Press Become Target of the Far-Right

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Informedissue 27 April 2019 tension and violence. They should not Press become target be facing threats or intimidatory tactics because they are doing their jobs.” The number of incidents where the of the far-right press and broadcast journalists have been targeted by far-right groups has been on the increase, including Channel 4’s team who were set upon by pro-Brexit supporters outside Downing Street. Hayley Barlow, head of communications, tweeted: “Relieved to report that our Guy Smallman Channel 4 News crew were unharmed tonight, and while their safety remains our priority, they will not be intimidated or deterred from doing their jobs.” The union has since discussed the challenges created by far-right demonstrators with the Metropolitan Police. The NUJ had to force an employer in the West Midlands to support a member after they were the target of right-wing extremists. Three members who have received death threats relating to their work, including a journalist working in Belfast, have been backed by the NUJ’s Anti-fascists at the counter-demonstration at Salford’s Media City legal office. Similar threats to journalists The NUJ has taken a hard stance condemning the action by the far-right were recognised by the European against attacks on the press by thugs saying: “BBC staff should be free Parliament last month when it far-right groups, including a to do their jobs without these threats. voted overwhelmingly in favour demonstration at BBC’s offices Intimidation and violence carried out of a resolution criticising Iran’s in Salford, and the harassment of by far-right protesters systematically treatment of human rights defenders journalists and photographers by targeting the media, especially and journalists. It said: “The Iranian extremists. photojournalists, are becoming more authorities have systematically An estimated 4,000 supporters of the frequent and we will always call out this targeted journalists, including those former English Defence League leader behaviour and report criminal activity to working for the BBC Persian service and Ukip adviser, Tommy Robinson, the police.” and their families, through the use of real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, The union instigated a letter of support criminal investigations, asset freezes, protested outside the BBC’s offices in for journalist Mike Stuchber who was arbitrary arrest, detention, surveillance, Salford because Panorama was carrying harassed outside his home by Robinson harassment, and by spreading false, out an investigation into him. Speakers after contributing to the funding of a malicious, and defamatory publicity.” called the BBC the enemy of the people legal case against him. It called on the Iranian authorities to and told their supporters to cancel Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general stop their persecution of journalists and their TV licences. Opponents staged a secretary, said: “Journalists have a duty their families. counter-demonstration. to scrutinise the claims and activities of Please report any press attacks by The NUJ put out a statement those who foment Islamophobia, racial the far right to [email protected] Also Michelle’s Media Cairncross in this Message Literacy Review issue: Page 2 Page 8 Page 10 02 Informed Michelle’s Message Our reps have always been our strength that our public service broadcaster it’s a trigger for conversations amongst was not treating its own staff fairly colleagues and draws back the curtains – and where the publication of the on an issue that is all too often shrouded high-earners list back in July 2017 in secrecy – what our salary is. We need demonstrated pay inequity on a massive to encourage members to share data and scale – has motivated many members to information on salaries and terms and organise and champion change in their conditions. workplaces. Greater transparency is key. It’s only With a significant volume of equal ever in a company’s interests for pay Talking to NUJ members in a pay cases for NUJ members still in train to be a private deal. Breaking down workplace canteen recently, I was – at various stages of the grievance, data into detailed quartiles of men and told – not for the first time – how an appeal and even tribunal processes – FoC, in trying to persuade others to frustrations still run deep and the BBC get involved on the committee, was has yet to convince many of its staff “It’s vital that chapels promising that the NUJ’s brilliant that it has got a grip on this problem. and workplaces put reps’ training programme was reason It’s dogged, detailed work. The NUJ has gender pay gaps and enough to get more active. great support from our equality and legal He’s not wrong there. The range of officer Natasha Morris, our lawyer and equal pay at the top of reps’ courses we put on consistently gets equal pay specialist Caroline Underhill their agendas” excellent feedback – thanks largely, of at Thompsons and, most of all, our BBC course, to our wonderful trainer Caroline reps and secondees on the ground who women, and BAME data, is a great way Holmes – but also in no small part are putting in the graft and pushing for of getting under the bonnet and seeing because the reps we bring together have the outcomes our members deserve. what horrors lurk. It’s also a source of a huge amount to share and learn from It’s vital that chapels across all sectors great discomfort for many employers, each other. and workplaces should put gender pay which is to be exploited. We’re constantly looking at ways we gaps and equal pay at the top of their The gender pay gap regulations are can get more members engaged in the agendas. It shouldn’t be something flawed – no compulsion on a company work of the union and what training that’s done by a company-established to publish an action plan, or real would be helpful for them to gain the equality group, which in many cases are consequences if they don’t comply. With confidence to get active in the workplace. set up to take the heat out of the fury our collective campaigning and pushing, One area we’ll be developing is that ensues when staff digest just how that will change in time. Our experience addressing gender and diversity issues big their gender pay gap is. The chapel is some companies are engaging with in the workplace. The NUJ has put in a must be directly involved and use it as a the NUJ on these issues – they can see huge amount of effort over the past 18 recruitment opportunity. the benefits – for them – of being seen to months, tackling the gender pay gap, In meetings with the Equality and take this issue seriously. It’s not a genie shining a light on equal pay cases and Human Rights Commission over our that will be shoved back into a bottle. putting the issue of pay parity squarely work at the BBC, it was interesting to That provides real opportunities to on the industrial agenda. hear that the imposition of the gender tackle the actual problems that make We’ve had a lot of successes in the pay gap reporting regulations have gender pay a reality – the layered ways process but it’s clear there is so much proven a game-changer in ways they in which women are discriminated more to be done; and our reps are central never anticipated. For starters – the against in the workplace. No pay scales. to that work and our ability to hold focus it’s led to on equal pay. They’re The lack of transparency. Opaque, employers to account. obviously different issues – a wide gender unfair recruitment processes that lead Not least at the BBC, where anger and pay gap doesn’t necessarily mean to managers hiring in their own image. outrage prompted by the knowledge there’ll be an equal pay problem, but The resistance to flexible working and Informed 03 meaningful work-life balance. Pregnancy and maternity discrimination that snapper captured the audience at Headland Our reps have always cuts away opportunities from talented Diary classless Sixties of House. “What Corbyn women. The cult of presenteeism. The Twiggy, Mary Quant needs is a Caribbean been our strength male dominance in senior roles. Workers’ beer and the Beatles, and mum to tell him, ‘You The BBC has woken up to these High on recognition later moved on to have to try harder, you concerns – although there remains a triumph, the Springer photographing Her have to be better, don’t massive issue of loss of faith and trust. Nature chapel scored Pennie Quinton come whining to me’.” The median gap has fallen from another coup as they Of course, acquiring 9.3 to 7.6 per cent, with an action plan gathered to celebrate. new parents as you in place to get to 2020. The mean gap Company CEO Daniel turn 70 is beyond even is also down, from 10.7 to 8.4 per cent. Ropers astonished visionary leaders. While Auntie has become something of activists when he Accepting that, Younge a poster girl of pay inequity, the BBC joined their victory hoped that Diane is much better than the rest of the party. Indeed, as the Abbot might serve media workforce. bar float ran dry, as surrogate. “Maybe Every newspaper group and Ropers suggested a she can give him a clip broadcaster that has covered and, in round on him. MoC round the ear,” he said. some cases revelled in, criticising Michelle Gregory Gary Younge page 7 the BBC on this issue has a worse record politely declined – in their own back-yard.

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