Informedissue 29 Dec 2019 - National Union of Journalists
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Informed
N E W S F R O M T H E N AT I O N A L E X E C U T I V E
issue 29 Dec 2019
Jess Hurd
Stride of pride: Samir Ahmed and supporters march to her employment tribunal. Read the inside story in Michelle’s message p4
Resist RTÉ cuts
party support for RTÉ and Fianna Fáil
have a particular responsibility as it
is supporting the minority Fine Gael
government.”
“It’s your RTÉ, Save It” demands the present a realistic, strategic plan for the Dooley explained that the NUJ was
NUJ’s campaign to secure the future organisation.” not looking for a hand out, merely
of Ireland’s public service broadcaster. The NUJ says the slogan “It’s Your RTÉ, demanding that the Government
It is the union’s response to plans Save It” (in Irish, “Leatsa é RTÉ, Sábháil honour its commitment to public
unveiled in the first week in November é) will drive home the message that RTÉ service broadcasting and to the Irish
to slash 18% from the broadcaster’s belongs to the people of Ireland and people. “As we enter into negotiations
annual expenditure over three years. must be saved in the public interest. The with RTÉ I am conscious that even if
RTÉ management proposal affects Irish Congress of Trades Unions and every unrealistic cost-reduction plan
around 200 jobs, and plans to reduce general union Siptu are also floated by RTÉ management
some salaries by15%. pledged to support. were implemented the
Speaking at the Irish Delegate Séamus Dooley, organisation cannot be
Conference in Dublin, general secretary Irish Secretary said: saved without State
Michelle Stanistreet said: “RTÉ workers “There is a financial intervention.”
and the Irish people have been let crisis in RTÉand RTÉ executives have
down by their public representatives both An Taoiseach called this a ‘defining
and by their employer. Their future is and the Minister for moment’ in the
in the hands of a Government which Communications, 93-year-old broadcast
has shown no willingness to support Climate Action and service’s history and
public service broadcasting and an Environment must blamed the crisis on the
employer who expects their staff to give leadership on this widespread refusal to pay
carry the can for management failure to issue. We are seeking cross- Ireland’s tv licence.
Also Elvis in Brexit Forest top
in this Pictures unexplained the league
issue: Page 6 Page 8 Page 11
02 Informed
News
Update
New fund for public
• bespoke and masterclass support from
news, journalism, public engagement
and digital experts
interest news • London-based and regional workshops
across the country
• Support from sector and business
experts.
Valerie Mocker, who leads the Future
News Fund, said: “Access to reliable,
accurate and high-quality public interest
news is a key part of a functioning society
[but] at local level [provision of such
news], has collapsed. The solution is not
to simply put more money into existing
journalism, but to completely transform
the way that public interest news is
created, distributed and sustained for
future generations. Any organisation
that has an idea to support sustainable
public interest news, should visit the
Nesta website and get their application
in by 8 December.”
General secretary, Michelle
Stanistreet, is on the advisory board for
Up to £100,000 grants for community £250m lottery endowment, launched the project.
news initiatives will soon be available the fund as a response to the Cairncross Separately, the NEC voted to back
from the Future News Fund. The fund, Review. One of its findings was that another Cairncross recommendation,
established by Nesta, will be divided already disadvantaged communities had the creation of an Institute For Public
into two tracks, one supporting suffered most from the decline of local Interest News, ‘modelled on the Arts
projects that test new ideas for journalism. Council’. The paper adopted by the
sustainable public interest news, the Projects that could be funded include: NEC noted that were the Arts Council’s
other providing structured support • support to build and test a specific idea annual budget of £947m, deployed
for start-up businesses generating • prototype/deployment funding to supporting news initiatives, it would
public interest news. understand the potential impact of transform the media, much as Lottery
Nesta, which was established with a proposed solutions funding has done the arts.
Rates rise in the lowlands of Journalists said: “We applaud
the courage and persistence of the
Dutch freelance fees will significantly The judgment will benefit around photojournalists and the support
increase as a result of a court victory. 5,000 freelances who work for regional of their union. This decision has
Photographer Ruud Rogier and writer newspapers. They will also be entitled importance beyond the Dutch
Britt van Uem, supported by their to claim back pay from January 2018. borders. Professional photography
union NVJ, brought the case against Amsterdam-based NUJ NEC member is key for the quality and trust of the
DPG Media. Tony Sheldon told the council that van press, but without fair remuneration
The freelances argued that the rates Uem’s testimony in court had been photojournalists cannot survive.”
they were paid (€42 per photo and particularly moving. “She sobbed that The rates set by the court represent
€0.13 per word).were not consistent she would not work for a newspaper that an absolute minimum rather than a
with the Netherlands’ Authors Rights thought paying journalists €15 an hour reasonable advisory rate for the entire
Law. Amsterdam’s District Court was fair.” market, but there has definitely been a
agreed, and ordered that rates should Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, breakthrough in the market for regional
rise to €65 a photo and €0.21 a word. president of the European Federation and local titles in particular.
Informed 03
Raise subs to save JPI bid risk
the union from going The owner of The Scotsman and
The Yorkshire Post should be
willing to invest in journalism
the NUJ’s annual income would today rather than pursuing aggressive
be £6.7million. Static rates have been cost cutting, says the NUJ.
exacerbated by a decline in paying Commenting on reports that
membership of 21.8 % over the last ten Newsquest is the lead bidder for the
years from 28,170 to 22,027. company, general secretary Michelle
A further financial challenge comes Stanistreet said: “In Newsquest
from the union’s historic pension takeovers, our members have
scheme commitments, and a change typically suffered heavy job losses and
in approach from the UK Pension their pay and conditions have been
Regulator. These are expected to result affected, so we have understandable
in the annual cost of this rising from concerns about the future owner of
£210,000 to £360,000 next year. JPI Media”.
The increase for which the NEC “That is why we are calling on all
will argue would increase rates to the interested bidders as a minimum to
following monthly rates in 2020: Grade 1 declare a moratorium of at least two
£17 (€20.50), Grade 2 £20.50 (€26.50), years on compulsory jobs losses,
Six years without a subs increase has and Grade 3 £29 (€35.60) and a further the honouring of all existing terms
left the NUJ dangerously vulnerable, increase in 2021 to Grade 1 £18.70 and conditions and maintenance
warns a paper adopted by the (€22.50), Grade 2 £22.50 (€31.90), and of effective collective bargaining
National Executive. The NEC set a Grade 3 £32 (€30.20.) arrangements.”
balanced budget at its November Members earning less than £14,500 Stanistreet offered to sit down and
meeting, but called on branches to (€16,000) per annum would pay £12 talk to any new owner about their
support a motion to April 2020’s (€12.60) a month in 2020. Members plans to stabilise and grow the papers
Delegate Meeting that would increase earning less than £16,000 (€17,500) per for the benefit of their communities.
subscriptions in two stages. annum would pay £13 (€13.80) a month.
“Most of the NUJ’s running costs Speaking in support of the subs
are met by members’ subscriptions,” rise, the chair of the union’s finance
says Honorary General Treasurer John committee, Professor Chris Frost
Barsby. “We have reduced staff from praised all that the NUJ had achieved in
a peak of about 55, to 33 today and recent years. “Despite uncomfortable
significantly increased the income we belt-tightening, this has been a
receive by commercially letting unused period of real achievement for the
parts of Headland House. Without a rise us. We have achieved recognition journalism making a priority of such
in subs, however, the prospect of a forced in major, established publishers work.
merger will become very real. such as SpringerNature, as well as Since the last Delegate Meeting
“Our sister union Bectu disappeared digital employers like Vice. We have recruitment has been a priority for
into a larger union a couple of years ago,” consistently taken up the equal pay the NUJ. More than 2,500 journalists
he says. fight, and with some outstanding have joined during that period as well
“I have spent 50 years fighting for the successes. And as well as defending as around 400 students. New chapels
NUJ, and I won’t stand by now and watch scores of individual freelances, we have been a recruitment priority, as
that fate befall our union.” have successfully spearheaded have freelances who were the focus of a
Subscriptions last rose in 2014 and statutory change in Ireland so that recruitment film shared on social media.
today the union’s annual income is the organisation of atypical workers is The numbers leaving the union have
£4.73million. A paper adopted by the lawful.” also fallen – however the monthly
NEC notes that had rates kept pace Frost went on to say that he could not lapsing rate is 18% lower than it was
with inflation over the past decade, imagine a union whose focus was not four years ago.
04 Informed
Michelle’s
Message
Pay-inequality defence
damages the BBC
preceding couple of years were spent row of instructed external solicitors.
trying to find a solution. Resolution There were BBC lawyers, executives and
would have allowed Samira to focus witnesses to boot. It dwarfed anything
on her work, confident of no longer that a trades union could muster.
being paid less than male counterparts. On the NUJ’s side was our fabulous
Avoiding a public battle was our aim. duo of barrister Claire Darwin, of Matrix
Sadly the BBC felt differently. Equal Chambers, and Thompson’s Equal pay
pay complaints over Samira’s work on lead Caroline Underhill. Add in Samira,
Samir Ahmed’s Radio 3’s Night Waves and on Radio 4’s
Front Row were resolved and pay rises
myself and the NUJ’s legal and equality
officer Natasha Morris and that was the
tribunal spotlighted and back pay agreed. Not so, her role on sum-total of Team Ahmed – from a legal
managers who
Newswatch. The case centred on two perspective that is. All the goodwill and
BBC programmes that reflect viewers’ positive vibes in the room radiated from
have lost the plot, opinions – Newswatch, aired on the the Claimant’s side. The atmosphere
says Michelle
News Channel and repeated on BBC One, in the Claimant’s Waiting Room –
presented by Samira. BBC One’s Points potentially fine material for a TV sitcom –
Stanistreet of View was presented by Jeremy Vine exuded solidarity and humour sustained
until last year when it was reformatted. by caffeine hits.
Whatever the outcome of Samira Fifteen-minute slots that have much in Legal processes are necessarily robust
Ahmed’s NUJ-backed equal pay claim, common, except the presenters’ pay: and combative. Both sides want to win,
the BBC is the loser. £440 - £465 for Samira since 2012; up to and their teams are paid to do what’s
Every day of the hearing Samira met £3,000 per episode for her male opposite necessary. The BBC’s strategy, however,
a-crowd of supporters beside the flower number until his fee was cut to £1,300 at was bizarre, at best.
stall at Holborn tube. Come 9.15 we’d set the beginning of 2018. It ceaselessly minimised Samira’s
off to Victory House, the Central London For the BBC this became a battle over contributions as well as her skills and
Employment Tribunal. There, camera its internal divisional silos of ‘News’ and experience. Jeremy Vine was lionised.
crews and photographers documented ‘Entertainment’. For the NUJ, it was a One BBC executive told the tribunal he
the start of another day in the battle for case of straightforwardly comparable had never heard of Samira. To this, a
equal pay for work of equal value. slots, fronted by experienced presenters. panel member asked: “Haven’t you seen
Among those accompanying Samira As a witness, I had expected to be at Channel 4 news? Watched Newswatch?
were journalists, presenters, actors, the hearing for a couple of day to be Have you listened to Front Row?”
friends and admirers from across cross-examined and be on hand for The same witness later conceded that
the arts, Women’s Equality Party Samira during her evidence. much of his witness statement, detailing
supporters, the Fawcett Society, trade Day one came, however, and the scale Jeremy Vine’s experience and skills, was
unionists and of course NUJ members. of the BBC team shocked me. They filled cut and pasted from Vine’s Wikipedia
It was a boost for the day ahead and rows on the respondent’s side of the page. Our barrister was quick to ask –
reaffirmed what became apparent from room like disgruntled wedding guests, “would that not constitute a breach of
the accompanying press and social dismayed that the couple had not the BBC’s own editorial guidelines”?
media splash: Samira was not alone. sundered before the nuptial ceremony. Again and again, they tried to belittle
Support was widespread. The right response was obvious. I Samira, undermine Newswatch and
Of course – like most cases before the cleared my diary and remained at in the dismiss the News Channel as “niche”.
Employment Tribunal – it signalled a tribunal until the end. Somehow Newswatch running on BBC
relationship gone badly wrong. Taking The resources deployed by the One didn’t count. People switch off
your employer to court is not a step BBC made me wince. They had two when it comes on, claimed the BBC. As
taken lightly. In this instance, the barristers, one a QC, backed up by a a result a BBC executive was re-called to
Informed 05
admit that such “programme junctions”
affect all programmes, including Points
of View. A farcical explanation of why Diary is legendary. Few match
that of erstwhile NEC
but also a real life
crusader for justice.
this was the fault of schedule changes member Barry White, The prize for most
not linked to Jeremy Vine followed. One Confessional however. Recent removal imaginative general
headline summed it up the approach – journalism from Walthamstow, secretary, incidentally,
“BBC trash talks its own outputs”. Father Brian D’Arcy is London, to Settle, North goes to Mark Dickinson
The corporation was content to multiply distinguished. Yorkshire, necessitates of seafarers’ union
denigrate its own content and people Life membership of an 85-mile round trip Nautilus. He arrived
if that was required to persuade the the NUJ; first priest to attend Leeds branch bearing a surprise
panel that Jeremy Vine was worth more to join our union (his – but his enthusiasm birthday cake in the
than six times the fee paid to Samira. Sunday World weekly is undimmed. Surely, shape of a container
The apogee of this tactic came when, column has run since though, establishing ship. Perhaps plans for
in summation, the BBC’s QC likened 1976); and officiant his own branch in the a General Council “bake
Samira’s role to playing piano for a at the weddings of Dales would save White off ” should be tabled?
children’s ballet class, whilst Vine’s was the children of Terry countless railway miles?
more akin to a concert pianist. They Wogan – who, despite Unless, of course the Old news
might be playing the same tune but their his atheism, Fr Brian prospect of introducing NUJ life membership
performances were incomparable. insists will have been his every contribution at is not lightly bestowed.
Sitting listening to this guff, it was easy welcomed at the pearly delegate meetings with Indeed, Tony Mulvey
to blame the legal team for their low-rent gates. The 74-year-old’s the injunction “Settle” (below) of the Clare
approach. But of course they are merely greatest claim to fame, is simply too awful to Champion had reason
its personification. These were the BBC’s however, is surely that contemplate? to fear having been
decisions and the BBC is responsible he was the inspiration overlooked after six
for their consequences. And these are for “Father Trendy”, Donating seaman decades paying his subs.
serious. Burning so much money on a Dermot Morgan’s To Bread & Roses at A polite enquiry
case while losing the moral high ground forerunner of Father The Chapel, where our
is a bad look. It is doubly foolhardy when Ted. D’Arcy has also movement’s glitterati
its decision to means test free licences penned many books. gathered to toast TUC
to the over-75s is causing such damage. His latest, A Different general secretary
Failing to consider or care about the Journey is published Frances O’Grady’s
internal consequences of this case is by Sliabh Ban 60th. The 80s disco
crass. In short, the BBC’s top brass have Productions. Here’s paused momentarily
lost the plot. wishing the Passionate for O’Grady’s daughter revealed that early
An expected announcement of Priest many more to recount her records of his
further massive cuts – in “BBC speak” travels to come. delighted realisation membership were
restructuring leading to £40million that her mother was missing. “No problem”
of savings – was due around now. The White man’s burden not only the superhero replied Mulvey who
election means that it is postponed until NUJ activists’ dedication of childish imagination, worked at the Champion
2020. Our public service broadcaster from 1959 until 2018.
is in a fragile, vulnerable position at He brought his 1961
a critical time in its history. It needs membership card with
champions and support if it is to sustain him to the ceremony.
its purpose and values. It cannot afford to And to buttress his
engage in acts of self-harm by defending pedigree, he also brought
the indefensible. Now the hearing is over, along his late father’s
this should be a sobering moment of 1945 NUJ membership
reflection. Whatever the outcome of the card. Like Tony, father
tribunal, the BBC should work with the George also worked at
NUJ to resolve all outstanding cases on the Champion – as editor
equal pay and ensure that pay inequity is until his death in 1958.
part of the BBC’s past and not its future.
06 Informed
Spotlight
Facial recognition systems
compromise our sources
forces started using them to search for
journalists’ sources,” says NUJ general
secretary Michelle Stanistreet. “The cases
of Mark Bulstrode, Tom Newton-Dunn
and Sally Murrer are but a few of many
instances. Today, facial recognition is
almost entirely without legal regulation.
I would be amazed if journalists have not
already been targeted.”
Stanistreet is not alone in raising
concerns.
Paul Wiles, the government’s
Biometrics Commissioner says: “We
desperately need fresh legislation that
regulates use of these second-generation
biometric identification, and those rules
need to enshrine journalistic rights to
protect sources.”
His counterpart the Surveillance
Camera Commissioner Tony Palmer is
similarly worried. “The first court case
[relating to the use of facial recognition by
Unregulated police Each September, Porthcawl is alive the SWP] is now subject to appeal. It will
technology is a
with white jumpsuits, improbable ask is whether there is a legal framework
sideburns and gyroscopic hips as to use that technology in the first place.
risk to journalism. 40,000 Elvis impersonators descend The court has said that it could be decided
on the Welsh resort. “Arrests are very
Tim Dawson visits
on a case-by-case basis, but the common
rare, the whole event is like a huge Elvis law can be quite fluid.”
Heartbreak Hotel to party,” says Peter Phillips organiser of
the 20-year-old annual event. Even Cliff
Whatever the outcome of the current
election, the issue may struggle to
find out why Richard fans enjoy a warm welcome, he gain traction. Against this backdrop, a
adds. multi-party campaign calls on UK police
For the past three years, however, as the forces and private security companies
“Elvises” have encouraged the jailhouse to immediately stop using live facial
to rock, South Wales Police (SWP) officers recognition for public surveillance.
have discreetly filmed revellers and Supported by MPs (at the time of writing)
utilised facial-recognition software to sift David Davis, Diane Abbot, Jo Swinson
the resulting feed for ‘undesirables’. and Caroline Lucas, it is also endorsed
And while combing the tribute acts for by numerous civil liberties groups,
terrorists probably risks no more than academics and lawyers.
ridicule, the potential threat to journalism The clamour for regulation has been
of the unregulated use of such technology joined by the Information Commissioner,
is all too real. Elizabeth Denham. “The absence of a
“As soon as it became possible to use statutory code that speaks to the specific
phone data to identify individuals, police challenges posed by LFR will increase the
Informed 07
likelihood of legal failures and undermine (in police jargon, the Silver Commander).
Michael Bryan / Alamy Stock Photo
public confidence in its use,” she has According to SWP’s own operational
written. “[My] key recommendation is [for manual, however, there is no systematic
the] government to introduce a statutory process for review or inspection of that list
and binding code of practice on the by more senior officers, or anyone else.
deployment of live facial recognition.” The NUJ will campaign for proper
Notwithstanding these concerns, SWP’s regulation, including safeguards
“facial recognition vans” have become a for journalism, of facial recognition
familiar sight at sporting events, concerts technology (as well as other second-
and demonstrations in Cardiff. And generation biometrics such as voice and
the Welsh experience is not unusual. iris recognition). As soon as a new NUJ all-
In Leicestershire similar kit was used party Parliamentary Group has convened,
to check fans at a heavy metal festival this will be on its agenda. Members can
against a Europol database. Meanwhile raise the absence of regulation with
the Metropolitan police surveilled the candidates in the general election.
crowds on Remembrance Sunday to try to In the meantime, however, an academic
weed out stalkers and people with mental evaluation of SWP’s experience with The efficaciousness of self-adhesive side
health issues. facial recognition provides some pointers burns, quiff wigs and rhinestone belts as
In London the private landlords of the for journalists who wish to avoid their disguise were not specifically considered
development behind King’s Cross station encounters being the subject of CCTV by the academics. It is worth noting,
were given access to the Met Police facial scrutiny and facial recognition. however, that in 2019 SWP deployed
recognition database to scan shoppers’ The researchers found that the system two facial recognition vans for both days
faces. This scheme was abandoned after a used by British police forces, NeoFace, of the Porthcawl Elvisfest, and managed
public outcry. manufactured by NEC, had some clear to identify not one person from their
Similar technology is also thought to shortcomings. Low light forces the watch lists, nor did they make any arrests.
be in use in the Irish Republic. The Garda camera’s sensors to use higher ISO Perhaps had the constables concentrated
Síochána’s Modernisation and Renewal settings (increasing their sensitivity), and on the music instead of their surveillance
Programme 2016-2021 specifically produces images too grainy for effective screens they could have enjoyed
committed to its use. analysis. Hats with brims, scarves and themselves rather more and avoided the
SWP makes a robust defence of the use sunglasses also reduced the system’s very trap warned of by the King himself –
of automated facial recognition, both in capacity for recognition. suspicious minds.
public and it court. Chief Inspector Jason
Herbert, Operations Manager for Bridgend
says: “Facial recognition software helps
detect risk more efficiently than standard LDR progress Press cards for is one response to a
CCTV. Officers on the ground can also The NUJ’s Local community motion adopted at the
identify early opportunities to prevent Democracy Reporters journalists 2018 DM that called for
crime and reduce anti-social behaviour. Chapel is sufficiently The National Executive closer working between
We are very aware of concerns about organised that will take a motion to the union, community
privacy and we have built checks and recognition should now April’s Delegate Meeting journalists and their
balances into our methodology to be a formality. Joint that, if passed would representatives. The
reassure the public.” FoCs Neil McGrory and enable the creation of paper adopted by the
SWP says that it is searching for David Spereall report new Community Press NEC stipulates that
individuals on a “watch list” drawn that the NUJ now has cards for Associate the design of any new
up specifically for each event. At the LDR members all over Members of the NUJ who cards should be clearly
2017 Elvisfest, for example, there were the country and that report for community distinct from the design
472 names on the list. All were either a formal request for publications. The of the United Kingdom
“suspected of crimes in South Wales, or recognition has been proposal has been Press Card Authority
had outstanding arrest warrants”, says submitted. The NEC welcomed by the board press card to which
Deputy Chief Constable Richard Lewis. recorded its thanks for of Cardiff University’s only professional
The compiling and sign off for this list their collective efforts in Centre For Community newsgatherers are
is made wherever possible by the most spearheading this work. Journalism. The initiative entitled.
senior officer on the ground at the event
08 Informed
Spotlight
A simple choice through which almost every political story
is viewed. I went several months without
that reset news
writing a single story that did not have a
Brexit implication or angle of one kind or
another.”
Yet, for all the journalistic resources
thrown at Brexit, there are complaints
that the news industry has left the public
Matt Kenyon
under-served and ill-informed.
Disquiet over the new government’s
off-record briefing strategy surfaced in
October, when a 700-word texted screed,
believed to be from Boris Johnson’s media
chief Dominic Cummings, was published
by The Spectator’s political editor James
Forsyth with attribution to “a contact in
Number 10”. The protocol of anonymous
briefing was being misused to make public
threats that could easily be disowned, said
some.
In a scathing critique published
soon afterwards by Open Democracy,
veteran political journalist Peter Oborne
denounced a swathe of his peers as
“stenographers” for swallowing “dodgy
stories and commentary” from Number
Ten. “
With the prime minister’s evident
encouragement these Downing
Brexit has changed Whichever way it plays out now, Brexit
has changed the practice of political
Street sources have been spreading
lies, misrepresentations, smears and
political journalism journalism. falsehoods around Fleet Street and across
beyond recognition. The story has taken over the
lives of Westminster and Brussels
the major TV channels. “Political editors
lap it all up,” Oborne claimed.
Ian Burrell gauges correspondents for three and a half A storm erupted. “A wall of hostility from
feelings on the front years, generating division and personal
attacks. Lobby conventions are called into
most of the lobby greeted the article – but
also supportive messages from journalists
line question, and tensions are growing, now outside the charmed Cummings inner
that a journalist is prime minister. circle,” Oborne says. “One told me that the
The relentless demands of covering this situation was ‘even worse than you say’.”
story are almost unprecedented. “People Among Oborne’s targets was ITV
have had to shift honeymoons, move News political editor Robert Peston. He
wedding dates, and change their family retorted that to have not published a
holidays,” says Paul Waugh, political complained-of comment by an unnamed
editor of HuffPost UK. Downing Street official “would have been
Joe Barnes, new Brussels correspondent to treat British people with contempt” by
for the Express, talks of “13-14 assuming their lack of intelligence.
hour days”, while Amber de Botton, Yet Peston conceded that “conventions
Westminster news editor for ITV News, that govern political reporting in the UK…
says her husband “jokes that he is a Brexit may arguably be unfit for purpose”. In
widower”. Nigel Morris, political editor September, he also argued in a BBC radio
of the i paper, says: “Brexit is the prism documentary that the front pages of
Informed 09 British newspapers had been given over to propaganda. A journalist in no10 that he groped journalist Charlotte Professor Chris Frost, chair of the NUJ’s Edwardes at a lunch at The Spectator, ethics council, believes the national press In covering the Prime Minister’s where he was editor. Yet Boris Johnson has been pushed by social media into attempts at Brexit, political is at his ease among journalists in a way polemic Brexit coverage. Repetitional journalists know they are dealing his predecessor Theresa May was not. damage will follow, he says. “It’s going to with a former colleague who, as Unlike her, he has an “eye for a be immeasurably more difficult to regain a reporter in Brussels, thought story” and has been “on the front trust because people have become used nothing of concocting stories on EU foot” in relations with the media since to polemic newspapers. Whatever side of “plans” for a ban on prawn cocktail entering Downing Street with the the Brexit debate you take, bitterness will crisps or a “banana police force” to intention of calling a swift election, continue.” regulate bendy fruit. lobby reporters say. At a seminar on Brexit coverage, Will Because he has spent his career And, unlike Mrs May, he also Moy, chief executive of the fact-checking among the media he is more vulnerable has unequivocal backing from the organisation Full Fact, gave the UK media to revelations of scandal, such as Conservatives’ house journal, the Daily a grade of ‘F’ for its efforts. Financially- recent allegations in The Sunday Times Telegraph where he used to work. challenged newsrooms, he argues, have struggled with an immeasurably complicated subject. “The expertise this story requires is vast; constitutional The Detail have diligently covered the expert Twitter threads, have become an law, parliamentary procedure, trade implications of Brexit for communities accessible way for the public to get the negotiations, and foreign relations. north and south of the Irish border: the story behind the story.” Nobody is expert in it all,” he says. Sun told Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to “Shut The BBC’s podcast Brexitcast, since “Explaining Brexit has been an amazingly Your Gob and Grow Up”. turned into a BBC One show, has been a difficult ask.” But Brexit has given the UK media, and huge success, adding to the workloads Seasoned political journalists concede its audiences, a better understanding of presenters Laura Kuenssberg and that lessons have been hard learned. of Brussels. On The Express, Barnes Katya Adler. Katy Searle, head of BBC Gary Gibbon, political editor of Channel says, he is known as the “Remainer-in- Westminster, says the show works 4 News, says deep understanding of Chief” for his reporting on the EU. “I have “because you hear personalities in an the “trade issue” at the heart of Brexit deliberately taken a neutral approach unfamiliar way, and their language is requires a specialist background. “[UK to the Brexit saga because my role is to easier to consume”. media] relied too much on generalists inform readers about what is happening At ITV News, de Botton highlights the reporting intricate and unfamiliar policy inside the European Commission and the difficulty in covering a story with “a lot of terrain.” Brexit’s “greatest lesson” was European Parliament.” repetition”. To keep audiences engaged that broadcasters were wrong to apply Westminster reporters also have an “we use a lot of quick interactions, the equal airtime principles used in improved grasp of the machinations doorsteps, quirky moments, even UK politics, he says. “The referendum of their own beats. “The collective humour, to keep the story moving”, she exposed the danger of prioritising knowledge of [parliamentary procedures says. ‘balance’ in terms of soundbite duration bible] Erskine May has improved But for Suzanne Franks, professor of and forgetting the need to subject all immeasurably,” says de Botton. journalism at City University in London, arguments to equal levels of rigour. If HuffPost UK’s Waugh thinks the UK media’s Brexit output has been an argument collapses under pressure, this process has enhanced faith in “breathless” and resonant of sports that is the fault of the argument not the parliamentary democracy. He also reporting. “There hasn’t been enough interviewer.” believes the UK media has done a good job thoughtful, standing-back coverage,” she Covering Ireland has also challenged the for people interested in Brexit. “There has complains. UK media as much as it has Brexiteers. been a plethora of excellent coverage – if Even so, the immensity of Brexit Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin you want to know about it, it’s there.” amounts to “a golden era for political Maguire admitted to the BBC that the His daily newsletter, The Waugh journalism,” she says. “These are stories significance of Brexit for Ireland was Zone, analyses Brexit developments. that reach into the psyche and resonate. “drowned out because of the focus on He believes that its format has come I wonder if we will ever go back to an money and immigration”. RTÉ Europe into its own in coverage of the story. era where politics is considered boring editor Tony Connelly and Belfast website “Political newsletters, like podcasts and again?”
10 Informed
News
Update
Give freelances the System’s
bucket and spade racist DNA
Radical black politics needs to find
its own voice, Professor Kehinde
Andrews told his audience at the
annual Claudia Jones lecture.
He reminded an intent crowd at
London’s Hallam Centre of Jones’
words: “people without a voice are
like lambs to the slaughter”.
“Radical and liberal politics diverge
in their analysis of issues like Grenfell”,
said Andrews. “Liberals see solvable
problems, radicals the product of a
system that has racism in its DNA.”
He recalled Jones’ focus on the
exploitation of black women. “She
was ahead of her time identifying
intersectionality.
“Fifty years ago we were on the
precipice of a revolution. [Since then]
we have all been deluded into thinking
Thousands of media freelances are 80 years after workers won the right to there is no alternative while some have
legally entitled to holiday pay they are holiday pay, how much better it would been incorporated in to the system,”
not claiming. A new NUJ campaign be if media companies accepted their said the professor.
aims to encourage more to exercise responsibilities and gave those who The coming election did not leave the
their rights. diligently apply their talents the paid Birmingham City University academic
The initiative was inspired by rest they deserve.” feeling optimistic. “Racial inequality
Scotsman casual David Walsh’s case. Almost nine in 10 of the NUJ’s is embedded in Britain,” he said. “This
A tribunal awarded him £8,360 based freelance members are not given election is about how you share the
on his right to holiday pay. He had asked holiday pay, a union survey has revealed. spoils of empire. We are going to see
for holiday pay on several occasions, However, many freelances and casuals [in this election] from Labour, a really
but was refused on the grounds that are entitled to paid leave in law. In the UK, quite racist, anti-immigration stance.
he was self-employed. The company workers are entitled to paid holiday of 5.6 Labour has always had a racist, anti-
relied on its standard freelance contract, weeks a year, equivalent to 28 days for immigration stance.”
which states that a freelance worker someone on a five-day week. He also criticised British socialist
is self-employed and an independent Many media workers are often labelled shibboleths. “The NHS is a properly
contractor. This did not accurately reflect as “casual” or “self-employed”, but colonial institution. It was born out of
the nature of the working relationship, work in ways that gives them “worker” colonialism and it is deeply racist in
ruled the tribunal. status. This can apply if: most of your how it functions.”
National Freelance organiser Pamela work is for one organisation (but you And while promoting a global
Morton said: “The proportion of could still be eligible if you work for view, Andrews saw little hope in the
freelances in our industry is greater than multiple organisations); you work under Caribbean. “Jamaica is a failed project
at any time, and many are denied holiday contract – whether its written or not; you sustained by diaspora remittances.”
pay to which they are legally entitled. In do workplace shifts, or someone else Keep alive the memory of Jones’
court, the NUJ has secured holiday pay controls when and how you work. actions as a radical activist, he urged.
for numerous casuals and other regular The latest NUJ members’ survey shows Watch a video of the lecture here:
freelances. We will continue to pursue that 88 per cent of freelance union https://tinyurl.com/tpqn98u
such cases when they arise. More than members did not receive holiday pay.Informed 11
End information descrimination “In seeking freedom of information
requests journalists are acting on behalf
against Scotlands’ journalists of the pubic and should not be treated
like second-class citizens”.
The Scottish submission comes at a
Journalists in Scotland are to the Scottish Government lodged time of mounting calls for the extension
systematically denied equal access by journalists are subject to additional of FoI in England, both to enforce rights
to information requests made clearances to those made by members more robustly and to extend FoI’s scope
under that country’s Freedom Of of the public. In 2015/16 the to the contractors who deliver public
Information laws. A NUJ submission survey showed that journalists were services. A motion adopted by London
to Scotland’s government calls for an significantly less likely to receive the Freelance Branch will bring this issue
end to such discrimination. information requested. In the following to the 2020 Delegate Meeting. It was
Research by the Scottish Information year, such requests took longer than proposed by member Michelle Edwards,
Commissioner revealed the practice. It others. whose doggedness on the FoI battlefield
showed that requests for information Scottish organiser John Toner said: shows just how vital are these rights.
Bureaucratic attrition
in their power to thwart our right to
know. I have now escalated 23 cases
for investigation to the Information
threatens FoI
Commissioner where Waltham Forest
Council has refused to provide what I
requested.
The ICO has already issued three
I write a column in the Waltham Forest “Waltham Forest Council considers that decision notices against the council for
Echo about the redevelopment of the the water charges have been correctly non-compliance with the 20 working
estate where I live, writes Michelle applied as it collects these on behalf of days’ time limit. Another four have
Edwards (pictured). As a result, I put the water providers and therefore is not a been accepted as either “eligible for
in a lot of Freedom of Information (FoI) water reseller…the council has no plans to further consideration” or “accepted for
requests to the council. issue refunds in relation to this.” investigation”.
Here is just one example of why these The response came despite my I have also done my best to keep up
are so important. In 2016, the High finding, from an FoI request, that the pressure. That is why I took
Court ruled that Southwark Council had a “provision” of £4.9 million a motion to my branch calling
overcharged residents for their water bills had been made for the for the NUJ to do more. I
in an arrangement it had with Thames possible refund of charges have also sought out ICO’s
Water. Southwark was ordered to repay in the council’s 2017/18 Information Commissioner
41,000 tenants an average of more accounts. Elizabeth Denham at public
than £400 each. The ruling set a legal From another FoI request, events to let her know that
precedent that meant that other local I discovered that the council more work is required if
authorities and housing associations had sought legal advice on the enforcement is to be effective.
using similar arrangements with Thames matter via the Local Government The FoI Act (2000) for which
Water might need to make payouts Association (LGA) to the tune of £1,697. the NUJ had campaigned for years, gives
as well. These other councils include In addition, advice from its in-house legal reporters an amazing tool to help our
Waltham Forest. team cost £787. The council appears to readers understand the decisions made
After a two-day search of Waltham be waiting for a brave resident and their on their behalf.
Forest Council’s committee meetings lawyer to step forward. Unless journalists campaign for our
for the last four years, I found two entries It is just one of many instances where rights to be properly enforced, however,
referencing the Thames Water rebate. information that could make a real we risk its usefulness being eroded
From these, it appeared that they had difference to people’s lives is accessible through bureaucratic attrition. Now is the
no intention of refunding residents. A only because of FoI. But it is also clear that time to take a stand and say that is not
spokesperson later confirmed to me that: many public authorities do everything acceptable.Informed 12
News
Update
All Photos: Maxwell
Noose talk: Jim Aughney learns why reporters increasingly eschew neckware Suitable candidates: life members put on a polished performance
Storm of disapproval: Michelle Stanistreet condemns RTÉ’s proposed cuts Oral sextet: Carol Coulter conducts an approving chorus
Irish gather to defend journalism
In October on Achill Island, Co Mayo, delegate meeting in Dublin. General secretary Michelle Stanistreet
a Fianna Fáil councillor forced a Around 100 attendees gathered at called on journalists to remember the
freelance video journalist to leave a the Gresham Hotel to consider motions, example of Lyra McKee.
meeting about the proposed opening participate in panel discussions “If her death prompts us to do one
of a centre that would provide and celebrate the award of 32 life thing, it should be to consider what
asylum seekers with emergency membership certificates. circumstances are necessary for more
accommodation. Some of the audience Delegates supported motions calling like her to thrive. Journalism and the NUJ
at that meeting chanted ‘Out, out’ at for the reversal of proposed cuts at RTÉ, needs more Lyras,” Sranistreet told the
the camera operator. the creation of a Lyra McKee charitable delegates.
It was a sharp reminder of need to fund, and applauding Northern Ireland’s The conference thanked outgoing joint
defend free journalism on this island, Lord Chief Justice for supporting Cathaoirleachs Bernie Mullan and Gerry
warned Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley, journalistic freedom in the case brought Carson and welcomed their successors,
opening the union’s biannual Irish by Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey. Siobhan Holliman and Dara Bradley.You can also read
