Stand up for Journalism: London Rally November 11, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in Campaigns, day of action, journalism, meeting, NUJ.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.
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.
News round-up: Tony Benn and Monday’s LMB meeting June 13, 2007
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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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News round up: next meeting and FOI June 3, 2007
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This month’s London magazine branch will be the annual general meeting, which is when we will elect new branch officials. We’ll be electing a chair, vice-chair, treasurer, plus welfare, equality, recruitment, health & safety and communications officer and an editor for Maglite. Any member can stand for election for any of these post. If you want to influence branch policy, this is a good way to go about doing it! The meeting is at 6.30pm on Monday 11 June at Headland House.
Monday’s debate: summary May 16, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in meeting, NUJ, politicisation.7 comments
Click here for a podcast of the meeting.
On Monday night we had a debate on whether the union should be political. We arranged this in the aftermath of the ADM’s decision to pass a motion in favour of boycotting Israel, which was criticised by some in the union.
Kicking us off was Martin Cloake, a branch member and formerly on the union’s NEC. Martin pointed out that causes we supported like Shot at Dawn, the national campaign to stop violence against women, and against the death penalty were all political, yet they did not stop us reporting the issues fully.
“It seems pretty clear to me that most of the objections aren’t to the NUJ being political, they are objections to the decision that’s been made,” said Martin. “No one is expecting everyone to always agree – it’s healthy when this doesn’t happen. But we are a democratic organisation and we do take decisions.”
Politics: In or out? May 14, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in meeting, NUJ, politicisation.1 comment so far
Here’s a pic from last night’s debate on union policy.
In the foreground is NEC member Nick Serpell speaking on why we should keep politics out of the union. Martin Cloake, the opposing speaker, is pictured in the background.
Click here for a podcast of the meeting. It’s well over an hour long so you’ll need some time to listen to it. But I’ll also be putting on a summary of the speeches and the debate for those who don’t have that time to spare. There’ll also be more pix.
Politics: In or Out of the Union? May 10, 2007
Posted by rosieniven in global issues, Israel boycott, meeting, politicisation.add a comment
For Monday’s meeting of the London Magazine Branch, we will be debating whether the union should play a part in wider political issues.
Magazines National Executive member Martin Cloake and Nick Serpell from BBC TV News will put the arguments for and against. Pete McCready and Niall Hunt will chair.
Here is an extract from the Maglight Newsletter:
“In the wake of the Annual Delegates Meeting, which passed a motion calling for a boycott of Israeli goods, the last (inquorant) branch meeting thought it was time we had a proper discussion about this particular hot potato.
NUJ Policy 