delegate meeting Recruit, recruit, recruit, say activists


THE UNION will mount a big push on recruitment and strengthening participation in the union after a wide range of motions were given the go-ahead at the delegate meeting in Blackpool. The call for a plethora of organisational and participatory


initiatives came in response to falling membership numbers, widespread job losses in the media industry and big shifts in the way people work so that many now work remotely and alone. A motion from the union’s south west England branch said:


“There are upwards of 110,000 journalists in the UK according to Statista.com. “On this reckoning, little more than one in five UK journalists is a member of the NUJ. This should be viewed as a golden opportunity for the union.” Paul Breeden, seconding the motion for the NEC, said: “It’s the job of all of us to find new members.” A motion by the Equality Council said that media


organisations have amalgamated and swallowed up regional media groups, causing a decline in genuinely local news. It instructed the National Executive Council (NEC) to


revisit discussions with the Independent Community News Network and Independent Media Association “to seek effective ways of supporting those doing high-quality journalism into the union”. Martin Shipton (pictured) moved a motion by south Wales


branch seeking to reach out to many young people who are starting their careers by working alone, often under severe pressure to meet page view targets and who are poorly paid.


He said it would be great if they could find solidarity with


other workers. The motion called on the NEC to launch a recruitment


campaign aimed at increasing union membership in such workplaces, using introductory cut-price subscription deals to make joining the union more affordable for such journalists”. South Wales also called on translators to be allowed to join


the NUJ. Andrew Draper, who has done translation work alongside journalism, said translators faced similar pressures in terms of job losses and the impact of artificial intelligence.


MATT KENYON Action and training about AI


FULL-TIME and lay NUJ officials are to have training in artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications following a motion by Derry north west branch. Darach MacDonald said: “The advance of technology has been exponential” and, while this cannot be stopped, “we can harness the resources at our disposal.” The motion noted that the NUJ’s long-affirmed position is that AI is no substitute for journalism. David Nicholson, speaking in support on


JESS HURD Honours for Eamonn and Jim


EAMONN MCCANN (pictured right) from Northern Ireland and Jim Symonds from Dundee were given the union’s highest award at the delegate meeting – becoming members of honour. Michael D Higgins,


president of Ireland, led the tributes to McCann, who is a


06 | theJournalist


lifelong friend. He said the award was “a fitting and richly deserved recognition of Eamonn’s life, a life lived with an unyielding commitment to truth, to justice”. He said he was known for


fearless journalism and a dedication to workers’ rights. Symons’ colleague Jimmy


Black said that Jim was an indefatigable, passionate and forceful representative who kept the NUJ’s Dundee branch going. He had looked after his three children as a single parent and at the same time also studied for a degree with the support of his friends and neighbours.


behalf of the National Executive Council, said that training is crucial. He told delegates about the Fast Skills Friday course on AI in Wales. A motion by south west England branch highlighted the potential impact of AI on jobs and workloads and its effect on undermining editorial integrity and public trust. In another discussion on AI, Jonathan Jewell of the NUJ’s health and safety committee said that activity with the TUC’s working group on AI should continue.


JESS HURD “


Little more than one in five UK journalists is a member of the NUJ. This should be viewed as a golden opportunity


South west England branch motion


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