Are we all journalists now? Report by Natasha Steel

The issue of standards and content has never been more important for journalists and the unions that represent them, members were told by guest speaker Aidan White at the Branch meeting on 24 September. White, who is director of the Ethical Journalism Network and a former general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, argued that there is a difference between the ‘free expression’ of members of the public sharing their opinions online and journalism.

“Journalism is ‘constrained expression’,” he said, explaining that it was constrained by “a framework of values” – accuracy, telling the truth, humanity, fairness and accountability – none of which applied online. However, he believes this is an opportunity for journalists and the union to share their values with teachers and parents as they and their children engage in the changing media landscape.

 
He told the members and guests gathered upstairs at The Mesmerist pub in Brighton that the traditional framework of print journalism was broken now that the audience had been brought into the process of newsgathering and dissemination of the news through social networks. 

“The industry has lost the capacity to make money,” he said, questioning whether it would ever return.
He pointed out that the journalism schools are bulging, but the only growth area for jobs for entrants is in the corporate sector and “precarious” freelance work. He said that in order to defend, enhance and promote “the craft of journalism”, the NUJ should work hard to recruit from these areas too.

He said that the Branch had a responsibility to deliver training and teaching of the craft – something that the national body has recently cut back on. 

Natasha Steel

The next NUJ meeting will take place on 21 October – venue and speaker to be announced.