The NUJ in the newsApparently London mayor Boris Johnson thinks getting £250,000 a year for being a part-time journalist isn’t an obscenely massive salary and he defends it by saying he makes a “substantial donation” to charity.
If he’s looking for worthy causes to assuage his conscience, as a fellow journalist he could do worse than sling a few of his hard-earned quids this way. Or this way if members go out on strike. Or, similarly, this way etc.
Three big stories that in recent months have dominated the news, and will continue to do so for some time to come, bolster the union’s case that there is no substitute for well-resourced quality journalism.
When in April Ian Tomlinson died after being hit by a police officer during the G20 protests, it was professional journalism that turned a citizen’s shaky video footage into an investigation that is still turning up stories.
Chapels in dispute will get another helping hand as NUJ activists stage another Stand up for Journalism comedy benefit.
Following successful events in London and Glasgow earlier this year, tomorrow’s event will be in Stockport, chosen because the Guardian Media Group has abandoned the area by closing offices.
Three leading members of the Gambia Press Union go on trial tomorrow (3 July). The First-Vice President, Secretary General and Treasurer of the NUJ’s sister union were arrested over a press release they issued criticising comments made by Gambia’s president on the stalled investigations into the 2004 killing of a newspaper editor.
Four other journalists were also arrested and all-seven face trial tomorrow – after the hearing was brought forward by four days at the eleventh hour.