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U J Branch
March 2021
N
Comments made by Prince Harry and his wife about
racism in the media has led to soul searching among
the press and calls for greater measures to increase the
diversity of our newsrooms, says Michelle Stanistreet,
NUJ general secretary
I
t wasn’t only the monarchy that – putting the union’s commitment to
was rocked by Prince Harry and diversity into practice that makes a
Meghan’s interview with Oprah tangible difference to representation
Winfrey. in the industry. I urge branches to make
When the Society of Editors put donations, hold fund-raisers and call on
out a statement rebutting the prince’s our former scholars of the scheme to
assertion that the press was racist, it speak at meetings.
faced a massive backlash. Letters were Our Black Members’ Council said departmental action plan to tackle the
signed by national newspaper editors lessons needed to be learned from structural inequalities experienced by
and black and minority ethnic journalists the royal interview with the Society of women, black communities, LGBT+
saying it clearly showed an industry editors, using the alarming comments and disabled people in work, health,
in denial and that editors must ensure about the news media made by Harry education, housing and justice.
their newsrooms and coverage reflect and Meghan in their television interview One step forward is the publication
the societies we live in. Journalists and to start a long-overdue debate about of the government-backed National
publications started to pull out of the the best way to prevent racist coverage Committee for the Safety of Journalists’
organisation’s Press Awards and furious in future, including dealing with the action plan to protect journalists from
members of the society’s board put gross under-representation of African, threats, abuse and intimidation. The
out another statement, saying “there Caribbean, Asian and other people of union has been at the heart of this
was a lot of work to be done in the colour in the UK media. committee and welcomes the range
media to improve diversity and The TUC’s equality conferences of practical steps it proposes. There’s
inclusion”. The Society of Editor’s show just how important it is that we a job of work to be done – but it’s vital
executive director resigned. tell stories from all our communities – work that should be supported by all our
In my statement to the press on the because it is women, disabled and black branches. Find out more on page 2.
issue, I said anyone working in the workers who have borne the brunt of And finally, the end of the month will
industry knows fine well that there is Covid-19 – in terms of dying and losing be a sad one for the union movement as
much to be done before the sector can their jobs. the unionlearn project which each year
credibly inhabit the moral high ground Natasha Hirst, chair of the NUJ’s supported around 200,000 workers in
when it comes to race and diversity. Equality Committee, spoke about the England with skills training and career
Journalism plays a special role in our attacks and intimidation of women development loses its government
society which means that media outlets journalists and we have all been deeply funding – a piece of political vandalism.
have an added responsibility in walking shocked and saddened by the murder of The Federation of Entertainment
the walk when it comes to putting Sarah Everard and the tragic list of the Unions’ project to support freelances
diversity policies and warm words into 118 women and girls killed by men in ended on a high note with all targets
practice. The NUJ continues to push the UK this year which Labour’s shadow being hit and its workshops more
for greater representation of black and domestic violence minister, Jess Phillips, popular than ever before.
minority ethnic journalists in newsrooms read out in parliament.
and – critically – in senior decision- That is why the NUJ signed a TUC In Solidarity
making and leadership positions. statement demanding safety, justice
Our charity, the George Viner Memorial and equality and calling for a mandatory
Fund, finances training courses for black duty on employers to prevent sexual
and minority ethnic journalism students harassment at work and a cross- Michelle Stanistreet
I G N 02
PA
C AM
la n fo r jou rn al ists
Safety p N U J
applau d ed b y t h e
with their
journalists can get on
t from
s to pr otect journalists have won suppor vital work fre e fro m ha rassment or
Measure by
ion an d indu stry and have been endorsed intimidation.”
the un
Key points
T
cross-party support t for Digital,
s by the Departmen
he safety of journalist ort with industry
Culture, Media & Sp d to work
has been a co re iss ue
Offi ce, police and • The union has agree
bodies, the Home Editors on an
and long-running e. with the Society of
prosecution servic journalists
campaign for the un
ion,
gave a online support kit for
Michelle Stanistreet su rvey to
so the NU J ga ve a big
the co mm ittee’s and hold an annual
presentation at of the plan’s
welcome to a governm
ent-backed
eti ng las t ye ar detailing track the progress
protect inaug ural me
National Action Pla n to ent and abuse measures.
the range of harassm police
the press from threa ts, ab use and cted to, simply • It will liaise with UK
journalists are subje s.
intimidation. backed up with representative
for doing their jobs, ing up
The union was an ac
tive member ’s subsequent • The possibility of sett
ittee for the data from the union cy sa fet y fun d for
of the National Comm The study an emergen
convened all-member survey. un de r im me dia te
Safety of Journalists, nce, showing journalists
provided vital evide ha rm wi ll be ex plo red.
r members threat of
more than half of ou expecte to d
line abuse in • Employers will be
had experienced on ng for staff
provide safety traini
Action
arly a quarter
the past year and ne establish
ass aulted or and freelancers and
had been physically cers.
designated safety offi
attacked. on social
• The document calls
•
plan she
At the launch of the do more to
mb ers shared media platforms to
said: “NUJ me us e.
Support all members under attack, pe rie nc es of stamp out online ab
horrific ex e system
notifying the police when necessary ac ke d, ab us ed and • The criminal justic
being att se who attack
must ensure tho
•
and reporting all incidents to the union. offline –
threatened – on and rn ali sts are
ir job. It’s and threaten jou
simply for doing the tic e.
Encourage branch members to answer idents brought to jus
clear that reported inc ww w.gov.
the Home Office call for evidence on be and
rg Full report: https://
are the tip of the ice en t/p ub lications/
uk/governm
•
threats to journalists. d abuse have
that harassment an on -pl an -fo r-the-
. national-acti
become normalised urn ali sts /n ati onal-
Put the safety plan on your next n, wit h its ran ge of safety-of-jo
“Th is pla fety-of-
meeting agenda for discussion. an d pro tections, action-plan-for-the-sa
practical measures
tow ard s journalists
is an important step
en su rin g
changing that and
L I T Y 03
UA
EQ
Covid-19: the
unequal killer
Natasha Hirst, right
, chair of the NUJ’s Eq
Council, on the TUC’ uality
s equality conference
season and
I
who has been hardes
t hit by the pandemic
t’s been a frantically
busy survey findings has
fortnight for colleag been arranged.
ues Ine vitably, Covid-19 als childcare, home sch
working on the union o loomed ooling and other
’s equality large. W caring responsibiliti
committees during hile all of us have be es. Our members
the TUC’s en reported unsympathe
equality conference affected by the pand tic bosses and
season. em ic, tho se
bearing the brunt – in little flexibility or su
Usually, it is chance terms of dying pport. Many were
to network and told to take annual or
socialise with colleag or losing their jobs – unpaid leave to
ues from other are women,
disabled and black wo care for their children
unions. This year it wa rkers. .”
s different – NUJ delegate Ann Ga
the conferences were At the TUC Women lpin said trade
held virtually. ’s Conference, unionists needed to
In some ways we los I talked about the ma link equalities to
t the cut and ny women
jou rnalists withdrawing the health and safety
thrust of debate, bu from online agenda to keep
t it did allow women safe at work,
more people to watch spaces because of the whether home-
the debates, abuse they or office-based.
panel sessions and frin suffer. We heard how
ge meetings. domestic
ab use has increased un Ann was praised for
You always feel that der Covid-19 her sterling
surge of restrictions and tha work on the TUC’s Dis
adrenaline when yo t a wo man or abled Workers’
u rush to the Committee. She has
podium and, I’m sorry girl is killed by a man tirelessly
to say, it ev ery three
days. In response to promoted the social
was just as nerve-wr ou r em model of
acking to give erg ency disability and took up
a speech on Zoom, so motion about the sp the case of
I am very iralling attacks
on women journalist disabled freelance wo
proud of my NUJ colle s, the TUC’s rkers further
ag ues and the women’s committee marginalised becaus
contributions they ma agreed to e of Covid-19.
de. express solidarity wit She told conference
We kicked off by publi h women an NUJ survey
shing journalists and lobby revealed that eight in
a survey of LGBT+ me for greater 10 disabled
mbers sanctions against the members had not ha
which showed almos perpetrators d reasonable
t one-third of adjustments organise
had experienced bu abuse. d through
llying and their workplace since
discrimination at wo Sara Lewis, vice-cha the start of
rk as a result of ir of the the pandemic.
their sexuality or ge Eq uality Council, called
nder identity. for robust Lynn Degele, NUJ Ox
However, almost 70 laws to improve emplo ford branch,
per cent said yment said trade unions mu
their workplaces we equality since the UK st enforce
re inclusive ’s Equality Act reasonable adjustm
and they could be op wa s clearly failing to do ents for disabled
en about its job. She workers – they must
their sexuality. A Zo said: “An NUJ survey become
om call of fou nd women
in particular reported normalised in the wo
LGBT+ members to str uggling rkplace so they
discuss the could play a full role
to work from home wh in their jobs and
ile juggling progress in their caree
rs.
N C H 04
B RA
Covid-19 and
Brexit spell a
double blow
ntinued in
branch’s work has co
the Netherlands
Paris, Brussels and
ac tio n, work on
– support for strike
e
don explain how thes list s an d attacks on
Sh el threats to journa
nz ie an d To ny
Cailin Macke nc e ter ms and
union’s Europe-based
press freedom, fre ela
ve ga lvan is ed the conditions, access to
accreditation,
threats ha uncil
bers an d its Cont inental European Co and individual cases
.
mem d committed
D
We are an ac tiv e an
for freelances, part of the NUJ family
, and Covid
r ne arl y 40 0 support, information
esp ite ou ources. NUJ made these
be ing sp rea d and various other res and Brexit have only
me mb ers as a possible
us an ds of Extra was mentioned branches stronger.
ac ros s tho d donations to to hear how
source of support an The union would like
miles of continental d were forthcoming ected you.
der the union fun the changes have aff
Europe and living un @nuj.org.uk
from the branches. Contact: campaigns
islations, the
different national leg Meanwhile Brexit ne
gotiations
Confusion
of Co vid -19 an d Brexit
dual threa ts hen the
co -operation were floundering. W
have res ult ed in clo ser ion issued
European Commiss
in the UK
n bra nc he s an d an increase in drawal
betwee
r me mbers. guidance on the With
on be ha lf of ou J ge neral
activity Agreement, the NU
st ye ar sta rte d wit h the branches cla rification on
La secretary sought
po nd to Br exit, but journalists,
poise d to res
cross-border worki ng for termining
progress on The rules and laws de
be for e the re wa s an y ca me mo ot following alists work
tio ns the however this be how UK-based journ
the transition nego tia d Cooperation
the EU-UK Trade an EU states
an d wo rki ng and cover stories in
restrictions of living Agreement (TCA). ught with
pandemic took has been equally fra
under the Covid-19 vision for
itie s be ing The TCA makes no pro obfuscation despite
efforts
nc h ac tiv who are UK
effect. With bra journalists. Members un ion’s
mb ers sp rea d out by members of the
forced online, me velling for work, do ou p to seek
al dis tan ces and nationals, tra Parliamentary Gr
over large geog rap hic rwork – if any – d won
oc ca sio na lly not know what pape clarification. Th e NU J ha
branches wh ich on ly ss borders and es
ne nta l they may need to cro a get-out on qu ara nti ne rul
met throu gh the Co nti y be a brief train s
C) we re able to work legally. We ma for journalists , bu t thi s wa
European Co un cil (CE aster but the infection
en . ride from a riot or dis rescinded as Covid-19
ch mo re oft es to allow us n leaping
keep in tou relevant national rul
vir tually and rates rose. Rather tha
ch es ga the red y unclear or
Bran
d advice to cover it are currentl on to Eurostar when
a story
inf orm ati on an J ha s not
share d unavailable. The NU ros s the Ch annel,
ers ’ ex periences breaks ac
on me mb s to check
based
all members gone unheard on thi members are ad vis ed
and a briefing went to issue, including at Eu
ropean m each
e, including what is required fro
in Co nti ne nta l Eu rop d Pa rlia ment level,
Commission an member state.
se wh o are no t in a branch. It nu ing .
tho and work is co nti
der Covid-19 tay of each
covered reporting un l Meanwhile, the mains
to ac ces s fin an cia
restrictions, where
I G N 05
PA
C AM
Policing Bill
causes alarm
Michael Calderbank
, of Solidarity Consul
the implications of th ting, looks at procedures. These inc
is draconian legislat lude giving
journalists and the rig ion for
T
the police new powe
rs to extract
ht to protest information from the
digital
devices of people of int
he government’s pla erest to
n to attacking a statue tha criminal investigatio
give police wide-rangin n attacking ns. Whilst
g a woman. it does recognise tha
new powers to clamp t existing
The proposed new po leg al safeguards for confi
down on public protes wers were dential
ts, introduced with refere journalistic material
introduced as part of nce to need to be
the Extinction Rebellion, considered, the detai
Police, Crime, Sente arguing that l of how this will
ncing and Courts be ensured is at this sta
Bill (which has just rec no n-violent protests wh ge nebulous
eived its Second ich are
disruptive of people’s until such time as the
Reading) has raised lives should Se cretary of
significant State introduces “re
concerns among the be treated differentl gu lat ions” via
public, unions y fro m licensed
marches or static pro secondary legislatio
and Parliament. tests. The new n.
powers would kick in I will be working with
Shocking scenes on if any person the NUJ’s
Clapham “su cam paigns department an
Common the previo ffers serious distress, seriou d the
us weekend s union’s Parliamenta
following the vigil for annoyance, serious inc ry Gr ou
Sarah Everard, on ve nience or p
serious loss of amen to monitor any impli
whose death led to ser ity ”. Ev en lone cat ion s for
ving Met protestors can be pro journalists and photo
police officer Wayne sec ute d if they gra ph ers .
Couzens being We will raise concern
charged with her mu create “noise” havin s as the
rder and kidnap, g a sig nifican t Bil l
“impact” in the vicini faces line-by-line scr
saw women being ma ty. utiny during its
nhandled and Committee Stage an
arrested as the autho Further measures wo d, given the scale
rities sought to uld limit
the ability to hold pro of the government’s ma
use new offences un tests near the jority, the
der emergency best opportunity ma
Covid-19 legislation Parliamentary estate y be to oppose
to disperse the , and introduce
extra penalties for “un the worst elements of
crowd. The timing co authorised the Bill when it
uld hardly have is debated in the Lords
been worse for Home encampments”, includ .
Secretary Priti ing where
Patel’s curbs on the ab “distress” is caused by With the legislation
“the use of in its
ility to hold thr ea rly stages, there will
peaceful protests. ea tening, abusive or ins further
ulting
words or behaviour, opportunities for me
The Bill, despite its co or dis orderly mb ers to raise
nsiderable behaviour, or the dis awareness of the Bill.
length, barely gives wo pla y of any Bra nches can
men a mention. writing, sign, or other lobby MPs and build
It contains no new me vis ibl e all ian ces with
asures, for other unions and civ
instance, to help inc representation that il soc iet
rease convictions is thr ea ten ing, y groups
abusive or insulting” opposing any clauses
for rape or sexual ass . dangerous to
ault. As journalists. The more
Opposition MPs point Beyond this, the Bill cross-party
ed out, it would is a ragbag of
diverse new laws cov op position can be mobil
give a longer prison sen eri ng a wid e ised to raise
tence for range of policing, leg concerns, the better
al and penal the chances of
forcing a significant
climbdown.
AT E 06
UPD
Good m orning
Alexa... for four bulletins pe
r day, with update
ws services
Daws on investigates voice-activated ne times depending on
the news cycle.
Tim d 20 minutes
oom near you Each is usually aroun
coming soon to a bedr
W
ee to four
the long and includes thr
es un de r ers can call out
controlled devic stories where listen
hat’s the news ice ”, us ed rat her
collective ter m “vo er dive.
Alexa?” is ph on es. “more” to hear a deep
is to de scr ibe nt to the
as “mobile” “We are very differe
a question s int erface
Big tech pro vid ers see thi tins,” says Laura
shouted in e next BBC’s curated bulle
pp ing sto ne to “th BBC interactive
approximately
as the ste
ny in the Barrow, the editor of
int ern et us ers , ma pre sentation is
h homes every
billion” news. “The style of
five per cent of Britis develop ing wo rld . on al. Th e user has
of US households more conversati
day. Seven per cent Each pla tfo rm ha s a for mat on sh ip wit h their
. It marks a different relati
make similar requests desig ne d to pro vid e a qu ick update
art sp ea ke r.”
-activated lls this a interactive sm
the advance of voice the news. Amazon ca t the
of up -to -da te on Bite-sized news is no
speakers as a source Fla sh Br iefi ng , for ex ample. In the ’s on ly res po nse to voice-
in a gro win g number of the BB C corporation
ati on er is . Currently in
inform
nts . UK the default provid activated technology
en vir on me n ch an ge
dome sti c
(NPR in the US). Us ers ca y synthesised
no w mo re than 100 the beta testing is a wholl
Th ere are
this during set up , bu t be ing eak for the BBC
sp ea ke rs in use around va nta ge s. character that will sp
mi llio n sm art ob vio us ad ctions.
default confers in voice-based intera
lud ing the Amazon C rad io
the wo rld , inc
A dedicated un it wit hin BB initial intent is
st Hub. One in Known as “Beeb” the
Alexa, and Google Ne news provides the se ch un ks of of the interface
s own one. They that it will form part
10 British household atomised ne ws . vig ate to
ently to play pre- alised whereby listeners na
are used most frequ As well as na tio na l ne ws , loc ast ing House.
at least half are services from Broadc
recorded music, but Alexa-acce ssi ble BB C loc al ne ws es, rec ipe s or
cast news. It will also deliver jok
used to access broad ail ab le in in ma ny large on req ue st,
mostly is now av pearls of wisdom up
“Smart speakers are politan areas, includ
ing popular BBC
home , me tro many in the style of
replacing radios in the es in W els h an d Gu jarati. ain st this backdrop,
in liv ing -ro om s, kitchens, servic ort by programmes. Ag
particular ly er eff imagination
“This is part of a wid you hardly need the
s Nic Newman assistants to
and bedrooms,” say BB C to us e sm art ist to for esee
ute in a recent
the of a futurolog
of the Reuters Instit er ne w loc al- lev el services,” says vo ice s de livering the
r us ers also off synthesised
. “S om e reg ula ex ecu tiv e ed ito r,
report Mukul Devichand, news itself. That wo
uld be a
time with the “The aim is to bring
say they spend less BB C Vo ice + AI . we ve r, be sides which
d wit h oth er screens. For orm ati on change, ho
ev isio n an an d inf
tel trusted local news the arrival of the int
ernet or
first thing they
many users, it is the to au die nc es across the UK in a of ho t me tal might appear
h in the mo rning and the co un ter demise
int era ct wit ua tio n, to ns in news
fast-moving sit quite modest evolutio
last thing at night.” confusion an d mi sin for ma tio n.”
generally nsible production.
Smart speakers are Se ve n journalists are respo
verbally-
grouped with otherAT E 07
UPD
Countdown to DM
B
ranches have been
asked to confirm or
amend their delegati
to the online Delegate
ons
NUJ Extra
Meeting, on Friday
21 May and Saturda
y 22 May, by Covid aid
extended
Wednesday 31 March
and name a
branch liaison officer
to engage with
the Standing Orders
Committee in The union’s welfare
discussions and horse charity
trading up is launching a third
to and during DM. Th wave of
e deadline for support for NUJ me
Late Notice Motions mbers
is noon Friday who have suffered los
14 May, and amendm t work
ents noon as a result of Covid-19
on Wednesday 19 Ma from the NEC. The mo and
y. Please be tion will lockdowns. NUJ Extra
disciplined when su be adopted as a DM res has
bmitting LNMs. olution committed to provid
Delegates can make and become a part of ing
questions to the union’s funding until the en
the annual report, ple workplan and report d of the
ase submit ed on in the government’s roadm
by email in advance DM ’s Fate of Motions Re ap to the
so answers port. Many removal of Covid loc
can be secured and cir are already being fol kdown,
culated to all low ed and a which runs to Mond
delegates. The aim is report of work done ay 21 June.
to ensure full to da te will be The union’s all-mem
democracy within the published and circu ber survey
challenges lat ed to branches showed many peop
and constraints of a in April. The NEC ag le had seen
virtual DM. reed a motion to their work dry up or
Many of the motions DM to facilitate limite had been
will be taken d updates to made redundant du
under SO3, in light of rule changing motio ring the
no opposition ns. The deadline pandemic. Branches
for this is noon on Mo should
nday 10 May. continue to make do
nations
to NUJ Extra and en
Farewell unionlearn members needing he
courage
lp to apply
Despite a desperate for aid. More details
campaign, the gove on the NUJ
vindictive plan to cu rnment has not rescin website: https://ww
t the £12m a year of ded its w.nuj.org.
union-led learning in funding the TUC’s un uk/resource/nuj-extr
England. The Federat ionlearn, for a-extends-
project had provided ion of Entertainmen covid-support-to-ju
vital professional an t Unions ne.html
in the media and cre d practical training
ative industries. Th for workers
over-subscribed an e workshops were ne
d the project met all arly always
range of useful resou its targets. The webs
rces and webinars wi ite which has
unions: https://ww ll be maintained by
w.feutraining.org/ the FEUO N S S REAJOIN TO ☞ Diversity Matters The media industry is one of the most socially exclusive. The NUJ fights to make the workplace socially inclusive and representative of the diverse society it serves. We protect the rights of our members and strive to ensure that media companies foster recruitment, promotion and retention of people from all backgrounds. The union has a proud record of challenging all forms of discrimination. Are you keeping good company? Join the NUJ today at nuj.org.uk/join www.nuj.org.uk
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