Day 3 of ADM

Day 3
Finance was the first issue of the day. The union, for the first time in a while, has a deficit, so subs have been increased. The maximum increase is £9.60 over the year and will cover funds needed for campaigns such as Journalism Matters as well as training. Student membership has increased from £10 to £25 for the entirety of their course, and with this they are now entitled to a 25% discount on their first full year of membership, providing they join within 12 months of graduating.

Max Clifford and Esther Rantzen are apparently up for grabs if we'd like them to help us raise funds for a welfare campaign. Any suggestions as to how we could use them on a postcard to the usual address please, try to refrain from sending pictures of oddly shaped vegetables at the same time.

The motion to appoint a Photographers' Organiser was remitted. This means the national exec council will investigate the proposal as part of a wider investigation into union staffing over the next 12 months. It was felt that staffing needs to be dealt with in a strategic way to prevent money and time being wasted.

John McDonnell MP gave a talk about the role of journalism in this country, commenting that many MPs only pay lip service to free press. He predicted a future where the media is controlled solely by monopolies and trans-atlantic media barons and urged members to act when Blair finally steps down and the leadership contest begins (as is looking likely). "We should intervene in hustings, asking 'What is your position on free press?', 'What is your position on low pay in journalism?' The free press is fundamental to the future of democracy."

Conference briefly felt like a school playground when the seemingly uncontentious motion to set up virtual branches for those unable to get hold face-to-face meetings was discussed. This motion is especially important for those overseas or disabled as it allows them to debate and choose delegates from their virtual branch so they are represented at ADM. The namecalling started with one delegate opposing the motion calling computer types nerds. Inevitably this was followed by a proposer calling out Luddite from the other corner. Jemima Kiss, ex-chair of this branch, declared herself proud to be a nerd. The opposers, one of whom recommended virtual branches should only be allowed when the "bugs in the email system are sorted out", won the close vote. This branch has been reliably informed that the New Media Industrial Council is considering renaming itself the Nerd Media Industrial Council.

Under government policy there was a call for the extradition of those responsible for the death of ITN reporter Terry Lloyd. It was noted that journalists in Northern Ireland are not receiving adequate protection from the government.

Action was called for amendments to the Freedom of Information Act to speed up the process, as well as to reduce the number of refusals. An American reporter said she was shocked at how difficult it is in the UK to get information, unlike in the USA.

A motion was carried instructing the NEC to encourage disabled members to declare their disability, whether hidden or not, on the understanding that the more members who declare they are disabled, the less disability will be viewed as something that only affects a minority of workers.