Taking a break December 20, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in NUJ.1 comment so far
I’m going away for a while, first Christmas then a month in India. So this blog will probably be out of action the end of January. Don’t forget to check out the NUJ’s new website – a vast improvement and watch out for the ADM motions which are now being put forward.
Stand up for Journalism: London Rally November 11, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in Campaigns, NUJ, day of action, journalism, meeting.Tags: NUJ journalism rally
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Sorry for the belated post. I’m sure you’ll agree that I have the perfect excuse in that I’m revising for my NCTJ News Journalism exam.
Pictures: Steve Usher
Last Monday evening, NUJ members gathered in Kings Cross to mark stand up for Journalism day. This day seeks to raise awareness about the value of quality journalism.
The previous post described the Manchester rally outside the Society of Editors’ conference. This event was slightly different – we had five speakers including former MP Tony Benn, BBC Newsnight’s Paul Mason and NUJ President Jeremy Dear (seen above with Michelle Stanistreet.
Stand up for Journalism Day November 5, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in Campaigns, NUJ, NUJ campaign, day of action.add a comment
I’m off to a rally in London tonight. Will try and post something on here afterwards – hopefully along with some photos.
Here’s what NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear is doing today – from his blog. And blogger John “Innit” has put a very thought provoking post on his blog to mark the day (It also ties in neatly with my last post about Roy Greenslade’s decision to leave the union).
If anyone else has had any interesting experiences or observations please leave a comment below.
Back… September 25, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in Campaigns, NUJ, day of action, journalism, organising.add a comment
…Well nothing really happened over the summer, did it? But leaving this any longer would make this blogger look like one of those damn MPs.
It’s just over a month to go until the Stand up for Journalism day on 5 November. There’s now a petition and a demo organised to coincide with the Society of Editor’s conference in Manchester. Members are also urged to organise workplace surveys and write to their MPs.
So how would you like to mark Stand up for Journalism day? What issues would you like to see highlighted? Please feel free to share your ideas here.
NUJ Policy gets its 1,000th hit July 19, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in London Magazine Branch, NUJ, NUJ blogs.1 comment so far
Just thought I’d celebrate a major landmark for this blog. We’ve reached 1,000* hits. Thanks to everyone who has posted or left comments so far – please continue to do so.
*This figure does not include blog aggrigators, so the actual number of readers could be even higher!
News round-up: BBC bloggers wind up their campaign and NUJ website revamp July 17, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in Israel boycott, NUJ.1 comment so far
Looks like BBC journalists calling for a ballot of NUJ members about the Israel “boycott” motion have written their last blog post for now.
They have decided to scale down their campaign in the light of the NEC’s decision not to press ahead with calls for a boycott.
In the post, Rory Cellan-Jones applauds the NEC’s decision and the role of general secretary Jeremy Dear in bringing the saga to a close. He also backed the union’s drive to encourage the 32 members who resigned their membership following the boycot motion to rejoin the union.
He adds:
“Because this is just the first chapter in what should become a campaign to reform the NUJ. Next year’s ADM is likely to feature another 200 or so motions on everything from global warming to nuclear power to Venezuela – more issues which most of us feel are for individuals to care about, rather than for NUJ posturing.
Most of us are too busy to spend time at branch meetings, but let’s try to make the effort to ensure that the people elected to represent us at ADM concentrate on issues that matter to us.”
See the full post here
NEC: “No further action” over boycott call July 9, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in ADM, Israel boycott, NUJ.add a comment
Last week the union’s NEC met. One of the issues on the agenda is the so-called Israel boycott, which has been debated widely here and elsewhere.
For those of you who have been on the planet Ork for the past few months, the motion Composite B didn’t exactly call for a boycott, but to urge the TUC to call for a boycott. The motion was passed by a narrow margin. However, there has still been a lot of controversy over this particular ADM decision and a campaign was launched by union members at the BBC and elsewhere urging a ballot on this issue.
Well, last week the NEC agreed not to take the boycott call any further. Since the motion was passed in April, the union has received a letter from the TUC which rejected the idea of a boycott. It said:
General Council is likely to take the position that this is not a priority for the PGFTU, still less the Histadrut, and would undermine our ability to act as go-betweens”, and that “Congress, which has consistently supported the same approach, would also be to oppose the call”.
The NEC says that as a result of this letter, the union will take “no further action” on the call for a boycott. It also recognises the opposition to the motion from branches, chapels and individual members.
The NEC’s motion rejects accusations of antisemitism and resolves to continue the union’s work with the Israeli journalists’ union. It calls for members to unite behind the union’s campaigns on industrial issues.
Edited highlights of “In or Out” speeches June 30, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in London Magazine Branch, NUJ, global issues, journalism, meeting, politicisation.add a comment
As promised, we now have edited versions of the “Politics: In or Out of the union” speeches from May’s meeting.
The original 77-minute director’s cut is still available at NUJ Policy Podcasts. But now there are also shorter podcasts of the speeches by branch member Martin Cloake (standing) and NEC member Nick Serpell (left). Both are approximately 10 minutes long.
Nick Serpell’s speech argued that we should keep politics out of the union. Martin Cloake, argued in favour of the union’s involvement in wider political issues. For more information on this debate view the post on the meeting.
For Martin’s speech, click here.
For Nick’s speech, click here.
I hope to put edited highlights in a separate podcast in the near future.
News round-up: Tony Benn and Monday’s LMB meeting June 13, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in London Magazine Branch, NUJ, meeting.add a comment
On Friday the union is hosting an event at the Frontline Club on the role of the NUJ in today’s media.
New media is springing up all the time and the old ones are rushing to keep up. Journalists are being driven harder to keep their publications going. This meeting will discuss the role of union and what approach it should take
Heading the bill is veteran politician Tony Benn, seen here speaking at Leveller Day 2007. The panel will also include Jeremy Dear, NUJ General Secretary and David Aaronovitch, columnist for the Times. The moderator will be Charlie Beckett, Director of the Polis think tank at the London School of Economics.
The debate is at 7.30 pm on Friday June 15th at the Frontline Club, Paddington. Admission £7.00. Please visit the NUJ website for more information and for details of how to get tickets.
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The future of the union: discuss June 12, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in ADM, Freedom of Information, NUJ, convergence.1 comment so far
I thought it would be interesting to find out what others think about union policy. Please let me know your views by answering three questions:
1. What do you think is the big issue for the union this year?
2. What one union campaign would you like to see this year?
3. If you could suggest one motion for ADM that would improve things in your workplace what would it be?
