news


NUJ wins backing for broadcasters at the TUC LGBT+ conference


NUJ


DELEGATES at the TUC’s LGBT+ conference backed an NUJ motion calling for support for the BBC and Channel 4. The motion, which appealed to the union movement to


campaign to protect the BBC’s funding and universal output and to oppose the privatisation of Channel 4, won unanimous support at this year’s TUC LGBT+ conference in London. It said: “Channel 4 has been a champion of LGBT+ issues – both in its factual output and in innovative, challenging dramas such as It’s a Sin. The BBC has also – across radio, television and online – introduced LGBT+ coverage and representation in mainstream broadcasting, including appointing an LGBT+ news correspondent.” The main theme of the two-day conference, held just before


the 50th anniversary of the first London Pride march, was the rights of trans and non-binary workers. A number of motions highlighted the high level of workplace discrimination experienced by trans people, with almost half reporting being bullied or harassed at work according to TUC research. The research found that just one in four managers said that they had a policy setting out support for trans (including non-binary) workers who wished to transition to live as another gender. The poll of around 1,000 HR managers – run for the TUC by


YouGov – found only one in eight employers monitor their LGBT pay gap and 21 per cent did not have policies to support LGBT staff.


“ Recent research suggests there is a 16 per cent LGBT pay gap,


with LGBT staff effectively earning on average £6,703 less per year. Delegates voted for motions that called on the TUC to produce guidance affiliates could use with their employers to support trans employees and promote trans equality in the workplace. NUJ vice-president Natasha Hirst seconded an emergency motion calling for an end to the stigmatisation of the LGBT+ community, especially in the reporting of health and in particular the reports linking the spread of monkeypox to gay and bisexual men. She said the NUJ was in solidarity with the motion but also


called on delegates to have solidarity with the NUJ in its efforts to protect standards of journalism.


Dutch union’s freelance deal


THE DUTCH journalists’ union has agreed a minimum hourly rate for all freelances working for media group DPG. The deal struck by Nederlandse Vereniginig van Journalisten sets a new rate for freelances somewhat higher than the


same media group’s house agreement for employees - a reflection of the extra expenses that freelances have to meet.


DPG Nederland owns the major Dutch dailies Volkskrant, Trouw and Parool. The last two of these


started life as stencilled underground Resistance newsletters in the Second World War. It also owns many regional and local titles in the Netherlands. DPG Belgium is one of Belgium’s biggest media groups.


Under the new deal, freelances with DPG in the Netherlands will earn a minimum 30 euro per hour. They should negotiate more, based on their experience or the nature of the work. Photographers will be paid for a minimum of two hours per job.


SEVERAL media organisations have written to Marvin Rees, the mayor of Bristol, asking him to reverse a decision to ban local democracy reporters (LDRs) from his media briefings. However, the Labour mayor, a former journalist, said that there was no ban. Controversy was sparked when Alex


Seabrook, a LDR for the Bristol Post and Bristol Live, questioned whether Rees should have flown to Canada for a 14-minute TED talk on climate change. Saskia Konynenburg, head of communications at Bristol City Council,


04 | theJournalist


Channel 4 has been a champion of LGBT+ issues – both in its factual output and in innovative, challenging dramas


NUJ conference motion


There will be standardised


rates for freelances working for the media group. The minimum hourly rate is 167 per cent of the hourly rate for staff. This reflects extra costs to freelances including insurance, social security contributions, pension contributions.


Media groups lobby Bristol mayor


questioned the reporter’s credentials, saying he wasn’t a newspaper journalist. Seabrook was then barred from press conferences along with another Bristol Post LDR, Adam Postans. The barring has led other media outlets, including the BBC, to boycott the mayor’s press conferences. The NUJ’s Bristol branch said: “Anyone in an elected role has a duty to be answerable to his or her electorate. We reiterate that the question to which Rees and his staff took offence.“


LYNCHPICS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32