election GERARD CUNNINGHAM / GUTH PUBLICATION Gerard Cunningham
1. What is your vision for The Journalist over the next five years? The Journalist must become a “digital first” publication, if it is to remain relevant. This would means that while it would still publish a sceduled print edition, it would report first and foremost online, reaching members with up to date news using a combination of web publication, newsletters, and where appropriate other means such as podcast and social media where necessary. I want to reimagine The Journalist as a publication that people read first on their phone or computer screen, and can catch up on later in print. 2. How can The Journalist help promote greater membership participation in the union’s democratic structures? Everyone knows what the problems are which the news industry and the NUJ face. The Journalist needs to show not only the problems facing journalists and media workers, but to highlight the solutions the union can offer, provide profiles of union members and activists and the work they are doing, and advocate for increased participation to encourage more members to contribute time and expertise. 3. In the context of changing readership demands what would be your strategy for improving the design and layout of the digital format of The Journalist Stop publishing a PDF. It’s that simple. A PDF is a format designed to tell a printer what a page should look like. It is a terrible experience for anyone using anything but the largest compyter screen, barely readable on most tablets, and impossible on a phone. Meet people where they like, with an interface which presents well designed, readable articles where people read them, on phones,
screens, and smaller laptops as well as in print. Digital First. Not a PDF. There are numerous software options to achieve this, such as Wordpress and Ghost. 4. How do you see the role of The Journalist in covering the industrial activities of chapels, branches and councils? As I noted above, The Journalist needs to show not only the problems facing journalists and media workers, but to highlight the solutions the union can offer. Covering the work of the union at all levels, from chapels and branches to the national (and international) stage is a critical part of The Journalist’s mission. 5. In line with the NUJ’s policy objectives how would you propose to increase the diversity of reporters, columnists and photographers contributing to The Journalist? Invite pitches from first time writers and photographers and arrange for open pitching exchanges. I would also look at audit to identify any systematic, conscious or unconscious biases and ways to overcome them. To this end I would be particularly interested in any inputs from the Equalities Councils.
Helen Parton
1. What is your vision for The Journalist over the next five years? To champion journalism and provide NUJ members with the insight to future proof the profession, while acknowledging past achievements. I would survey you, the readers, to discover where and how you consume information and adapt The Journalist accordingly, whether that’s in print, online or even through social media and live events. I see the magazine as a trusted, professional advisor, giving practical advice for journalists from entry level to the highly experienced. I would meaningfully campaign around issues such as staff pay, freelance rates, clarity on AI, diversity within the profession and better conditions for those juggling family commitments. 2. How can The Journalist help promote greater membership participation in the union’s democratic structures? As someone who has been a union member for decades but not held a union position, this would be an opportunity to learn with you, the readers, about what those democratic structures are, how they work and what opportunities there are. Putting faces to those democratic structures is key, so I would again look at how members best consume information and invite union officials to participate accordingly, whether that’s through written Q&A, live events, video vox pops or webinars. I’m the questioning, fresh pair of eyes on the tried and tested routes to increase participation! 3. In the context of changing readership demands what would be your strategy for improving the design and layout of the digital format of The Journalist
When I edited a trade magazine with very little budget, I worked with the art director to improve the title’s
theJournalist | 29
HELEN PARTON design and layout. We incrementally overhauled the entire look and feel of the publication, from the logo and section headers, down to the font choice and point size. I could do the same for The Journalist’s digital format, in the first instance by simplifying the page furniture to have fewer, smaller elements. I would use embeddable flipbook tools to improve readability and make it easier to share content via links. I would also explore sharing bite-size content through social media. 4. How do you see the role of The Journalist in covering the industrial activities of chapels, branches and councils? While it’s important to recognise the individual efforts of chapels, branches and councils up and down the country, perhaps this could be largely consolidated into content for The Journalist based around common themes and causes e.g. better pay, saving jobs, inroads towards greater diversity and inclusion. The Journalist should be a unifying force, after all, and we have more that brings us together than the output of the separate mechanisms of the union. That said, rotating a focus, for example of a different geographical area each edition, could be a useful editorial tool in highlighting particular industrial activities. 5. In line with the NUJ’s policy objectives how would you propose to increase the diversity of reporters, columnists and photographers contributing to The Journalist? Three words: do your research. I successfully broadened out the contributor base as editor of the 100-year old Journal of the London Society by using my existing networks to seek out groups and individuals that offered different perspectives. I could do the same at The Journalist. Being humble and open to suggestions is key, as is in-person networking, as well as being honest about one’s own unconscious biases. One of my current areas of interest is neurodiversity and as such this has also led me to a greater understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion. That said, I’m still learning!
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
