25 November 2013

Christmas Party!

It's nearly December and that means just one thing: the NUJ Christmas Party!

This year it will take place at 8pm on Monday 9th December at the exciting new venue Emporium on London Road, Brighton.

There will be entertainment, in the form of the Trades Union Movement's favourite rabble-rousing band Pog, free food, subsidised beer and, of course, the chance to meet other journos and their friends.

Everyone welcome - bring your friends! Tickets are £5 each and available from Eventbrite

See you there.

21 November 2013

Revised motions for DM

Brighton & Mid-Sussex NUJ
Motions for 2014 Delegates Meeting


New membership category

This DM notes that:
  • The proliferation of digital media has drawn many 'non-journalists' into journalistic work
  • Many people performing journalistic work are not strictly eligible for NUJ membership, not only making them vulnerable to exploitation through, for instance, unpaid work, but also putting them outside the ethical framework the NUJ can provide through the Code of Conduct
This DM instructs the NEC to explore the potential and practicalities of a new membership category that will enable the recruitment of people who do journalistic work but do not see the relevance of the NUJ to themselves or may not be eligible to join.

Membership applications

This DM notes the complicated and confusing structure of the online application process to join the NUJ that may inhibit recruitment.

This DM instructs the NEC to sort it out please.

Press regulation

This DM notes
  • The ongoing debate on press regulation and the fundamental disagreements between industry representatives, politicians, and special interest groups 
  • The need for journalists - not editors or owners - to express a clear and representative view on regulation 
  • The changing situation since the union's submissions to the Leveson Enquiry
This DM instructs the NEC to:
  1. Review the union's position and organise a union-wide ballot to vote for or against a system of independent press regulation underpinned by statute, thereby establishing a unified policy expressed by the whole membership.
  2. Ensure the NUJ enjoys full representation on any bodies that result from this debate
Press freedom

This DM notes the erosion of free speech exemplified in the treatment of The Guardian newspaper over the Edward Snowden affair, and that journalists are increasingly being regarded as the equivalent of terrorists and legitimate targets of state security measures.

This DM instructs the NEC to highlight this issue and redouble its support for journalistic integrity and press freedom.

War on austerity

This DM welcomes a motion carried by the TUC at its conference last September calling for mass joint strikes and peaceful civil disobedience across the country to “wage war on the politics of austerity”.

This DM notes:
  • 13 million living in poverty, up by a million since the British government coalition came to power.
  • 1.8 million families on housing waiting lists.
  • half a million people now reliant on food banks.
  • one million workers languishing on zero hour contracts.
  • 2.5 million unemployed and 6.8 million more looking for more work.
This DM congratulates the TUC Congress for supporting unions taking co-ordinating action, including strikes, as the most effective way to break the cycle of pay restraint and cuts in jobs and services.

This DM agrees that an anti-austerity campaign should include mass industrial action, including a general strike, to oppose the cuts and the wrecking of the welfare state as well as a nationwide march against poverty in 2014.

This DM believes the money spent on waging war should be spent on food banks, putting people back to work, improving education and providing dignity for our elderly, not debt and despair.

This DM instructs the NEC to:

  1. Campaign among the membership to support co-ordinated strikes with other unions against austerity cuts, pay and job losses in the media.
  2. Campaign within the TUC for unions to name the day for co-ordinated strikes as soon as possible.




14 November 2013

Agenda for next meeting and Motions for DM

Tuesday, 19 November, 7.30pm sharp
Red Roaster Cafe, St James Street, Brighton
Non-members welcome from 8.15pm


The next meeting will also consider motions for the NUJ Delegates Meeting.

Full agenda
  1. Election of new members
  2. Reports
  3. Motions for DM (see below)
  4. Any other branch business
  5. Speaker: Dave Boyle
  6. Questions and discussion
Will members please ensure they are at the Red Roaster by 7.30pm prompt.

Brighton & Mid-Sussex NUJ
Motions received for 2014 Delegates Meeting

Comments please to philmellows@btinternet.com

New membership category
This DM notes that:
  • The proliferation of digital media has drawn many 'non-journalists' into journalistic work
  • Many people performing journalistic work are not strictly eligible for NUJ membership, not only making them vulnerable to exploitation through, for instance, unpaid work, but also putting them outside the ethical framework the NUJ can provide through the Code of Conduct
This DM instructs the NEC to explore the potential and practicalities of a new membership category that will enable the recruitment of people who do journalistic work but do not see the relevance of the NUJ to themselves or may not be eligible to join.

Membership applications
This DM notes the complicated and confusing structure of the online application process to join the NUJ that may inhibit recruitment.

This DM instructs the NEC to sort it out please.

Press regulation
This DM notes
  • The ongoing debate on press regulation and the fundamental disagreements between industry representatives, politicians, and special interest groups 
  • The need for journalists - not editors or owners - to express a clear and representative view on regulation 
  • The changing situation since the union's submissions to the Leveson Enquiry
This DM instructs the NEC to review the union's position and organise a union-wide ballot to vote for or against a system of independent press regulation underpinned by statute, thereby establishing a unified policy expressed by the whole membership.

War on austerity
This DM welcomes a motion carried by the TUC at its conference last September calling for mass joint strikes and peaceful civil disobedience across the country to “wage war on the politics of austerity”.

This DM notes:
  • 13 million living in poverty, up by a million since the British government coalition came to power.
  • 1.8 million families on housing waiting lists.
  • half a million people now reliant on food banks.
  • one million workers languishing on zero hour contracts.
  • 2.5 million unemployed and 6.8 million more looking for more work.

This DM congratulates the TUC Congress for supporting unions taking co-ordinating action, including strikes, as the most effective way to break the cycle of pay restraint and cuts in jobs and services.

This DM agrees that an anti-austerity campaign should include mass industrial action, including a general strike, to oppose the cuts and the wrecking of the welfare state as well as a nationwide march against poverty in 2014.

This DM believes instead of proposing spending millions on war on Syria the money should be spent on waging war on food banks, putting people back to work, improving education and providing dignity for our elderly, not debt and despair.

This DM instructs the NEC to:
  1. Campaign among the membership to support co-ordinated strikes with other unions against austerity cuts, pay and job losses in the media.
  2. Campaign within the TUC for unions to name the day for co-ordinated strikes as soon as possible.
The Branch is also seeking nominations for the following posts
  • NEC
  • Ethics Council
  • Photographers Council
  • Industrial Councils - Broadcasting, Freelance, Magazine & Book, New Media, Newspapers & Agencies, PR & Information.

04 November 2013

Next meeting: 19 November - Dave Boyle on 'Making the news'

Making the news: How local press can survive and thrive 
Speaker: Dave Boyle

Tuesday, 19 November, 7.30pm sharp
Red Roaster Cafe, St James Street, Brighton
Non-members welcome from 8.15pm


Following the success of our meeting featuring investigative journalist Nick Davies, which attracted an audience of 80 people from inside and outside the NUJ, the next in our series of open talks will debate the future of local news.

Some 25% of UK local authorities have no independent local paper, and that figure is set to increase. Pessimists say we’re seeing the end of the local press in a meaningful sense, yet at the same time assert that the sector is essential. Why is something so important on life support, and how can the patient be revived?

Among the many magic bullets suggested, one much neglected is the idea of making news owned and operated as a service, not a product, by the people who will care most if it’s not there.

Dave Boyle is a writer and co-operative business consultant, and former chief executive of campaign group Supporters Direct. His pamphlet Good News looked at the opportunities for community-owned media.

In 2013, he collaborated with the Carnegie Trust and Co-operatives UK on ‘Make Your Local News Work’, a highly popular nationwide series of events to explore co-operative and community ownership, and is now working with six pilot projects that resulted from the scheme.

His talk on the challenges, opportunities and future for local press - and the impact on journalists - is a must for anyone involved or interested in media.

This meeting will also consider motions for the NUJ Delegates Meeting.

Full agenda
  • Election of new members
  • Reports
  • Motions (please submit motions to the branch secretary by November 11) 
  • Any other branch business
  • Speaker: Dave Boyle
  • Questions and discussion
This event is free, but to make sure of your seat and help us plan, please register your attendance with Eventbrite.

NUJ Branch banner at the NHS rally



The Branch banner was in evidence again at the No to NHS Privatisation at Brighton Hospitals rally called by the GMB and Defend the NHS Sussex on Saturday 2 November. The NUJ's was the only non health union banner on the march of about 500-600 people. The photo above shows Branch Chair Adam Powley and the one below (taken by Nick Hider) shows Branch Secretary Phil Mellows.