branches Meeting online has had some unexpected positive results, says Mark Fisher


Virtual times, real results S


ay what you like about the pandemic, but you’d never have guessed it would result in a small


NUJ branch writing policy for the Scottish Conservatives. Yet, on 29 June, the party’s press office


put out a release headlined: ‘Recovery plan is vital for the survival of newspapers’ – a sentiment straight from the NUJ’s own plan for the media launched two months earlier. Like the NUJ’s news recovery plan, the press release called for the establishment of a journalism foundation. It demanded local newspapers be conferred with the status of asset of community value. It also wanted the Scottish government to give rates relief to not-for-profit publishers and to channel advertising into local news operations. “A functioning media is absolutely


crucial for a well-functioning democracy,” said Maurice Golden, Scottish Conservative shadow economy and culture secretary. “There is simply no option – the SNP


08 | theJournalist


government must support newspapers and ensure their long-term survival.” The opportunistic dig at the ruling party aside, this was a major victory for Edinburgh Freelance branch. Only three weeks earlier, several of us, including Joyce McMillan as branch chair and me as secretary, had met Golden on Zoom to brief him on a version of the news recovery plan we had tailored to Scotland. He had been receptive and engaged


but, even so, we were surprised by the speed of the press release. “Yes, will look to include in the manifesto,” he had told us when we wrote to thank him. We have also enjoyed equally


positive discussions with several key politicians at meetings attended by Nick McGowan-Lowe, NUJ organiser Scotland, and, Frances Rafferty, NUJ senior editorial and communications officer, as well as branch members Simon Barrow and Rob Edwards. Scottish Labour MSP Claire Baker told us she had asked a written question about how government advertising money was spent. Scottish National Party MP Alyn Smith said the


“


The Conservative party put out a release headlined: ‘Recovery plan is vital for the survival of newspapers’ – a sentiment straight from the NUJ plan


Scottish media faced a “clear and pressing problem”, a sentiment echoed by MSP Patrick Harvie, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, who said “to call the threat to journalism a pity would be an understatement”. They asked us sharp questions about detail, but backed our general thrust. How did such cross-party unity come about? Back in March, we had to cancel our NUJ student night at the 11th hour. This happened just before lockdown as we had lost our appetite for public gatherings. I’d been reading about this app called Zoom. McMillan had been thinking the union should come into its own in times of crisis. Putting the two ideas together, we proposed to meet online, not monthly as normal but weekly. We put it to the test on March 24 and have returned every week since. Our aim was to be a reassuring presence for freelances at a time of isolation and financial jeopardy. I like to think we have been that but the move online also produced three significant and unforeseen gains. The first is to do with attendance.


Several members who have never been to meetings have become online regulars, including those who live out of town. Interestingly, meetings are now far more likely to be gender balanced. Going online has given the branch a fresh lease of life. Second, distance was no obstacle for


speakers. Our guests have included NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet, International Federation of Journalists deputy general secretary Jeremy Dear and Dame Frances Cairncross, author of the government’s Cairncross Review. That is in addition to a host of NUJ staff members and activists – and let’s not forget the joint meeting with Cardiff and south east Wales branch, as well as with our regular collaborators at Edinburgh and district. Third, inspired by our speakers and


galvanised by the frequency of meetings, we swung into action to promote the NUJ’s news recovery plan. Led by McMillan, we targeted the Scottish parliament’s culture, tourism, Europe and external affairs committee and found we were pushing at an open door. As I write, we are looking forward to meeting cabinet secretary Fiona Hyslop – the culmination of a speedy, positive and most unexpected campaign.


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