news NUJ takes the stage at 100th IFJ congress


THE NUJ pushed forward campaigns at the centenary congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) in Paris in May. Its delegation joined unions


from around the world, and Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, was elected to the IFJ executive council after taking part in a keynote roundtable discussion on public service broadcasting. She said: “The NUJ has a


proud history of international solidarity through our work with the IFJ, contributing 16 presidents and hosting six congresses over the past 100 years. I’d like to thank delegates for their support, and I look forward to working


with colleagues from sister unions to ensure that the IFJ remains a strong voice for journalists and journalism around the world.” Georgina Morris, NUJ


vice-president, moved the union’s motion calling for global support for an urgent windfall tax on tech giants. She said: “One of the key policies in our union’s News Recovery Plan is our call for an urgent windfall tax on the tech giants, ensuring that a portion of the vast profits they make in each country goes back to supporting journalism there. “It would provide immediate


funding to reinvigorate the news sector – with an ongoing digital tax to provide


The motion was passed unanimously. The plight of journalists in


Iran was highlighted by NUJ delegate Hanif Mazrooei, who works for BBC Persian. He called for an IFJ campaign to support the reopening of the Association of Iranian Journalists, which was banned by the Iranian government in 2009. He said a lot had happened


sustainable future funding. “The tech giants work at a


global scale and we need a global response. We need every member of the IFJ to work together – and supporting this motion allows us to begin that fight.”


Union lobbies Reach AGM In a letter handed to


THE UNION attended Reach plc’s annual general meeting in May, urging shareholders to support investment in quality journalism and oppose further cuts, pointing out that the company’s digital strategy depends on a properly resourced workforce.


Steve Bell


shareholders, the NUJ Reach group chapel highlighted that “big US tech companies... have sucked out the advertising spend, leaving digital income in pennies against the pounds generated by print”.


in Iran: protests, a violent state response, the arrests of at least 10 journalists, an internet shutdown and war. He said: “Now more than ever, Iranian journalists need a union to defend them and their rights.” The motion was also passed unanimously.


to create the content that is most likely to win subscribers. “It would be foolish and


The letter said: “Last year


saw more than 300 skilled and hard-working journalists made redundant from Reach plc to hack out cost in the face of continuing declining revenues. This meant bigger workloads for those remaining – and less scope


foolhardy to believe AI can be the saviour. It should only ever be a useful tool to enable journalists to do their best work.” At the meeting, the NUJ


raised concerns over job cuts at newsrooms and print sites, asking the board:


“


The tech giants work at a global scale and we need a global response


Georgina Morris NUJ vice-president


“How much of the 5-6 per cent cost reductions earmarked for this year is likely to come from the redundancies of journalists?” Piers North, Reach chief


executive, said the board is “managing our cost base appropriately” and “we will always continue to look at our cost base, and our people are our biggest cost”.


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