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London freelances get together


P


lanning, practice and even more practice is how Mat Salusbury prepared for London Freelance Branch’s first


meeting via Zoom. It is one of the NUJ’s biggest


branches, but with more than 70 people joining – someone counted 76 – it was an impressive number and feat for Mat who was chairing. Guest speakers for the evening


were Michelle Stanistreet and Pamela Morton, national freelance organiser. Mat took some tips from Edinburgh Freelance Branch meeting and the LFB commitee met to get familiar with Zoom and its tools. Te agenda was drawn up carefully; it was agreed business should be arranged where possible with a series of “yes”, “no” questions, with people raising their Zoom hands. Mat said: “Because of security issues with Zoom, we sent out the link for the meeting a few hours before, via the email list for members only, not by social media. It also meant we had to be careful during the section of our meeting where we raise work issues, because it’s just too leaky a space


was a more modest affair in terms of numbers. Once branch business was concluded, one of the members delivered a session in well-being, showing how to deal with worries and keep a


Branch bloggers T


be sorted for next time. He was aided by commitee member Mike Holderness, puting up relevant documents, and branch co-chair Nick Renaud-Komiya was on stand-by if Mat’s signal dropped. Michelle outlined the union’s work during the Covid-19 crisis and its


he PR &


Communication branch meeting


positive mind. Atention was drawn to a blog by new member, Imthiaz Rehman, who explained how helpful he had found being a member of the NUJ. “It’s a great way to learn more about who to pitch to, how to build campaigns and what journalists are really


for identifiable workplace stuff, compared to the NUJ’s basement. “We’d decided to stick with Zoom as a lot of our members are used to it.” Inevitably there were technology hitches, but Mat thinks it will


News Recovery Plan’s measures to help get the industry through the present crisis and re-boot a more inclusive, diverse public-interest journalism. Pamela Morton said: “I am very aware of the desperate situation and the stress many freelances are experiencing. Te NUJ’s freelance office is doing its best to deal with your queries and is lobbying government over the failure of its aid schemes to cover many of our members.” A photographer reported being


harassed from the public while working, and the issue of whether freelance sports journalists would get access to behind-doors matches was raised. Most people who wanted to, had their say. Te LFB’s new members’ meeting,


usually at a café near the British Museum, went well despite being virtual and cake-less. Zoom was used for an LFB student recruitment event for 50 students at City University, with a Q&A on how to get work and be properly paid.


looking for,” he said. “It also helps to have a friendly space where you can talk to others in the same field and ask questions you would shy away from asking at work. Am I underpaid? Is my workload too much? Am I being discriminated against?”


MEETINGS


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