Letter (slightly pruned) from Brum and Coventry branch chairman Chris Youett:
Thank you for sending a cheque for £50 whcih I have paid into our hardship fund account. It is much appreciated.
To give you an update - Jeremy Dear was brought in for fresh talks following a conciliatory letter from Trinity Mirror's cheif Sly Baily who earned a mere £1.2m last year. Jeremy forced the management to concede what the chapel had been asking for all along: early implementation of the skills matrix (a grading structure members campaigned for for years). In return we have agreed to return to work while management is supposed to work with the Coventry Newspaper Chapel on assessing all our members.
We have made it clear that if management drags its feet the chapel reserves the right to start further industrial action. Morale is still high and this has been helped by letters of support, donations and emails to senior TM staff.
I was pleased to note fellow freelancers were offered bribes (er, loyalty bonuses) of £50 a day to cross our picket lines. Most told the management to stick their cheques. TM tried to hire freelances from as far away as Bristol and London to break the strike. This mostly failed. The effect was the cancelling of photographic jobs and titles were forced to rely on handout pics or stock snaps. Readers very quickly noticed this.
I know those who worked did not like coming in an hour earlier to get a reduced-contents paper out, despite free bacon butties. I expect to pick up new recruits from those who stayed inside over the coming weeks because they haven't got any extra money.
30 September 2005
28 September 2005
ADM motions
It's that time of year again - your chance to have an issue debated by the union's premier power.
October's meeting is when you have the opportunity to propose a motion to be discussed at next year's Annual Delegate Meeting.
So whatever the issue come and along and state the case for it. The branch has to adopt the motion of course.
It would help us greatly if you plan to propose something, to have it written up before the meeting. Two years we proposed a couple of items which were more or less dreamt up on the spot and therefore inelegantly worded. They were, quite rightly, thrown out because of ambiguities or uncertain meaning.
So get a friend to look it over perhaps, or get it subbed, and it should stand a greater chance of being accepted on next year's ADM agenda. Branches are advised to submit a maximum of four motions and the deadline is November 7, which means our October meeting is the only chance for us to discuss possible motions.
October's meeting is when you have the opportunity to propose a motion to be discussed at next year's Annual Delegate Meeting.
So whatever the issue come and along and state the case for it. The branch has to adopt the motion of course.
It would help us greatly if you plan to propose something, to have it written up before the meeting. Two years we proposed a couple of items which were more or less dreamt up on the spot and therefore inelegantly worded. They were, quite rightly, thrown out because of ambiguities or uncertain meaning.
So get a friend to look it over perhaps, or get it subbed, and it should stand a greater chance of being accepted on next year's ADM agenda. Branches are advised to submit a maximum of four motions and the deadline is November 7, which means our October meeting is the only chance for us to discuss possible motions.
26 September 2005
Join NUJ councils
If you want to play a role in union policy, now's your chance.
Next month's branch annual meeting is your chance to stand for the union's most powerful body the National Executive Council. And you can also stand for various councils the union runs.
For the NEC, you can be nominated for the geographical area of the South East, or for one of the following seven industrial sectors - books, broadcasting, freelance, magazines, newemedia, newspapers and agencies, PR and information. Or you can be nominated for the disabled members or black members spot. You need to be fully paid-up and nominated at the October meeting. Contact nujbrighton@gmail.com if you want to stand or come to the meeting and be nominated.
For the bodies elected at next year's Annual Delegate Meeting in Southport, you can stand for one of 11 councils - disabled members council, equality, Journalist editorial advisory board, professional training committee, standing orders committee, TUC delegation, Women's TUC delegation, European Federation of Journalists steering committee, International Federation of Journalists triennial congress 2007, British national pensioners' convention, appeals tribunal.
Next month's branch annual meeting is your chance to stand for the union's most powerful body the National Executive Council. And you can also stand for various councils the union runs.
For the NEC, you can be nominated for the geographical area of the South East, or for one of the following seven industrial sectors - books, broadcasting, freelance, magazines, newemedia, newspapers and agencies, PR and information. Or you can be nominated for the disabled members or black members spot. You need to be fully paid-up and nominated at the October meeting. Contact nujbrighton@gmail.com if you want to stand or come to the meeting and be nominated.
For the bodies elected at next year's Annual Delegate Meeting in Southport, you can stand for one of 11 councils - disabled members council, equality, Journalist editorial advisory board, professional training committee, standing orders committee, TUC delegation, Women's TUC delegation, European Federation of Journalists steering committee, International Federation of Journalists triennial congress 2007, British national pensioners' convention, appeals tribunal.
18 September 2005
September meeting minutes
September 13 minutes. Meeting at Piccolo’s, Brighton.
Apologies – Fraser Addecott. Present – Rebecca Bromley, Rowan Dore, Jan Melrose, Jemima Kiss, Adrian Colley, Fred Pipes, John Freemantle, Alex Forbes
1 New members – K Howell, J Goodey, A Chiles, J Allen, R Bryne, H Dore, S Pandher, J Manning, J Blake, J Melrose elected.
2 Officers’ reports. Treasurer Adrian Colley said we had about £1,500 in the bank. No other reports delivered.
3 Donation to Coventry Newspapers Strike Fund. Owners Trinity Mirror are being urged to pay seniors on weekly papers £20,000 pa and evening titles £25,000 pa. Jemima Kiss recommended a donation of £50, which the meeting backed. (As an aside there’s a good piece on this at http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2005/403/index.html?id=np12.htm).
4 Affiliation to Iraq Union Solidarity. Branch backed this at a cost £5. More at http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/index.cfm?mins=376 .
5 Renewal of subs to Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom. Subs renewed at cost of £25.
6 Christmas party venue suggestions: The Cricketers in Brighton could again be an option. All suggestions welcome!
7 October AGM venue suggestion. Nelson is probably too noisy to stage the meeting next month. Fred Pipes suggested the Eagle, which has some connections with Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin (more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kropotkin) which will be investigated.
8 Chapel reports. Rebecca Bromley, from the Argus, said that agreement had been reached on this year’s pay settlement and that staff would finally have their extra money in a September pay packed backdated to April, a sort of ‘saving scheme’ she added. Generally it appears the Argus is still not a happy place to work as staff have resigned with no jobs to go to and morale is not high.
9 Citizen journalism motion (see September 6 entry below). Jemima Kiss said she just wanted to publicise the issue and ask members for their views (which you can post here on the website). She said there had been a web-based debate among NUJ members about the media’s use of Joe Public-provided pictures, particularly in the wake of the July bombings in London. She said some picture providers had an ethos that what they were providing was not for financial gain. She said it raised issues but that the impact on professionals had been fairly minimal .
Meeting was followed by dinner at which NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear, and others, were present. Your secretary had to leave at this point. So I’d be grateful if someone could flesh out the rest of the evening’s events (hint, hint).
Apologies – Fraser Addecott. Present – Rebecca Bromley, Rowan Dore, Jan Melrose, Jemima Kiss, Adrian Colley, Fred Pipes, John Freemantle, Alex Forbes
1 New members – K Howell, J Goodey, A Chiles, J Allen, R Bryne, H Dore, S Pandher, J Manning, J Blake, J Melrose elected.
2 Officers’ reports. Treasurer Adrian Colley said we had about £1,500 in the bank. No other reports delivered.
3 Donation to Coventry Newspapers Strike Fund. Owners Trinity Mirror are being urged to pay seniors on weekly papers £20,000 pa and evening titles £25,000 pa. Jemima Kiss recommended a donation of £50, which the meeting backed. (As an aside there’s a good piece on this at http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/2005/403/index.html?id=np12.htm).
4 Affiliation to Iraq Union Solidarity. Branch backed this at a cost £5. More at http://www.tuc.org.uk/international/index.cfm?mins=376 .
5 Renewal of subs to Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom. Subs renewed at cost of £25.
6 Christmas party venue suggestions: The Cricketers in Brighton could again be an option. All suggestions welcome!
7 October AGM venue suggestion. Nelson is probably too noisy to stage the meeting next month. Fred Pipes suggested the Eagle, which has some connections with Russian anarchist Peter Kropotkin (more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kropotkin) which will be investigated.
8 Chapel reports. Rebecca Bromley, from the Argus, said that agreement had been reached on this year’s pay settlement and that staff would finally have their extra money in a September pay packed backdated to April, a sort of ‘saving scheme’ she added. Generally it appears the Argus is still not a happy place to work as staff have resigned with no jobs to go to and morale is not high.
9 Citizen journalism motion (see September 6 entry below). Jemima Kiss said she just wanted to publicise the issue and ask members for their views (which you can post here on the website). She said there had been a web-based debate among NUJ members about the media’s use of Joe Public-provided pictures, particularly in the wake of the July bombings in London. She said some picture providers had an ethos that what they were providing was not for financial gain. She said it raised issues but that the impact on professionals had been fairly minimal .
Meeting was followed by dinner at which NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear, and others, were present. Your secretary had to leave at this point. So I’d be grateful if someone could flesh out the rest of the evening’s events (hint, hint).
14 September 2005
Gongadze murder protest
An NUJ delegation, led by general secretary, Jeremy Dear, will go to the Ukrainian embassy in London at 10.30am on Friday 16 September, to express our concerns to the charge d’affaires about the lack of progress in the case of Gyorgy Gongadze.
That day is the fifth anniversary of Gongadze’s death. Please join us if you can, and pass this email on to friends and colleagues. The embassy is at 60 Holland Park, London W12. (Nearest tube: Holland Park on the Central line.)
As you may know, three low-level interior ministry officers are expected to go to trial shortly for their part in Gyorgy’s murder. But those who instigated the killing are further than ever from justice. A report on the continuing failure of the investigation, by the IFJ, NUJ, Gongadze foundation and Institute of Mass Information, will be published this week.
That day is the fifth anniversary of Gongadze’s death. Please join us if you can, and pass this email on to friends and colleagues. The embassy is at 60 Holland Park, London W12. (Nearest tube: Holland Park on the Central line.)
As you may know, three low-level interior ministry officers are expected to go to trial shortly for their part in Gyorgy’s murder. But those who instigated the killing are further than ever from justice. A report on the continuing failure of the investigation, by the IFJ, NUJ, Gongadze foundation and Institute of Mass Information, will be published this week.
13 September 2005
Local newspaper survivors' dinner!
Everyone welcome - it'll be a great night. Tuesday 13 September, 8pm @ Piccolo's - full details here.
The list so far:
Jeremy Dear (general secretary)
Len Mulholland (MoC, Guardian Unlimited & former NUJ Brighton secretary)
Dave Tilley (FoC, South London Guardian)
Carron Taylor (South London Guardian)
Jo Bowring (South London Guardian)
Jemima Kiss (branch chair)
Adrian Colley (branch secretary)
Tim Lezard (president)
Chris Morley (vice president)
Barry White (London press & PR joint secretary)
Anita Halpin (NEC)
Rowan Dore (Argus)
Rebecca Bromley (Argus)
If you'd like to come, please email nujbrighton@gmail.com ASAP!
The list so far:
Jeremy Dear (general secretary)
Len Mulholland (MoC, Guardian Unlimited & former NUJ Brighton secretary)
Dave Tilley (FoC, South London Guardian)
Carron Taylor (South London Guardian)
Jo Bowring (South London Guardian)
Jemima Kiss (branch chair)
Adrian Colley (branch secretary)
Tim Lezard (president)
Chris Morley (vice president)
Barry White (London press & PR joint secretary)
Anita Halpin (NEC)
Rowan Dore (Argus)
Rebecca Bromley (Argus)
If you'd like to come, please email nujbrighton@gmail.com ASAP!
12 September 2005
Gate Gourmet dispute
Grateful to a recent Schnews for the tip. OK, it's been going on a while now but it's a fascinating read. Click on the headline to reach http://www.sackedbygategourmet.org.uk/ and the latest on the dispute
06 September 2005
Citizen journalism - have your say
Various NUJ branches and the New Media council have been discussing the impact of citizen journalism on the industry. It's a very broad and complicated area, and there is also considerable misunderstanding about citizen journalism involves and how news organisations use this material in practice.
Donnacha DeLong, the New Media Council's rep on the NEC, has composed this excellent draft motion that we can use for a branch discussion. As we have the branch dinner next week and annual meeting in October, the November meeting would be the mext suitable date to disucss this. But that gives us plenty of time to think about it - as well as discuss it on this blog of course.
This branch notes the recent growth in so-called 'citizen
journalism', which has brought about the situation whereby major media outlets have used audiovisual material produced by members of the public.
Recognising that this is an inevitable product of the ever greater
availability to the public of technology that can produce such material,
this branch/council expresses concern that this has serious implications for professional journalists.
'Citizen journalism' has, around the world, had very positive effects on the media by opening up a space for people to present their views and personal situations to a wider audience than was ever possible. In the period following the Indian Ocean tsunami, new technology was invaluable in sending images of the devastation and survivors' stories around the world. Mobile phone video footage from inside the Tube on 7 July gave the public a view of the incident that was not available from anywhere else.
However, these situations have also revealed the willingness of employers to exploit material they get from the public without proper regard for the originator's rights. Furthermore, they illustrate the possibility that "citizen journalism" could offer employers a cheap alternative to professional journalists' work.
This branch calls on the NEC to make dealing with "citizen
journalism" a major priority for the union in negotiations with employers.
In all such negotiations, the union should seek to agree terms and
conditions for the use of submissions from the general public that:
1 Fully respect the copyright of the originator.
2 Offer to pay for all submissions that are used in the place of paid-for
journalistic content and offers alternatives to payment, such as donations to charity, should the originator not wish to be paid.
3 Ensure that the practice is only used in circumstance where there are no alternative submissions from professional journalists and does not become a cheap alternative to paying for professional submissions.
Donnacha DeLong, the New Media Council's rep on the NEC, has composed this excellent draft motion that we can use for a branch discussion. As we have the branch dinner next week and annual meeting in October, the November meeting would be the mext suitable date to disucss this. But that gives us plenty of time to think about it - as well as discuss it on this blog of course.
This branch notes the recent growth in so-called 'citizen
journalism', which has brought about the situation whereby major media outlets have used audiovisual material produced by members of the public.
Recognising that this is an inevitable product of the ever greater
availability to the public of technology that can produce such material,
this branch/council expresses concern that this has serious implications for professional journalists.
'Citizen journalism' has, around the world, had very positive effects on the media by opening up a space for people to present their views and personal situations to a wider audience than was ever possible. In the period following the Indian Ocean tsunami, new technology was invaluable in sending images of the devastation and survivors' stories around the world. Mobile phone video footage from inside the Tube on 7 July gave the public a view of the incident that was not available from anywhere else.
However, these situations have also revealed the willingness of employers to exploit material they get from the public without proper regard for the originator's rights. Furthermore, they illustrate the possibility that "citizen journalism" could offer employers a cheap alternative to professional journalists' work.
This branch calls on the NEC to make dealing with "citizen
journalism" a major priority for the union in negotiations with employers.
In all such negotiations, the union should seek to agree terms and
conditions for the use of submissions from the general public that:
1 Fully respect the copyright of the originator.
2 Offer to pay for all submissions that are used in the place of paid-for
journalistic content and offers alternatives to payment, such as donations to charity, should the originator not wish to be paid.
3 Ensure that the practice is only used in circumstance where there are no alternative submissions from professional journalists and does not become a cheap alternative to paying for professional submissions.
Sign up now for dinner!
Just firming up names for Tuesday's dinner at Piccolo's.
Jeremy Dear and Dave Tilley from the South London Guardian will both be there, and we'll be talking about overcoming problems on local newspapers.
Please email nujbrighton@gmail.com ASAP if you'd like to come. Thanks!
8pm, Tuesday 13 September
Piccolo's
56 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF
Map: http://tinyurl.com/7snfh
Jeremy Dear and Dave Tilley from the South London Guardian will both be there, and we'll be talking about overcoming problems on local newspapers.
Please email nujbrighton@gmail.com ASAP if you'd like to come. Thanks!
8pm, Tuesday 13 September
Piccolo's
56 Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF
Map: http://tinyurl.com/7snfh
02 September 2005
NUJ boss to speak to us
NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear and South London Guardian FoC Dave Tilley are to attend this month's Local Newspaper Solidarity dinner in Brighton.
Jeremy and Dave will both have plenty of horror stories and survival tactics for local newspaper journalists, so come along and contribute your own!
It will be a great chance for a proper branch meet up, and even if you don't work in local newspapers please come along and show your support. If you do work on a local newspaper there's really no excuse!
NUJ Brighton will pay £5 towards your meal - or you can ask the branch to pledge the same amount to a dedicated fund for campaigns at our local newspapers.
Join us at 8pm on Tuesday 13 September at Piccolo's, 56 Ship Street Brighton. If you'd like to come, please RSVP to nujbrighton@gmail.com.
Look forward to seeing you there.
Jeremy and Dave will both have plenty of horror stories and survival tactics for local newspaper journalists, so come along and contribute your own!
It will be a great chance for a proper branch meet up, and even if you don't work in local newspapers please come along and show your support. If you do work on a local newspaper there's really no excuse!
NUJ Brighton will pay £5 towards your meal - or you can ask the branch to pledge the same amount to a dedicated fund for campaigns at our local newspapers.
Join us at 8pm on Tuesday 13 September at Piccolo's, 56 Ship Street Brighton. If you'd like to come, please RSVP to nujbrighton@gmail.com.
Look forward to seeing you there.
01 September 2005
Help needed on ownership study
The union is backing a European project on the effects of media owners' pressures on how issues are covered.
The EFJ/IFJ in Brussels wants to know of examples of no-go areas or self-censorship where journalists have avoided covering stories because they know they clash with their bosses' interests.
The study hopes to gauge the effects of media concentration on unions and professional standards and how companies control content and affect the level of professionalism.
It also wants to hear of positive examples of what can and has been done by journalists to defend themselves and their standards.
If you have experience or examples of the ways big media undermine standards and independence contact Granville Williams at g.williams@hud.ac.uk or call him on 01977 646580.
The EFJ/IFJ in Brussels wants to know of examples of no-go areas or self-censorship where journalists have avoided covering stories because they know they clash with their bosses' interests.
The study hopes to gauge the effects of media concentration on unions and professional standards and how companies control content and affect the level of professionalism.
It also wants to hear of positive examples of what can and has been done by journalists to defend themselves and their standards.
If you have experience or examples of the ways big media undermine standards and independence contact Granville Williams at g.williams@hud.ac.uk or call him on 01977 646580.
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