues and demanding accountability (read more on page 12). Tere was also a summary of NUJ activity at the TUC Congress (see page 5) and a report led by general secretary Laura Davison, whose column on page 2 updates members on the union’s response to the BBC leadership resignations. For a look at the future of


Also in this issue:


Live from Laura Page 02


Organising defending winning


public service broadcasting, read Tara Conlan’s feature on page 8. Members at Scotish broadcaster STV


have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in response to plans to scrap the STV North edition of News at 6 and related job losses. STV announced companywide cutbacks in September, including 60 planned job losses, about half affecting the newsroom. Te union has condemned the cuts as an “act of cultural vandalism” and called on Ofcom to review how STV is meeting regional licence obligations. Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ Scotland organiser, raised concerns while giving evidence in Holyrood and Westminster about the impact on viewers and workers. At Reach we remain deeply concerned about cuts, with reps and officials working tenaciously in recent months to ensure due process and beter outcomes for members. Te Mirror is among those hit hardest, losing around 40 writers and editors. NUJ members there voted for strike action over compulsory redundancies, rotas and concerns about artificial intelligence’s impact on


Irish delegate conference Page 04


editorial quality. Talks are ongoing, with progress on saved roles and continued engagement on AI and new rota paterns. Te strike mandate remains for four months. In September Grahame Morris MP from the NUJ parliamentary group raised Reach redundancies and the “erosion of the media landscape” in Parliament. Culture secretary Lisa Nandy responded by commiting to meeting us and we are due to meet early in the new year.


Te NUJ has also been active in


government consultations, including on alcohol licensing notices, the BBC Operating Licence, and policing and security in Northern Ireland. Following our ‘Stop the freelance rip-off’ campaign, led by organiser Tim Dawson, we submited evidence on late payments and poor practices, emphasising the vital role of freelance journalists. Members can find all submissions on the NUJ website. Tis edition also looks at other pressing issues, including cuts to journalism education (page 6), the Online Safety Act (page 7), and the surveillance and safety of journalists in Northern Ireland (page 11).


Claudia Jones Lecture Page 10


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