inbox


of the most striking and interesting images regularly in their working lives. While the council appreciates the budget constraints the NUJ is operating under, it believes that, by making better use of the union’s own photographer members, not only could picture quality be improved but also the NUJ would be seen to be actively supporting its photographers at a financially difficult time. The Photographers’ Council has


raised these points with The Journalist editorial advisory board and is seeking to jointly resolve these issues. Natasha Hirst Chair, Photographers’ Council


The magazine’s budget is ultimately set by the union’s national executive council when it approves the total budget. This year The Journalist’s allocation was cut by 15.6 per cent. The amount available for content, after production costs, is about £6,200 per issue. That doesn’t go far. The magazine uses stock photos for


practical reasons. Our freelance designer doesn’t have the time to contact a range of photographers to see if they have the shot we want, then wait for the replies etc. There is also the question of who to approach. To be totally fair, all 1,600 photographer members should be contacted for each shot. Obviously that is totally impractical. No publication works this way.


Some time ago, I attended a meeting


of the Photographers’ Council and we discussed the NUJ setting up a photo library with photographers contributing images that our designer and the communications team could use. It could be just a simple repository. I’m very keen to pursue this idea. I understand the photographers’


concern but unfortunately it can’t be resolved within The Journalist’s current budget. Christine Buckley Editor


Freelance team saved me from harassment Thanks very much to the NUJ Freelance team for saving me from being harassed by HMRC and TWO debt collection agencies they hired over a Working Tax Credit over-payment which I’d paid back four years ago, prior to retiring. I’d spent many hours on the


telephone and writing letters to HMRC to try and sort the matter out myself. It was causing me great stress, particularly as I am suffering from terminal cancer. Fortunately, I had opted to join the


NUJ retired members branch and as soon as I contacted the union, the freelance team contacted HMRC on my behalf and provided me with a contact address there and a model letter for me to send. I have now received a letter of apology from HMRC, together with a promise that they will stop harassing


twitter feed Tweet us your feedback: @mschrisbuckley helenjerome @helenjerome 9:01 AM – 14 May 2019


WELL DONE Fine cover and coverage in new issue of #TheJournalist from @NUJofficial with 3pp on #LyraMcKee including heartfelt obituary from @CiaranOMaolain (@mschrisbuckley)


Centre for Community Journalism @C4CJ 6:07 AM – 14 May 2019 Brilliant article on how a decline in local news brings about a democratic deficit – @raehowells writes in the @NUJofficial magazine


Kath Burton @KathburtonKath 9.45 AM-14 May 2019


May/June issue of #TheJournalist includes fascinating insight into (hyper)local journalism from @Routledge_MandC author (Hyperlocal Journalism: the Decline of Local Newspapers and the Rise of Online Community News) – fancy a chat @raehowells? (c @ProfBobFranklin)


me. They even sent me a modest payment by way of compensation. I can now concentrate on staying


alive and enjoying my retirement. Tony Birtill Liverpool


Grateful to NUJ for their help in going to court I’d like to say a big thank you to Pamela Morton in the NUJ Freelance Office. Pamela helped me with a long-running claim against a publisher. We’d tried to settle with the publisher out of court but, in the end, the only option to bring it to a conclusion was


to take it to the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court. This wasn’t straightforward but the NUJ stuck by me, for which I will always be grateful. Pamela and the NUJ’s solicitor at Thompsons were endlessly patient, calm, helpful and on the ball. I succeeded and the judge awarded me damages for breach of contract and costs (court fees and expenses). It is well worth being a member of the NUJ for practical and moral support and feeling that you don’t have to fight all your battles on your own. Celia Woolfrey London Freelance Branch


STEVE BELL


THE OWNERS


theJournalist | 23


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  |  Page 28