29 April 2006
Jemima's new contact details
Should anyone be interested, I've left journalism.co.uk and I'm now freelance. I'll be working for paidContent.org among other things. That means my old contact details are defunct, so you can now get me on jemima @ jemimakiss.com - removing the spaces, of course. More blurb on my site at jemimakiss.com.
20 April 2006
Iran protest
Sussex Action for Peace is plugging a Don't attack Iran protest on Saturday 6 May in Churchill Square , Brighton, 2pm.
It is the international day of action against an attack on Iran. As US reporter Seymour Hersh reported this week, the countdown to an attack on Iran has started. The Pentagon is considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Iran's nuclear processing centres. Around the UK, anti-war groups will hold lunchtime protests in the centre of towns and cities.
It is the international day of action against an attack on Iran. As US reporter Seymour Hersh reported this week, the countdown to an attack on Iran has started. The Pentagon is considering the use of tactical nuclear weapons against Iran's nuclear processing centres. Around the UK, anti-war groups will hold lunchtime protests in the centre of towns and cities.
15 April 2006
April meeting - Tue April 25
We nearly always meet on the third Tuesday of the month. But if you were expecting us to meet this week - be warned! Jemima and myself would have found it hard to make the 18th so it's going to be 25th April at the Nelson. Newsletter should be in the post on April 18th.
14 April 2006
Up for grabs
Goodies available to any member who emails me are:
- April's Searchlight
- Hastings Trawler - latest edition
- The Zimbabwean - last four issues
- CPBF quarterly newsletter
12 April 2006
Run the NUJ!
The General Secretary is now in his last year of the five year term of office and is therefore subject to re-election.
The timetable for the election:
Closing date for receipt of applications: 18th May
Shortlisting at NEC: 19/20th May
Ballot papers go out : 8th June
Ballot closes: 13th July
NEC report of election: 21/22nd July
The post is elected/re-elected by ballot of the membership every five years. The General Secretary is the chief officer of the union and performs such duties as he/she is required by law or NUJ rules to perform and shall be engaged in furthering the objectives of the union as directed by ADM and the NEC.
To be short-listed to stand, applicants must:
· Be a member of the union with five years continuous membership and contributions paid up.
· Have trade union experience as a full time official and/or lay officer for a minimum of three years.
· Sign a declaration that you accept the terms and conditions of the post.
· Be based in Headland House and live or be prepared to move to within a reasonable distance of London.
The ballot will be run by Electoral Reform Services. Sarah Veale from the TUC, will act as the Electoral Presiding Officer to adjudicate in the event of any matters of dispute regarding the conduct of the ballot. The winner will be in office for five years.
Contact HQ for more details!
06 April 2006
Web writing training, anyone?
In from training HQ:
>>> Writing for the web training
Tuesday 25 April
Thursday 18 May
Tuesday 13 June
(subject to sufficient demand)
The course is run over one day and there's a course outline on the training website. The cost of the course for NUJ members is £105 and for non-members £225.
Course will be held at the NUJ Head Office, Headland House, 308-312 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DP from 10am to 5pm. To apply, email training@nuj.org.uk or phone Tracy on 020 7843 3717.
>>> Writing for the web training
Tuesday 25 April
Thursday 18 May
Tuesday 13 June
(subject to sufficient demand)
The course is run over one day and there's a course outline on the training website. The cost of the course for NUJ members is £105 and for non-members £225.
Course will be held at the NUJ Head Office, Headland House, 308-312 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DP from 10am to 5pm. To apply, email training@nuj.org.uk or phone Tracy on 020 7843 3717.
New president Morley champions quality journalism
I've met Chris at the last two ADMs and can confirm he's a bloody nice bloke. Here's the official release from HQ:
>>> Midlands industry writer Chris Morley has taken the helm at the National Union of Journalists.
Chris was installed as president of the 40,000-strong union at its annual delegate meeting in Liverpool.
He was Father of Chapel at the Birmingham Post & Mail for 14 years, successfully winning back recognition for the union at the company in 2001.
Currently chair of the Trinity Mirror Group Chapel, he has served on the union's National Executive Council for more than four years putting the fight against low pay and job cuts at the heart of his campaigning.
The 44-year-old takes on the 12-month role at a critical time in the media industry with a wave of massive job cuts sweeping across all sectors, from newspapers and magazines to television, radio and books.
He will be at the head of the NUJ's campaign aimed at stemming the tide of redundancies which threaten to destroy the quality of journalism in the UK and Ireland.
Journalism Matters will seek to unite readers, viewers and listeners in communities against the damaging effects of swingeing editorial cutbacks by rich and powerful media companies.
Chris said: "The union's members have bestowed an incredible honour on me and I want to use this position to campaign against the corporate greed which is wrecking our journalism.
"I want to involve our members in newsrooms up and down the country in our efforts to defend the quality and standards of journalism in their workplaces.
"This is a battle about defining the place that journalism holds in our society and democracy itself and it is not one we can afford to lose."
Chris takes on the NUJ presidency as the union prepares to celebrate its centenary, having been founded with its first national meeting at the former Acorn Hotel in Temple Street, Birmingham in 1907.
He will chair the centenary Annual Delegate Meeting at Birmingham's Holiday Inn, in Queensway Circus next April where up to 350 journalists are expected to gather.
Dartford-born, Chris went to school in Chester and Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, and gained a degree from Liverpool University. The father-of-two now lives in Halesowen, in the West Midlands, and is industrial correspondent for the Birmingham Mail.
>>> Midlands industry writer Chris Morley has taken the helm at the National Union of Journalists.
Chris was installed as president of the 40,000-strong union at its annual delegate meeting in Liverpool.
He was Father of Chapel at the Birmingham Post & Mail for 14 years, successfully winning back recognition for the union at the company in 2001.
Currently chair of the Trinity Mirror Group Chapel, he has served on the union's National Executive Council for more than four years putting the fight against low pay and job cuts at the heart of his campaigning.
The 44-year-old takes on the 12-month role at a critical time in the media industry with a wave of massive job cuts sweeping across all sectors, from newspapers and magazines to television, radio and books.
He will be at the head of the NUJ's campaign aimed at stemming the tide of redundancies which threaten to destroy the quality of journalism in the UK and Ireland.
Journalism Matters will seek to unite readers, viewers and listeners in communities against the damaging effects of swingeing editorial cutbacks by rich and powerful media companies.
Chris said: "The union's members have bestowed an incredible honour on me and I want to use this position to campaign against the corporate greed which is wrecking our journalism.
"I want to involve our members in newsrooms up and down the country in our efforts to defend the quality and standards of journalism in their workplaces.
"This is a battle about defining the place that journalism holds in our society and democracy itself and it is not one we can afford to lose."
Chris takes on the NUJ presidency as the union prepares to celebrate its centenary, having been founded with its first national meeting at the former Acorn Hotel in Temple Street, Birmingham in 1907.
He will chair the centenary Annual Delegate Meeting at Birmingham's Holiday Inn, in Queensway Circus next April where up to 350 journalists are expected to gather.
Dartford-born, Chris went to school in Chester and Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, and gained a degree from Liverpool University. The father-of-two now lives in Halesowen, in the West Midlands, and is industrial correspondent for the Birmingham Mail.
04 April 2006
Brum events
In from the Birmingham branch. If any Brighton members happen to be there I'm sure you'd be welcome, but otherwise does anyone have any ideas for a fundraising event we could do ourselves?
>>> 1. West Bromwich Building Society is presenting £1,000 to NUJ charities at Utopia, Church Street, Snow Hill, Brum between 4:00 and 7:00pm on Thursday, 6th April. Free food & booze. This is All Ticket. See branch officers.
2. Birmingham Press Club has free drinks for working journalists a The Old Royal, Church Street, Snow Hill, Brum between 5:30 & 7:30 pm on Thursday, 6th April.
Email Chris Youett on chris_youett@yahoo.co.uk for more info.
>>> 1. West Bromwich Building Society is presenting £1,000 to NUJ charities at Utopia, Church Street, Snow Hill, Brum between 4:00 and 7:00pm on Thursday, 6th April. Free food & booze. This is All Ticket. See branch officers.
2. Birmingham Press Club has free drinks for working journalists a The Old Royal, Church Street, Snow Hill, Brum between 5:30 & 7:30 pm on Thursday, 6th April.
Email Chris Youett on chris_youett@yahoo.co.uk for more info.
02 April 2006
Anti-war demo
This is from the hyperactive Bristol branch. Is anyone doing anything similar in Brighton? Outside Churchill Square, if at all...
>>> PROTEST AGAINST BBC IGNORING MARCH 18th DEMONSTRATION
TUESDAY 4th APRIL 2006 1PM
The BBC and Stop the War have been inundated with complaints about its decision not to cover the March 18 national demonstration, at which tens of thousands protested against the war in Iraq, as part of an international day of action, which saw protests in over 250 cities and towns worldwide. Stop the War Coalition is calling for protests outside BBC studios and offices across the country at lunchtime on Tuesday 4th April. This is to respond to the BBC's failure to cover the huge troops home demonstration on March 18 on national news but also to protest the general pro-government bias of much of their reporting on the war.
Stop the War groups across the country will hold protests at every BBC office.
In Bristol, the protest will be at Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road at 1pm.. We will be leafleting the offices with a copy of a letter addressed to Mark Thompson, a copy of which you can see here.
If you live, work or study near the BBC in Bristol please try to come along. Tell your friends, colleagues, neighbours. Bring placards. Perhaps gags to symbolize BBC censorship. The BBC cannot be allowed to continue to under-report or mis-report the opinions of the anti-war movement, which is the voice of the vast majority of people in Britain that has always opposed the war.
Map here
>>> PROTEST AGAINST BBC IGNORING MARCH 18th DEMONSTRATION
TUESDAY 4th APRIL 2006 1PM
The BBC and Stop the War have been inundated with complaints about its decision not to cover the March 18 national demonstration, at which tens of thousands protested against the war in Iraq, as part of an international day of action, which saw protests in over 250 cities and towns worldwide. Stop the War Coalition is calling for protests outside BBC studios and offices across the country at lunchtime on Tuesday 4th April. This is to respond to the BBC's failure to cover the huge troops home demonstration on March 18 on national news but also to protest the general pro-government bias of much of their reporting on the war.
Stop the War groups across the country will hold protests at every BBC office.
In Bristol, the protest will be at Broadcasting House, Whiteladies Road at 1pm.. We will be leafleting the offices with a copy of a letter addressed to Mark Thompson, a copy of which you can see here.
If you live, work or study near the BBC in Bristol please try to come along. Tell your friends, colleagues, neighbours. Bring placards. Perhaps gags to symbolize BBC censorship. The BBC cannot be allowed to continue to under-report or mis-report the opinions of the anti-war movement, which is the voice of the vast majority of people in Britain that has always opposed the war.
Map here
Anyone up for Photoshop?
In from NUJ Training...
>>> We are running the Photoshop course on Sat/Sun 8/9 April 2006, 10am - 5pm on the Saturday and 10.30am-4.30pm on the Sunday The course will take place at the NUJ Head office, 308-312 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DP. The cost of the course is £225 for NUJ members and £375 for non-members. The course is also open to NUJ students who can receive up to a 75% discount off the course fees.
I have attached below the course outline, which tells you who the course is aimed
at. If you are interested, respond to training@nuj.org.uk or telephone 020 7843 3717 to reserve a space. There limited spaces available, so bookings will be treated on a first come first served basis.
Please click on the link below to view course outline.
http://www.nujtraining.org.uk/page.phtml?id=133&category=outline&finds=0&string=&strand=
Tracy Trickett
>>> We are running the Photoshop course on Sat/Sun 8/9 April 2006, 10am - 5pm on the Saturday and 10.30am-4.30pm on the Sunday The course will take place at the NUJ Head office, 308-312 Grays Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DP. The cost of the course is £225 for NUJ members and £375 for non-members. The course is also open to NUJ students who can receive up to a 75% discount off the course fees.
I have attached below the course outline, which tells you who the course is aimed
at. If you are interested, respond to training@nuj.org.uk or telephone 020 7843 3717 to reserve a space. There limited spaces available, so bookings will be treated on a first come first served basis.
Please click on the link below to view course outline.
http://www.nujtraining.org.uk/page.phtml?id=133&category=outline&finds=0&string=&strand=
Tracy Trickett
28 March 2006
Stonking ADM
ADM was hard work this year - guiding along the first ADM student blog following only the second ever student member conference. But it's work hard play hard at ADM and I didn't get to bed before 3AM all weekend!
On Sunday morning I asked conference to remember Rowan Dore - one of our most committed, experienced members and a much-admired friend to many of us.
Picture by Dave Rotchelle of the London Freelance Branch.
On Sunday morning I asked conference to remember Rowan Dore - one of our most committed, experienced members and a much-admired friend to many of us.
Picture by Dave Rotchelle of the London Freelance Branch.
27 March 2006
Colombian activist to speak in Hove
Dear Supporters,
Colombian trade union activist Hernando Hernandez has just been released from prison in Colombia and is now in the UK as a guest of Justice for Colombia. Hernando, who is also an indigenous leader, will be speaking at a public meeting at Hove Town Hall at 7pm on April 6th. Attached is a flyer for the event.
We very much hope you can come to the event – Hernando has a very interesting story to tell and is currently one of the most threatened trade unionists in Colombia. If you could also circulate the details to anyone else that you think might be interested it would be very helpful.
Thanks a lot and please do try to make the meeting.
Kind regards,
Liam Craig-Best
Justice for Colombia
Tel: 020 7794 3644
Email: liam@justiceforcolombia.org
Colombian trade union activist Hernando Hernandez has just been released from prison in Colombia and is now in the UK as a guest of Justice for Colombia. Hernando, who is also an indigenous leader, will be speaking at a public meeting at Hove Town Hall at 7pm on April 6th. Attached is a flyer for the event.
We very much hope you can come to the event – Hernando has a very interesting story to tell and is currently one of the most threatened trade unionists in Colombia. If you could also circulate the details to anyone else that you think might be interested it would be very helpful.
Thanks a lot and please do try to make the meeting.
Kind regards,
Liam Craig-Best
Justice for Colombia
Tel: 020 7794 3644
Email: liam@justiceforcolombia.org
20 March 2006
Cracking student team to blog conference 2006
>>> The formal bit
A crack team of student journalists will be covering the 2006 National Union of Journalists conference live from Liverpool, showcasing the work of student members on a dedicated new website.
The union's new media council and the professional training committee have teamed up for the project, helping local students cover the event with text, video and photos.
Members are encouraged to join in and support the project by visiting the site, reading and commenting on stories and spreading news about the site. The organisers hope that the project will help promote the union of students and new media journalists.
"We have a huge challenge in recruiting the thousands of writers, designers and content producers that work in the digital media industry without the support of a union," said Jemima Kiss, new media council chair.
"We have a responsibility to promote what we do and show that we are engaging with this new audience, many of whom work and read news entirely on the internet. Working with our enthusiastic and blog-savvy student team to cover our main annual event live and online is the least we can do to publicise our work to the online community."
Check out the ADM 2006 student blog at http://www.nujstudents.org.uk
>>> The informal bit
Please support the project and encourage out students by reading the site and commenting on their coverage. We can't do it alone! Thanks!
A crack team of student journalists will be covering the 2006 National Union of Journalists conference live from Liverpool, showcasing the work of student members on a dedicated new website.
The union's new media council and the professional training committee have teamed up for the project, helping local students cover the event with text, video and photos.
Members are encouraged to join in and support the project by visiting the site, reading and commenting on stories and spreading news about the site. The organisers hope that the project will help promote the union of students and new media journalists.
"We have a huge challenge in recruiting the thousands of writers, designers and content producers that work in the digital media industry without the support of a union," said Jemima Kiss, new media council chair.
"We have a responsibility to promote what we do and show that we are engaging with this new audience, many of whom work and read news entirely on the internet. Working with our enthusiastic and blog-savvy student team to cover our main annual event live and online is the least we can do to publicise our work to the online community."
Check out the ADM 2006 student blog at http://www.nujstudents.org.uk
>>> The informal bit
Please support the project and encourage out students by reading the site and commenting on their coverage. We can't do it alone! Thanks!
Please support strikers at The Independent
From Molly Cooper on the NUJ Reps email list...
>>> NUJ members at The Independent / Independent on Sunday have rejected a new offer from management and will strike on Budget Day in a dispute over pay.
Journalists voted for strike action after the breakdown of pay talks at a union meeting on Monday. Following further talks over the past 24 hours a new offer was tabled by management. NUJ members have rejected the new offer as “inadequate” and confirmed plans for the Budget Day walkout.
The chapel at the Independent would really appreciate messages of support from fellow NUJ members, to boost their efforts when the take strike action on Budget Day, the 22nd March.
Messages of support can be sent to the MOC Kate Simon. Her email address is k.simon@independent.co.uk.
>>> NUJ members at The Independent / Independent on Sunday have rejected a new offer from management and will strike on Budget Day in a dispute over pay.
Journalists voted for strike action after the breakdown of pay talks at a union meeting on Monday. Following further talks over the past 24 hours a new offer was tabled by management. NUJ members have rejected the new offer as “inadequate” and confirmed plans for the Budget Day walkout.
The chapel at the Independent would really appreciate messages of support from fellow NUJ members, to boost their efforts when the take strike action on Budget Day, the 22nd March.
Messages of support can be sent to the MOC Kate Simon. Her email address is k.simon@independent.co.uk.
17 March 2006
One for the ladies
From HQ:
Last year the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) carried out an investigation into how pregnant women are treated at work. They found that around 30,000 women suffered from pregnancy discrimination. Now we want to know your experiences at work when you became pregnant, the good stories as well as the bad. Each question has a space for further details.
The more women that answer this questionnaire, the better - we need to know how we can help you. Your response will be treated in the strictest confidence and you do not have to give your name if you don't want to.
We will use the information gained to improve the support we give pregnant NUJ members at work.
We would also like to use the information to produce a maternity guide for other members and we may use comments made by you to illustrate that booklet. These will remain completely anonymous and you can be assured that we will treat the information you have provided sensitively. However if you object to your response being used in this way please ensure that you answer 'No' to the final question of the survey.
To complete the survey, go to http://www.nujtraining.org.uk/poll.phtml.
The deadline for completing the survey is Friday, 14th April. If you would like to provide more details or expand upon your experiences, then please email equality@nuj.org.uk.
Last year the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) carried out an investigation into how pregnant women are treated at work. They found that around 30,000 women suffered from pregnancy discrimination. Now we want to know your experiences at work when you became pregnant, the good stories as well as the bad. Each question has a space for further details.
The more women that answer this questionnaire, the better - we need to know how we can help you. Your response will be treated in the strictest confidence and you do not have to give your name if you don't want to.
We will use the information gained to improve the support we give pregnant NUJ members at work.
We would also like to use the information to produce a maternity guide for other members and we may use comments made by you to illustrate that booklet. These will remain completely anonymous and you can be assured that we will treat the information you have provided sensitively. However if you object to your response being used in this way please ensure that you answer 'No' to the final question of the survey.
To complete the survey, go to http://www.nujtraining.org.uk/poll.phtml.
The deadline for completing the survey is Friday, 14th April. If you would like to provide more details or expand upon your experiences, then please email equality@nuj.org.uk.
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