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02 | theJournalist


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Main feature 12 Rookie war reporter’s ordeal Sub-editor’s stint in Ukraine


W


elcome to the latest edition of The Journalist which comes amid the final countdown to a new Prime Minister and in the throes of what some describe as


a summer of discontent. So far, we’ve had the first national rail strikes


for 30 years, the threat of action at Heathrow and many warnings from unions that employers must offer realistic pay as inflation spirals. In our own industry, the NUJ is balloting for industrial action at Reach, the UK’s biggest news publisher. In this issue, we go behind the scenes at the RMT as their communications officer John Millington presented their public face amid the first strikes and unexpectedly launched a media star in Mick Lynch, the general secretary. He was unflappable in the face of sometimes hostile media treatment, answered questions straight-forwardly, struck a chord with the public and became a TikTok hit. And if you’re getting ready to travel in your time off over the summer, few of us would dare to do what Jeff Farrell did. He took leave from his sub-editing job to go to Ukraine and report the war as a freelance. Without support he quickly got to grips with finding local fixers, reporting in a war zone, filing developing stories and keeping safe. Read his gripping account in our cover feature. See you in the early autumn.


News 4 NUJ wins backing for broadcasters LGBT+ delegates’ unanimous vote


5 Russia bans British journalists Reporters accused of bias


6 Scots to protect serious reporting Plan for ‘public interest’ institute


7 Welsh plan to rebuild journalism Wales TUC backs NUJ proposals


Features


15 Reality of war Stories from Kurdistan


18 Time to end royal rota Palace controls coverage


22 Lost in the cloud Online stories often disappear


24 Wright and wrong Spycatcher blockbuster


Regulars


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ISSN: 0022-5541 ”


27 Technology 28 Letters 30 NUJ & Me 31 And finally...


Arts Page 26


Ray Snoddy Page 09


Steve Bell 28


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