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.
Stand up for Journalism on Nov 5 July 4, 2007
Posted by martincloake in day of action, ethics, journalism, London Magazine Branch.add a comment
There’s an international day of action in defence of quality journalism on Nov 5. Magazine branch should have input into it. Hence this discussion.
Often, when the NUJ campaigns on issues of quality journalism, the terms used and issued coveres heavily reflect the way news reporters work. This is partly because the NUJ has traditionally been strongest in newpapers and broadcasting. But it also may be because many mag journalists find it hard to identify with these campaigns – like ‘Journalism Matters’ for eg. So we need to take ownership of the campaign as it relates to mag journalists – in the business and consumer sectors. And also to make it reflect the concerns of people like designers who, unlike in newspapers, are considered integral parts of the editorial team.
There aren’t any right or wrong answers, but there are some questions we could discuss.
• How does quality relate to the consumer arena? Clearly members on Heat and Pick Me Up don’t have the same problems and pressures as a local paper news desk denied resources to report their community – but there will be issues.
• Should we concentrate on pay and conditions instead of professional issues, or would we be missing a trick?
• Is ‘convergence’ the big issue for our sector, with its problems of multi or de-skilling etc.
This has gone on far too long for an initial post, but it’s just intended to kick things off. Over to the blogosphere!
Alan Johnston – now free July 4, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in global issues, journalism, press coverage.add a comment
Just a note to welcome the news of Alan Johnston’s freedom and to recognise the hard work of those who tried to secure his release.
Well done everyone who signed the petition or attended vigils – apparently Alan knew all about this via his radio and it helped boost his morale during captivity.
This demonstrates the power of campaigning!
US news anchor direct action July 2, 2007
Posted by martincloake in ethics, journalism.1 comment so far
Has everyone seen the Mika Brzezinski footage from the American news show Morning Joe in which she repeatedly refuses to read a scripted news lead on Paris Hilton, saying it wasn’t news on a day when important Iraq news was breaking. It’s become a bit of a YouTube phenomenon, but it raises some very interesting questions. What do people think? Are there lessons for us? Would some people argue that Mika has ‘compromised her impartiality’ by expressing the opinion she has?
It would be good to get some discussion going on this – although it’s possible many of the people who say they want to discuss professional issues are too busy discussing the issues they think we shouldn’t be discussing to, er, discuss them. But we live in hope.
Edited highlights of “In or Out” speeches June 30, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in global issues, journalism, London Magazine Branch, meeting, NUJ, 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.
Back in action: blog updates June 27, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in day of action, NUJ blogs, press coverage.add a comment
Back from my holiday north of the border. I’m pleased to report that we had better weather than those at Glastonbury, having just seen the muddy contents of a festival survivor’s rucksack.
Just an few posts from other blogs you might be interested in. Firstly, the Guardian’s Roy Greenslade backs the NUJ’s day of protest on November 5th, which he says should become an important day in the history of the profession.
And London Central’s blog has the most comprehensive account of ADM that I’ve seen to date.
I am also interested in any accounts of the Future of Journalism event. Please send me or post any contributions or let me know about any blog posts elsewhere.
Bye for now… June 15, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in Uncategorized.add a comment
This blog has gone on holiday for a couple of weeks… Ta ta.
News round-up: Tony Benn and Monday’s LMB meeting June 13, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in London Magazine Branch, meeting, NUJ.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.
(more…)
The future of the union: discuss June 12, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in ADM, convergence, Freedom of Information, NUJ.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?
