election the NUJ General Secretary JESS HURD Sharing our stories
Our union needs members from all backgrounds to influence our policy and campaigns. We need the diversity in our newsrooms that reflects the diversity in our audiences. We can tell our story and share our values in a way that connects with a wider group of members and potential members to inspire understanding, pride and engagement in the work we do. As president, I’ve dedicated time
Natasha Hirst
The union has had so many uncontested elections for the top post that you might not have voted in one before. But this is an important election where you are asked to make a vital choice at a crucial time. That choice is about this union’s
future as a vibrant, influential, independent force in an industry where so many of our members’ jobs are constantly at threat. Rounds of redundancies are forcing hard working journalists out of the newsroom. Freelancers find budgets have been slashed and rates are not rising. All to pay greedy executives and shareholders who are only about cost, and not quality.
Our collective strength We have done well to manage a decline in membership so far, but the reality is that the regional press sector is around a third of the size it was 15 years ago. Our members in broadcasting are increasingly battling cuts too. We have members across a range of publishing, communications, digital and visual media roles who live with the stress
of unstable and low-paid work, especially at the start of their careers. Across the industries and nations
we represent, the precarious nature of our working lives necessitates a strong challenge and industrial strategy from the NUJ. Our approach must feel relevant to a diverse membership, many of whom work in roles and sectors that didn’t exist 15 years ago. Increasing our membership is necessary to avoid ongoing subs rises. When members move around in their careers, we must make sure that we retain them and offer the support needed as they transition into different roles. As a Union Learning Rep, I am a strong advocate for professional development, skills and reps’ training to support our members.
Our strength as a union necessitates organising increasingly isolated freelances and workers in smaller workplaces. As a freelance photojournalist who lives and works outside of London, I’m familiar with these challenges.
to engaging with students, and early career journalists. I have a track record in supporting the development of younger and diverse activists. I will explore how we can urgently boost the capacity of our internal and external communications, to include more multimedia content to strengthen our organising efforts. We punch above our weight with our lobbying and solidarity work, through the Parliamentary Group, in our devolved nations, Ireland and on the continent, as well as the wider union movement and internationally through the IFJ. We have tremendous foundations to build on, to inspire hope amongst our membership and collectively defend the values we live and work to.
Team NUJ
Our union is nothing without the hard work of our members in chapels, branches, and our collective strength across our workplaces and the freelance sector. My leadership is marked by strong collaboration, networking and building teams across the union that work to people’s strengths. If you’re active in your branch
you’ve probably heard me speak there. If you work at Reach, National World or the BBC you might have met me on a picket line. If you’ve had an issue on equalities matters, I may well have spoken to you in my role as an NEC member. If you’ve been a delegate to our DMs, or you
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attended the Dublin Freelance Forum, our reps’ network briefings and members’ webinars, I will probably have spoken to you at some point. And even if you don’t play an active part in the union, but you’re a regular reader of this magazine, you’ve probably read one of my articles here. It’s been my privilege to have
been elected as your president, and as vice president before that. I will remain a dedicated advocate and campaigner for every one of you, raising our profile and promoting our professional and trade union values, challenging obstructions to media freedom and campaigning against precarious working conditions to protect jobs, pay, and freelance rights. I have supporters from across the union, including NEC members, Council, Branch and Chapel chairs and grassroots members who I have worked alongside, advocated for and supported over almost 10 years as an activist. I urge you to get involved and
have your say on how we should futureproof our union. Branches are organising hustings where you can listen to and question the candidates, and you can find out more about my experience and priorities on my website www.
hirstnuj.com or contact me on
natasha4gs@gmail.com
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