The NUJ in the newsFollowing the success of our event in London in April, a Stand up for journalism gig is to be held next month in the north west.
Stockport has been chosen as the venue because MEN Media has removed all the journalists from the local office where the Stockport Express, South Manchester Reporter and Trafford Metro News staff were based.
The ruling today that Suzanne Breen will not have to hand over her notes to the Police Service of Northern Ireland has rightly been hailed by the NUJ as a “landmark victory for journalism and civil liberties”.
At Belfast recorders court, Judge Thomas Burgess refused an application by the PSNI, which would have forced Suzanne, northern editor of the Sunday Tribune in Dublin, to hand over notes, computer equipment and other material relating to the Real IRA.
Strathclyde Police’s investigation of BBC Scotland for incitement to racial hatred over a phone-in show should give editors a wake-up call about how they handle coverage of the BNP.
The case, reported by the Socialist Unity blog, clearly has more editorial than criminal implications as it is unlikely that anyone will be prosecuted.
NUJ Left is calling for mass action to support local authority press officers who refuse to work with BNP members if any are elected as councillors in this week’s elections.
Union guidelines already call on every member not to sensationalise the activities of racist organisations, including the BNP, and to challenge and expose their views.
NUJ Left will hold a conference on Saturday 30 May to discuss issues including organising industrial action, the future of journalism, and our role and structure.
The conference was originally planned for 16 May but two other potentially large events that members are likely to want to attend have been called for that day.
Guardian blogger and now Kemp Town community reporter for the Brighton Argus, Roy Greenslade, has talked about journalism as a public service before – but he never quite says what he thinks it means.
In a comment on one of his recent posts about hyperlocalism, Roy suggests a familiar slogan: public services not private profit. Which I applaud.
By Pete Murray, NUJ vice president
A one-day strike at the Glasgow-based Daily Record and Sunday Mail titles has brought the NUJ’s campaign of resistance to the jobs carnage across the UK and Ireland to Scotland in the most forceful and determined way so far.
Following weeks of unproductive talks – and management’s refusal to consider dozens of volunteers for redundancy as an alternative to forcing through at least 20 compulsories – the NUJ chapel voted by 85% to strike.
The final line-up for our ’Stand up for journalism’ comedy benefit gig for striking journalists is now confirmed.
Anarchist Andrew O’Neill will join ex-political journalist David Mulholland on the bill which we have previously announced also includes Kate Smurthwaite, Attila the Stockbroker and NUJ member Julia Brosnan.
To show solidarity with all our members in dispute and to raise cash for fighting funds, NUJ Left is hosting ‘Stand up for journalism’ – a comedy benefit gig for striking journalists.
It will be at Bar B Lo, 76 Marchmont Street, London, on Wednesday 15 April. Doors open 7.30pm. Nearest tube Russell Square.
By Pete Murray, NUJ vice president
The jobs carnage across the media in the UK has now triggered a vote for strike action among one of the largest single groups of journalists in the UK.
NUJ members at the BBC have voted by 77% to take industrial action against compulsory redundancies – beginning with two strike days on the 3 and 9 April.