NATASHA HIRST
inbrief... news
OBE FOR BBC ARTS CORRESPONDENT Brenda Emmanus, BBC London News’ arts correspondent, was one of five journalists to be recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Emmanus, who has worked for BBC London for 17 years, was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting and diversity.
BUTE PAPER CLOSES AFTER 165 YEARS A weekly newspaper covering the Scottish island of Bute has closed after 165 years. The Buteman, which was founded in 1854, published its final edition on 21 June. There were no redundancies as staff working on the paper had been moved to JPI Media’s hub in Edinburgh last year.
DAILY STAR GOES BACK TO THE LOBBY The Daily Star has returned to the lobby, the group of political journalists in parliament, after an absence of six years. Reporter Alex Brown, who joined the tabloid in August 2017, received his pass after a lengthy application. The paper’s previous lobby journalist was not replaced after leaving.
LOCAL PAPER READ BY 76,000 ONLINE The Bedford Independent news website says it is reaching 76,000 readers a month on average six months after its launch. The website went live last November after publisher Reach closed the Bedfordshire on Sunday newspaper and then its replacement the Bedfordshire Midweek.
PHOTOGRAPHER NEC MEMBER VOTED IN Mark Pinder has been elected to the photographers’ seat on the NUJ’s national executive council. The election was conducted among the union’s 1,597 photographer members using the single transferable vote system. On a 20.2 per cent turnout, he won 192 votes and Ronan Quinlan won 130.
06 | theJournalist
Universal credit campaign is a ‘gross injustice’, say delegates
THE NUJ LED the way at the TUC’s Disabled Workers’ conference in condemning the Department for Work and Pensions’ campaing to promote universal credit. The union moved an emergency motion criticising the advertising campaign which was launched while the conference took place in May in Bournemouth. Natasha Hirst, the disabled members’ representative on the union’s national executive council, moved the motion: “It is a gross injustice and an insult to all disabled people who have shared their stories and to the journalists who have ethically reported on them for the DWP to dismiss and misrepresent the appalling impact of their damaging system of universal credit.” The NUJ’s code of conduct was highlighted and a message of support sent to members who face pressure to produce content on welfare benefits they consider unethical. Also affected are journalists who rely on universal credit to top up a low income.
An NUJ motion on access to professional
development for disabled workers was well supported. First-time delegate Lynn Degele spoke, highlighting that people with disabilities are not often expected in professional occupations such as journalism and are frequently overlooked for career development opportunities. She said that training
courses are often not inclusive and providers lack understanding of reasonable adjustments which are required to help people to fulfil their potential. This has implications not only for
the those concerned but also for diversity in the industry.
The motion called on the TUC to lobby
training providers and to promote good practice for employers to support disabled workers. Pictured above the NUJ delegation
comprised L-R Natasha Hirst, Guy Thornton (Netherlands branch), Lynn Degele (chair, Oxford branch) and Ann Galpin (chair, disabled members’ council).
Nottingham journalists for hire
THE NOTTINGHAM branch of the NUJ has launched a dedicated website to promote freelance journalists to potential employers. Hire a Journalist in Nottingham was set up because of a rising number of members who are no longer working as staff. Kevin Stanley, the Nottingham branch social media officer, said: “There’s a
wealth of local talent in our patch, and we’re finding that a number of companies are seeking specialists for one off events or major projects. We felt that by promoting freelancers who are NUJ members, it gives organisations peace of mind, knowing that they’re hiring someone with good, ethical credentials. The website is a work in progress, and lists journalists under specialist
headings, such as writers, photographers and multimedia. Listings on the site are free to NUJ members who live or work in the Nottinghamshire area. Visit the site at https://hireanottinghamjournalist.
wordpress.com.
Irish edition of The Times closes
THE IRISH edition of The Times has closed and the majority of the 20 staff in Dublin have been made redundant. The Times’ Irish edition
was launched in September 2015 as a digital service before a print version was added in 2017. News Corp, The Times’ publisher, said it would
resume selling its international edition in Ireland. The Irish edition of the Sunday Times is unaffected. Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish
secretary, said: “The company does not recognise unions in Ireland but we have been contacted by NUJ members who work for the title and they are shocked by the redundancy terms being imposed.”
“
It is a an insult to disabled people and journalists who have reported on them for the DWP to misrepresent the appalling impact of universal credit
Natasha Hirst NEC
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