05 Poverty and the press


Sam Taylor, NUJ campaigns and communications officer reports on the Ethics council webinar.


and ethical considerations of reporting on poverty. Te session promoted to NUJ members and non- members was well-atended with good engagement. Central to discussions was


O


enforcement of the NUJ’s code of conduct, which states that a journalist “strives to ensure that information disseminated is honestly conveyed, accurate and fair” and “produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination.” However, press coverage of


poverty doesn’t always adhere to these standards. Too oſten people are described in inaccurate, dehumanising terms. Meanwhile the systems that perpetuate poverty are not fully examined. Panellists underlined the fundamental dignity of people living in poverty as well as the need for any reporting to include broader analysis of socio-economic inequality and greater scrutiny of political choices. Naomi Southwell, media officer at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), asked atendees to consider why people in poverty might share


On 8 April, the NUJ Ethics and Disabled Members’ councils held a webinar to discuss the linguistic


their experience with journalists. Southwell said that people are keen to challenge preconceptions, stereotypes, and stigma - for example about single parents, benefits claimants, or people with disabilities. JRF’s guide for poverty reporting offers practical advice such as foregoing stock images and asking people living in poverty for their solutions.


Megan Tomas, co-ordinator of the Coalition Against Benefit Cuts, outlined the wide-ranging impacts of the government’s welfare cuts. She explained how freezes, reductions, and restricted access to Personal Independence Payments, Universal Credit, and Carer’s Allowance will push 250,000-400,000 people into poverty. 96% of those negatively affected by cuts will be disabled people. Tomas expressed concern over the resurgence of misleading information and harmful narratives, calling on journalists to counter government rhetoric around ‘fraudulent claimants’, ‘supporting people out of poverty’, and having ‘no choice’ but to cut welfare. Rachel Broady, lecturer at


Liverpool John Moores University, similarly criticised the government’s use of pernicious language to justify brutal cuts to disabled,


unemployed, and young people. Sharing recommendations from the NUJ’s poverty reporting guide, Broady encouraged journalists to openly discuss questions, locations, timings, and potential payment for interviews. “People in poverty are the experts,” Broady said. “Tey are the people you should be speaking to. Tey are just as significant in a journalist’s contact book as an MP.” Speakers shared organisations who can provide reliable analysis, statistics and interviewees - including Black Triangle Campaign, Disability Wales, Inclusion, Scope, and Te Trussell Trust. Te webinar was chaired by


Professor Chris Frost, NUJ Ethics council chair. Frost reminded members that the NUJ can support journalists to challenge unethical editorial lines and practices. He concluded: “We need to treat people as people – not just as stories.”


Watch the webinar on the NUJ’s YouTube page


Action •


Access the • JRF’s guidelines.


UPDATE


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8