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TRUST FALLS IN TV NEWSREADERS TV newsreaders have suffered the sharpest fall in trust over the past year among UK professions, according to a survey. The Ipsos Mori Veracity Index, which lists the most and least trusted professions, shows that trust in TV newsreaders ‘to tell the truth’ has fallen by five per cent to 62 per cent in 2018.


JOLIE AND DIMBLEBY TAKE REINS AT TODAY Angelina Jolie, actor and campaigner, and David Dimbleby, the outgoing Question Time host, will guest edit Radio 4’s Today programme for a day each during the festive period. In another holiday departure from the usual schedule, the subject of outer space will be explored in a themed edition.


DENNIS APPOINTS GRIFFIN AS CHAIR Dennis Publishing has appointed former Tribune Publishing chief executive Jack Griffin as chair. Dennis was taken over earlier this year by Exponent, the private equity firm that created Gorkana. Griffin takes over from Mike Darcey, who spent a year as chairman.


WALES AWARDS GETS RECORD ENTRIES The Journalists’ Charity Wales Media Awards 2019 have attracted their highest number of entries. Nearly 240 submissions have been made in 21 categories – an increase of about 20 per cent on last year. The awards celebrate journalism made in Wales for a Welsh audience.


PAPER BREACHED PRIVACY GUIDELINES The Thurrock Independent breached privacy guidelines by showing a woman’s bank details in a video published alongside a story about fly-tipping, according to press regulator Ipso. Documents containing Jenna Cosentino’s bank and insurance information were visible in the video, which was published on the website on July 17.


04 | theJournalist


Isolation biggest issue for local democracy reporters


Local democracy reporters – journalists taking part in a BBC-funded initiative to fill a gap in the reporting of council and other public sector issues across the UK – are enjoying their work but also experiencing some problems, an NUJ summit has found. The BBC funds the journalists as part of its latest charter commitments but they are employed by regional news organisations. The BBC has reported that 144 local


democracy reporters (LDRs) have been allocated to 59 news organisations in England, Scotland and Wales. Stories written by the reporters are shared with more than 800 media organisations that have signed up to be part of the Local News Partnerships scheme. The overwhelming problem voiced at the summit was that LDRs frequently felt isolated because their host local newspaper was unfamiliar with how the scheme should work. They reported that the BBC was reluctant to get involved, saying the LDR should discuss work matters with the


individual news organisation they were contracted to. They also voiced concerns about their


stories not being published quickly enough; that certain publishers preferred lighter stories and trivia; that they were not getting attribution for their stories and that they were being asked to undertake work beyond the remit of their role – including by the BBC


One LDR said she had to fight to be issued with a mobile phone, while others said they struggled to be allowed to put taxis on expenses after attending late-night council meetings and sometimes felt vulnerable. The LDRs reported that some relationships


with council press officers had become difficult because they suddenly found their local authority under greater scrutiny than before because of their work. A chapel has been started for Reach-


employed LDRs and one is being set up by those working for JPIMedia. The NUJ is looking at how best to set one up for Newsquest. If you are an LDR, you can contact the NUJ at ldr@nuj.org.uk.


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It has taken 10 years of negotiation involving four fathers and mothers of chapel and three officials but last month the NUJ’s Merseyside chapel signed a new house agreement with Reach, which publishes the Liverpool Echo and other titles. Chris Morley, the NUJ’s northern and Midlands senior organiser, said the agreement was comprehensive, bringing the previous one from the 1980s up to date. He said: “The Merseyside chapel was never derecognised throughout the dark Thatcher days and beyond and, as befitting such a great working city, our members enjoyed a very good house


editor), Ali Machray (editor-in-chief) Mark Johnson (deputy FoC) and Chris Morley.


A meeting of Manchester NUJ recently remembered Harry Richardson, the first editor of the NUJ’s journal and a general secretary.


Radical Harry Richardson remembered He caused a theatrical


storm in Manchester more than a century ago – at the same time he helped set up the union. Richardson, the NUJ’s second general


secretary, was a radical playwright whose work was staged at the Gaiety Theatre. His play, Gentlemen of the Press, said journalists wrote pieces contrary to their own


Some relationships with council press officers had become difficult because they suddenly found their local authority under greater scrutiny than before


Merseyside agreement worth the wait


agreement that was jealously guarded by the chapel. But, over time, large elements became obsolete. It took us a long time to renegotiate the agreement but it was very much worth it.” Pictured from left Chris Walker (managing


views to ‘put bread and butter on the table’, which outraged the Manchester Guardian, which saw itself as morally superior to the ‘yellow press’.


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