MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS

WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2021

What the Dickens? When the author became an editor Contents

Main feature 12 The Nitpick Papers When Charles Dickens was an editor News t’s not long now until we welcome the new 03 Journalists face rise in violence year and we will all be hoping that it brings much better fortune than this year. Threats from paramilitaries and far-right It’s been a tumultuous period for 04 Black women need digital media everyone. Many people have lost their jobs Claudia Jones memorial lecture andI lots of those in work have had to adjust to homeworking and virtual meetings. For some it’s 05 NUJ staff on four-day week enabled more work/life balance – count the number of puppies Change made to save union money in your park – but for others, especially those with young 06 Fairer deal for freelances children it has made work more stressful. Union launches major campaign Virtual meetings have opened up more possibilities for many and if you’re a disabled journalist then you might have more “access than usual. But you also might face struggles with some Features of the technology. Natasha Hirst, herself a disabled journalist, 10 Bridging the digital divide looks at these issues. The fight for online inclusion The pandemic has also increased the gap between the digital haves and have nots. Jenny Sims looks at ways of bridging the 12 Survival on a small stage digital divide and tackling the democratic deficit that has been Grants help hyperlocals keep going caused by the decline in well-resourced local journalism. 14 Access all areas? The coronavirus has this year wreaked havoc in many parts Virtual working’s impact on the disabled of the media industry as advertising has shrunk drastically. But some local publications have been thrown lifelines with grants from the Public Interest News Foundation. Ruth Addicott Regulars reports on the help for hyperlocals. And as it’s Christmas, our media anniversary feature provides 24 Obituaries our cover with a taste of seasonal Dickens. 26 And finally... Wishing everyone a happier and more prosperous New Year.

Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley

Editor NUJ Arts [email protected] 72 Acton Street Page Design London WC1X 9NB Surgerycreations.com [email protected] 20 [email protected] www.nuj.org.uk Advertising Tel: 020 7843 3700 Ray Melanie Richards Manchester office Tel: 07494975239 [email protected] Snoddy [email protected] Glasgow office Page 19 Print [email protected] Tech Warners Cover picture www.warners.co.uk Dublin office [email protected] Niday Picture Library / Page 21 Distribution Alamy Stock Photo GB Mail ISSN: 0022-5541 www.gb-mail.co.uk ” theJournalist 02 | news Journalists facing increased inbrief... JOURNALISTS GET TRAVEL EXEMPTION violence and intimidation Journalists have been exempted from the requirement to quarantine JOURNALISTS are suffering contacting the journalist. when returning from overseas. increased abuse and The NUJ survey found that: Other travellers have to self-isolate harassment and are facing • 98 per cent of for 14 days if the country they are physical and verbal attacks. respondents agreed those in arriving from is not on the NUJ members told a union public office should maintain NUJ members say approved travel corridors. Business safety survey that they have high levels of public discourse travellers and elite sports people been punched, threatened and shouldn’t dismiss they have been have also been exempted. with knives, forcibly detained, journalism as fake news nor punched, threatened kicked and spat at. They are restrict media access also being threatened with PHOTO STOCK / ALAMY GUY CORBISHLEY • 97 per cent agreed that with knives, forcibly DEMONSTRATION FOR death and rape online. disinformation and fake news “ JULIAN ASSANGE The results of the survey undermines trust in detained, kicked NUJ members and other supporters come as journalists in journalism and increases and spat at will demonstrate outside the Old Northern Ireland face hostility towards journalists Bailey on January 4 when the continued threats from Goddard (pictured above) • 96 per cent said that ruling is due on whether the loyalist groups and as other appeared at Wimbledon abuse and harassment risks Wikileaks founder Julian Assange UK reporters are targeted by Magistrates’ Court after being silencing journalists and should be extradited to the US. His far-right groups. Last month a prosecuted for threatening censoring debate lawyer Jen Robinson told an online journalist working for the behaviour towards The • 94 per cent agreed the meeting of 100 union activists that Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Independent’s home affairs current polarisation of debate Assange would probably take his Life was told by the police that correspondent Lizzie Dearden. and public discourse in the UK own life if he is extradited. he is at risk of attack from He was ordered to pay £780 has impacted adversely on loyalist paramilitaries. in fines and costs and was the safety of journalists Also in November, the given an indefinite restraining BOOST IN STAFF AT far-right activist James order preventing him from Police accused, Page 7 MYLONDON WEBSITE Reach is boosting staff on its My London website by half after No Stone Unturned pair win settlement reaching a monthly audience of almost five million. My London was NUJ members Trevor Birney and Barry their investigative and award-winning The pair were arrested in August launched last year with the merger McCaffrey have agreed a final film No Stone Unturned. The 2018 and their homes and offices were of the Croydon Advertiser and Get settlement after suffering arrest, home documentary exposes the story of the raided. In May 2019 Belfast appeal West London websites and their raids and property seizure by the Police 1994 Loughinisland murders. court judges quashed the warrants for extension into north, east and Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The No figure has been disclosed but it their arrest. In July 2020, the PSNI chief south London. Reach will add 24 settlement comes after a two-year has been reported that the police have constable Simon Byrne apologised to new roles across My London and battle by the journalists arising from paid £875,000 in damages. the journalists. the sport website Football London.

Local democracy Ian Bell award recognition win open for entries The NUJ is inviting writers aged 30 or under LOCAL democracy reporters The success comes as the who live, work or study in Scotland to enter working for Newsquest have BBC, which funds local its Ian Bell award which commemorates the won union recognition after a democracy reporters across radical journalist who died five years ago. long campaign. the country, said that it was Entrants may submit up to two pieces, Now that recognition has extending the scheme for a been granted by the Central further three years. It is also each between 1,500 and 2,000 words Arbitration Committee the increasing the number of which have not been published elsewhere. company and the union will reporters by 15 to 165. Email entries with your name, date of draw up a new recognition The union has cautiously birth and place of work/study to nickml@ agreement. welcomed the extension but nuj.org.uk by midnight January 10. The deal covers 40 is seeking further clarity on Entrants don’t have to be NUJ journalists and union various aspects of the scheme members. The winner will be organisers believe it will help including the terms of new announced in February. in seeking recognition at contracts and the impact on other publishers. those already employed.

theJournalist | 03 news Black women need to create their own digital media, says academic SOCIAL media and digital communication give black women a British passport holder, was deported to the UK where she was voice, but they need to create their own platforms, says given asylum. Francesca Sobande, course director of the BA media, Sobande said today’s digital world, including Facebook, journalism and culture programme at Cardiff University. Twitter and blogs, had provided black women with new Giving the 2020 Claudia Jones memorial lecture online, opportunities to pursue activism and combat racism on their Today’s digital world Sobande paid tribute to the woman who gave her name to the own terms and escape marginalisation from the mainstream lecture, pointing out that Jones media, which continued to peddle had provided black was part of a long tradition of a stereotypical ‘hypersexualised’ women with new black press which stretched from images of them. the West Indian Gazette, which she Social media and digital platforms “opportunities to founded and edited in 1958, to new allowed black women to give a voice pursue activism and media company gal-dem (https:// to grassroots movements, she gal-dem.com/) added. And hashtags, such as combat racism on Jones was a Communist political #MeToo and #BlackLivesMatter, activist, feminist and journalist, were being used as a way to globally their own terms who was active in the fight against mobilise campaigns against police racism and imperialism and brutality, the exploitation of women Francesca Sobande promoted Afro-Asian unity in the and other forms of oppression. Journalism course 1950s and 1960s. She died aged Digital spaces were not, however, director, Cardiff just 49 in 1964. always safe for women, who often University The lecture is organised every found themselves open to abuse and year by the NUJ’s black members’ council, as part of Black censorship. There were also continuing barriers to them getting History Month, in honour of pioneer Jones. jobs in the mainstream media, she said. Therefore black Jones was born in Trinidad in 1924 and later moved to New women needed to design, create and own their own media York where she encountered poverty and discrimination. In platforms. 1936, she joined the Young Communist League, subsequently Sobande is author of The Digital Lives of Black Women in joining the staff of the party’s Daily Worker newspaper. She Britain and co-editor, with Professor Akwugo Emejulu, of To Exist was arrested in 1955 and served a year in prison then, as a is To Resist: Black Feminism in Europe.

members who read this Corporation not guilty over unlawful pay report and feel it doesn’t address their lived AN INVESTIGATION by the recommendations, including discrimination by the BBC, it should adopt more rigorous experiences. Equality and Human Rights carrying out equal pay acknowledged there were and transparent pay systems “The fact that so many Commission (EHRC) has audits every five years. individual cases. to remove any unfairness individual settlements, found the BBC was not guilty The EHRC said in its report It said the complaints it and potential pay including Samira Ahmed’s of unlawful discrimination – Investigation into Unlawful looked at in detail discrimination”. NUJ-backed tribunal win, over pay. Pay Discrimination at the “highlighted some poor Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ have taken place underlines However, the commission BBC – that while it did not pay practices and general secretary, said: the clear problems that set out a number of find evidence of systemic pay recommended that the BBC “There will be many NUJ have existed.”

Action threatened as BBC cuts jobs BBC

NUJ representatives at the BBC are discussing It is the union’s policy to take industrial the possibility of industrial action with union action if any member is made compulsorily members over the threat of compulsory redundant. The mothers and fathers of chapels redundancies at the corporation. also discussed the BBC-wide pay freeze and the BBC England is cutting 450 jobs and offer of an extra day’s annual leave for all staff. although many of those have been achieved The union’s national executive council, through voluntary redundancies, several dozen which met in November, has given contingency people are looking for redeployment. authority for industrial action.

04 | theJournalist news NUJ employees move to a inbrief... SUZANNE MOORE QUITS GUARDIAN four-day working week Columnist Suzanne Moore has left the Guardian after more than 10 NUJ full-time staff have moved to a four-day years, several months after more week on slightly reduced pay. This is to help than 300 staff at the newspaper the union maintain staffing levels and to complained about her comments on shore up its finances in case membership falls transgender issues. Moore, who due to redundancies in the industry. It would Our priority was to won the Orwell Foundation’s also help meet any higher payments in the Journalism Prize last year, said that light of a revaluation of the staff pension agree a budget that she and her children had faced deficit. protected current death and rape threats. Staff represented by three unions – the NUJ, and advice and cover will be in place if a the GMB and the Republic of Ireland’s Siptu staff member has a day off. All staff chose “staffing levels and – voted to accept the working hours trial. This their days off. provided flexibility PROFITS FALL AT began in November and will run until October The plan is to return to five-day working in MAIL PUBLISHER 2021, which is the start of the union’s new the union’s Headland House headquarters in the coming DMGT, publisher of the Mail, Metro financial year. As part of the arrangement, all and its regional offices after the trial period. and the i, reported revenue down staff will continue working from home as they Meanwhile, Headland House remains open financial year 10 per cent to £1.2 billion and pre-tax have done throughout the coronavirus to its tenants. profits down 36 per cent to £72 pandemic. A four-day week is recommended by the Michelle Stanistreet million for the year to September. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, TUC to maintain jobs during the pandemic. NUJ general secretary The biggest fall in revenue was at said that the fall in salary from moving from a Michelle said: “At a very challenged the Metro, where circulation was a five-day to a four-day week was a net five per time financially, our priority was to agree a quarter of what it was at the start cent after an additional payment for working budget that protected current staffing levels of the first lockdown. from home was factored in. and provided flexibility in the coming The union continues to operate on a financial year.” five-day week for members to access help x-ref Viewpoint page 9 JUMP IN NEWSPAPER HOME DELIVERIES Newspaper and magazine delivery branches and chapels can service NewsTeam has seen its Delegate meeting in the spring highlight their work and that customer base jump 72 per cent THE UNION’S postponed 200 delegates from branches restrictions. The conference more members can take part. from 24,400 direct customers in biennial delegate conference in the UK, the Republic of venue later went out of There will be training and March to about 42,000. The is scheduled to be held Ireland and continental business. skills sessions. massive increase in demand for virtually in the spring. No Europe, had been scheduled The NUJ is planning to hold The union saved £150,000 home deliveries coincided with the date has yet been set. for last April in Southport but a week of virtual events by not holding the meeting start of the coronavirus lockdown The policy-setting meeting, had to be postponed because rather than just cover core but lost its £22,000 deposit when the most vulnerable had to which involves more than of the coronavirus business. It is intended that when the venue went under. self-isolate for 12 weeks.

Future to buy Go Compare Magazine publisher Future is buying the owner of price comparison site Go Compare The Journalist to remain for £594 million. This comes as Future tripled digital to save money its pre-tax profits for the second year in a row, helped by a series of acquisitions. In the past THE JOURNALIST will continue to be available in a digital couple of years, it has bought video content format only to save money on printing and postage. production agency Barcroft Studios, magazine The magazine, which goes to all members and has been the publisher TI Media and digital entertainment only print publication covering the media industry in the UK, was brand CinemaBlend. Future reported pre-tax changed from being sent to members’ homes or email-only last profits in the year to the end of September of spring. Originally, the switch was supposed to last for three £52 million compared with last year’s editions but that has been extended for the rest of the period total of £12.7 million and covered by the current annual budget, which began in October, £4.4 million in 2018. although it is possible the decision could be reviewed later next year. The union saves about £100,000 a year by using only a digital platform.

theJournalist | 05 news Union fighting for a fairer deal for the forgotten freelances THE UNION has launched a campaign - Fair Deal 4 Freelances The campaign is calling for backing from employers, employers’ - to fight for a better deal for self-employed journalists. organisations, politicians and individuals. The move follows the difficult situation many freelances found The campaign also follows a report by the spending themselves in with the coronavirus income support schemes. watchdog the National Audit Office (NAO)which found that 23 Many freelance journalists - particularly those ones paid on a per cent of those potentially eligible for coronavirus aid For too long the self- PAYE basis but without any guaranteed work - found that they schemes missed out. fell between the cracks of the job support scheme and the The NAO said that the Treasury and HM Revenue & Customs employed have been self-employment income support scheme. (HMRC) could have done more to prevent many freelance second-class citizens The NUJ’s new campaign includes a charter of freelance rights workers falling between the cracks in the government’s which sets out the benefits the self-employed should enjoy. It schemes to support workers during the pandemic. “in the world of work. calls for the right to organise in a trade union, to have a written It said that as many as 2.9 We’re only asking for contract with fair terms million people were not and conditions, prompt eligible, either because of a fair deal payment and equal ministerial decisions about treatment at work in terms where to focus support or of health and safety. because HMRC did not have Pamela Morton Freelances should get data needed to guard NUJ freelance organiser holiday pay, parental leave against the risk of fraud. and allowances and a The NAO said the retirement pension. They Treasury and HMRC should should have the right to consider how to ensure that reliable information, covering as resist companies forcing them on to PAYE, to incorporate as a many people as possible, could be used to determine eligibility limited company, or work under umbrella companies. so fewer people are excluded from similar schemes in future. During the pandemic, the NUJ, TUC and other unions have The report also noted that the Coronavirus Job Retention lobbied Chancellor Rishi Sunak for a more equitable support Scheme was open to fraud, with some employers making staff system work during furloughs or not passing on payments in full. Pamela Moreton, the NUJ’s freelance national organiser, said: HMRC now intends to publish the names of employers claiming “For too long the self-employed have been second-class citizens the new Job Support Scheme and to notify employees through in the world of work. We’re only asking for a fair deal.” their personal tax accounts when an employer has claimed.

and made to put in train “BME men and women are Call to report ethnicity pay gap plans to eliminate the over-represented in ethnicity pay gap.” undervalued, low-paid and THE NUJ has joined the TUC (£10.55 per hour) ethnic officer, said: “The UK media Frances O’Grady, TUC casual jobs, with fewer in calling for mandatory groups had some of the is 94 per cent white and in general secretary, said: rights and no sick pay. publication of company widest pay gaps, earning TV only eight per cent of “Ministers must take ethnicity pay gap figures. 15.3 per cent and 15.5 per senior roles are held by bold action to confront The calls follow figures cent less respectively than BME people. inequality and racism in the being issued by the Office for white British workers (£12.49 “Companies must be labour market. National Statistics that per hour). forced to acknowledge their “The first step is to showed Bangladeshi (£10.58 Natasha Morris, NUJ own record on payment of introduce mandatory per hour) and Pakistani senior legal and equalities BME workers and freelances ethnicity pay gap reporting.”

Telegraph subbing back in house early in the new year and will create jobs. Production of most pages of the Telegraph’s THE TELEGRAPH will bring its print subbing best serve subscribers by centralising daily and Sunday titles moved to PA in back in house after nearly four years of having production. The change is due to take place mid-2017 and only a small team remained in subcontracted the work to PA. the paper’s London newsroom. The group said the move was part of its The company reported 524,412 subscription-first strategy and that it could subscriptions in print and digital in September.

06 | theJournalist news Reporter complains to inbrief... NEWSQUEST PROFITS PLUNGE BY 88% the Police Ombudsman Regional publisher Newsquest saw its pre-tax profit fall by 88 per cent AN AWARD-winning Northern Ireland Ms Devlin, said: “Because of my job as a to £13.4 million last year, according journalist has lodged an official complaint to journalist, exposing criminals and to its Companies House filing. The the Police Ombudsman after experiencing a paramilitaries, I have been on the receiving group’s turnover fell by five per “year of inaction” by the Police Service of end of threats of violence and death threats cent to £187.7 million Northern Ireland (PSNI) over a threat of for years. In Northern Ireland, that now The police have given and operating profit fell from rape to her baby. seems to go with the territory.” £78.2 million to £9.7 million. NUJ member Patricia Devlin, a “But, when I received a threat me a constantly crime reporter for the Sunday to rape my newborn baby, also changing and World, received death threats identifying my grandmother and contradictory story FUTURE TO RECRUIT and other threats of violence, the location of where the sender “ 150 EMPLOYEES and said that the police failed to believed she lived, I had enough. as to why they have Future plans to hire more than 150 investigate a threat to rape her I reported the threat to the PSNI people by early next year with baby made in October last year via a and was able to name the person I not acted most of the jobs in editorial. The message to her personal suspect was behind the threat. publisher is aiming to expand Facebook account. “The police have had this individual’s name despite the effects of coronavirus. The message was signed with the name of all this time yet, a year on, no one has been Patricia Devlin The majority of the roles will be in a neo-Nazi terror group, Combat 18, which in brought in for questioning, never mind Crime reporter, specialist editorial in titles covering the past has had links to loyalist paramilitaries arrested. Meanwhile, the police have given Sunday World technology, games and in Northern Ireland. me a constantly changing and contradictory entertainment, music, home and The NUJ and Amnesty International are story as to why they have not acted. gardens, sports, TV and film, real supporting Ms Devlin’s complaint and have The PSNI has said it encourages anyone life, women’s lifestyle and B2B. called for threats to journalists to be with concerns to contact the Police taken seriously. Ombudsman. CITY AM EDITOR QUITS FOR NEW ROLE Christian May, the editor of City AM, has left the paper and Don’t scrap Union Learning Fund, says TUC journalism. He edited the free EMPLOYERS and the TUC Department of Education as and provided a net gain to supported by employers business daily for five years but left have joined forces to fight a there had been no prior the Exchequer. including Tesco, Heathrow in November before taking up a role government plan to close discussion or consultation The TUC’s campaign has Airport, Tata Steel and Arla next year. His new job has yet to be the £12m Union Learning on the fund’s future. been backed by unions Foods, as well as training announced. May told UK Press Fund. It argued that the fund including the NUJ and the organisations and the Gazette that it was not in the news The TUC was ‘stunned’ to was achieving its targets, Federation of Entertainment Chartered Institute of industry. Deputy editor Andy hear of the plan from the was supported by employers Unions. It has also been Personnel and Development. Silvester has become acting editor.

RSA fellowship for freelance Depp to appeal libel judgment NUJ member Lynsey Ford has been honoured with a fellowship Johnny Depp plans to appeal against a from the Royal Society of Arts for ‘contributions to social high court libel judgment that found against progress and development’. A member of the London freelance branch since 2018, she has him and vindicated a Sun article calling the written for, among others, the British Film Institute, The Museums Hollywood actor a ‘wife beater’. Depp said he Journal and The Culture Trip. Highlights of her career include resigned from Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s assisting the Mary Seacole Statue Trust with their fundraising Fantastic Beasts movies because of the campaign for a £500,000 statue on the judgment. He sued Sun publisher grounds of St Thomas’ Hospital, and News Group Newspapers and its writing about the plight of the Cinema executive editor Dan Wootton over Museum in Kennington in consultation a 2018 article that referred to with Charlie Chaplin’s estate. ‘overwhelming evidence’ that She said: “I’m delighted to receive he had been violent this great honour. I hope to share towards his then wife my passion, tenacity, knowledge and Amber Heard. skills to bring about social change for the greater good.”

2020 GETTY IMAGES theJournalist | 07 As seen on TV

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08 | theJournalist viewpoint

A year that tested and showed our strength

NUJ can be proud of its crisis response, says Michelle Stanistreet

s we near the end of a NUJ staff and officials rose to the To balance that, remote working has year that has thrown challenge of closing our offices in meant a significant drop in spending unimagined Dublin, Glasgow, Manchester and on meetings and travel; sending The A challenges at all of us, London’s Headland House, moving to Journalist digitally has saved printing I’m proud that the one working from home. We decided early and postage costs; and we’ve agreed to constant throughout these crazy times on not to furlough any staff, defer significant increases to the has been the NUJ’s unrivalled support prioritising retaining our resources to union’s pension deficit contribution for its members and robust voice maximise support and services. until the second quarter of 2021. for journalism. Like everyone else, team meetings In that context, we also proposed a From the moment the pandemic and staff catch-ups by Teams or Zoom package of changes to our staff, took hold and ‘lockdown’ became have given us all a snapshot of including working four days a week, common parlance, the NUJ has battled colleagues’ domestic life. For me, until the end of September 2021. The hard for its members – gaining critical working from the kitchen table means aim was to create some flexibility in agreement for recognised key worker video meetings and negotiations being ‘ the staffing budget – the union’s status for newsgatherers and ensuring frequently interrupted by voluble largest area of spend – at the same the National Police Chiefs Council chickens in the back garden, the dog time as improving work-life balance issued clear instructions to police going crazy at (another) passing while we work remotely. officers not to interfere with reporters skateboarder, cats bedding down on the The NUJ continues to operate on a and photographers doing their job. keyboard, a three-year-old daughter five-day basis, with the usual The likely economic impact on an keen to wave hello to the person on the emergency arrangements for out of already beleaguered media industry screen, or a hungry 17-year-old crashing office hours. Following constructive was clear. As was the vital role of about making yet another cheese engagement with all three staff unions, journalists and journalism at a time of toastie. Never have an air-conditioned a package of changes was agreed, unprecedented need, with high-quality, office and adult colleagues and effective from November 1 until next reliable news and information conversation seemed more attractive… October, when staff revert to office- depended upon more than ever. What Deepening restrictions in Ireland and based working on a five-day pattern. started as a press statement became the UK affected planning for the new Our London office remains open to the NUJ news recovery plan, From budget year, which kicked in on tenants and, once events can take place Health Crisis to Good News, and our October 1. Agreeing a budget against a safely, the lower ground space will be most important union-wide campaign. backdrop of enormous uncertainties back up and running. We were also able It has propelled lobbying work across and straitened finances was difficult. We decided early on to offer contracts to two colleagues the nations and regions since it was While our organising work and not to furlough any who were working temporarily with published in April, with brilliant recruitment in workplaces that are the union when lockdown hit and, support from NUJ branches and facing cuts (for example Reach and the staff, prioritising assuming finances allow, our hope is to activists calling for investment in jobs, BBC) has brought in new members and retaining our increase staffing in the coming year. tax credits, media literacy initiatives income, we have had to renegotiate “ Our collective priority, industrially and overdue action to make the tech rental terms with our tenants and not resources to and internally, is ensuring that giants pay their way. been able to hire space out for events. A whatever the coming months bring, Great work by officials and reps postponed delegate meeting meant no maximise support the NUJ remains fighting fit, throughout the industry, fighting to decision to increase subs after a six-year and services supporting our members and save jobs and ensure meaningful freeze. More redundancies in the defending journalists and journalism. negotiations over changes and cuts, industry look likely, and our own surveys shows how fragile the industry is and point to many members contemplating Michelle Stanistreet is the NUJ the clear need for government action. leaving the industry altogether. general secretary ” theJournalist | 09 online inclusion

politically uninformed public, ill-equipped to vote knowledgeably in elections. In 2019, The Cairncross Review: a Sustainable Future for Journalism, considered the different ways the press was adapting to the digital environment and, as part of its Bridging evidence, the NUJ called for media literacy to be taught in schools. In September 2019, members of the NUJ 60+ council appointed to the National Pensioners Convention’s (NPC) new digital working party were influential in getting that same proposal included in its submission to the House of Lords’ inquiry into democracy and digital technologies. For education to play a part in helping to create a healthy, the digital active, digitally-literate society, the NPC said: “Media/data literacy should be part of the national curriculum. From primary school to university, continuing professional education and adult education/lifelong learning courses should enable children and adults to learn new digital skills, to receive advice and guidance on ‘staying safe’ online, and to discern, distinguish and guard against false news.” divide Covid-19 had hit hard by the time the select committee’s Jenny Sims looks at the democratic deficit report, Digital Technology and the Resurrection of Trust, was published in June this year with its 45 recommendations for and the need for online inclusion for all government action. Lord Puttnam, committee chair, said in his foreword it was being delivered “in the middle of an unprecedented health ears were expressed that if Donald Trump and consequential economic crisis”. won the 2020 US presidential election and But the report focused on a different form of crisis, he gained a second term in office, it would be added. This was “one with roots that extend far deeper, and F ‘the end of democracy’ in that country, with are likely to last far longer than Covid-19. This is a virus that harmful knock-on effects around the world. affects all of us in the UK – a pandemic of ‘misinformation’ He lost, but democracy is still not safe in either the US – or and ‘disinformation.’ the UK. US media coverage exposed many flaws in the voting “If allowed to flourish, these counterfeit truths will result in system and the need for reform. And widespread the collapse of public trust and, without trust, democracy as misinformation and disinformation, particularly through we know it will simply decline into irrelevance.” social media and the internet, also showed the need for media Lord Puttnam went on to warn: “In the digital world, our literacy among voters. belief in what we see, hear and read is being distorted to the The NUJ has long campaigned on media literacy and point we no longer know who or what to trust. The prospects warned governments about the danger of a democratic deficit of building a harmonious and sustainable society on that arising from the changing and shrinking media landscape, basis are, to all intents and purposes, nonexistent.” with poor media plurality, widespread closure of local The report addressed concerns including “the urgent case newspapers and the increasing moves to online risking a for reform of electoral law and our overwhelming need to

petitions/uk-gov-dont- use technological tools Training aimed at older journalists cut-union-learning. and apps more efficiently NUJ Training Wales is and effectively, online THE NUJ has 6,730 on upskilling older training project is under campaign to get the planning a similar event safety and methods of members aged over journalists, who may threat because the government to reverse to the FEU’s on verifying news stories. 60 years, who include have the greatest need. government has its decision, and February 1 with older Rachel Howells, working, unemployed The Federation of announced it is pulling members are being journalists in mind, NUJ Training Wales and retired journalists. Entertainment Unions the plug on the English asked to support it by having recently included project manager, says: Many new training (FEU) was offering an Union Learning Fund signing the petition at such a proposal in a “Covid has highlighted opportunities have arisen online workshop in from April 2021. https://www. successful bid for a slice the benefits and during lockdown (see December to ‘Unleash The NUJ has joined a megaphone.org.uk/ of additional funding opportunities online Learn While in Lockdown, the potential of your offered by the Welsh training has brought to The Journalist August- technology’, which government. some journalists, but September, page 8, The included computers, Details have not been we have been very Journalist’s archive on the phones and yet been finalised, but it mindful that we don’t NUJ’s website) but none smartphones. is likely to focus on want anyone to be have specifically focused Sadly, the FEU’s helping journalists to left behind.”

10 | theJournalist online inclusion

become a digitally literate society”. Ofcom research shows It goes on to say: “There is a wealth of resources available that 11 per cent of the UK population (1.9 million households) for anyone providing digital training or support, but still do not have access to the internet at home. Research by those new to providing support are often unaware of the Good Things Foundation says 11.7 million people lack the In the digital what is available.” essential skills needed to use the internet, and that the It concludes by calling on the government to “create a barriers to engagement with digital technologies for older world, our belief resource bank that signposts to all the available resources people include the lack of confidence and skills, cost and “in what we see, from one central place”. This is something the Connections fear of harm. for All campaign will be supporting. The NUJ, as an affiliate of the NPC (which has more than hear and read is The House of Lords committee report said that to protect one million members), has been working for nearly two years free and open debate, online “platforms should be obliged to through its 60+ council delegates to launch a campaign to being distorted to publish their content its decisions making clear what their enable more older people to get online. actual rules of online debate are. Alongside establishing rules Success was finally achieved this November when the NPC the point we no in the online world, we must also empower citizens, young executive committee gave the green light to its digital and old, to take part as critical users of information.” working party’s report and recommendations for a campaign longer know who They also said: “We need to create a programme of lifelong to be launched on February 1, Dignity Action Day. or what to trust education that will equip people with the skills they need to Part of the Connections for All campaign will involve be active citizens. People need to be taught from a very informing people where they can get help and training to use young age about the ways in which platforms shape their digital devices from various organisations and local online experience.” authorities, some of which also offer free tablet lending It seems the NUJ and NPC’s submissions were listened to. schemes and even provide free devices to older people. It will also strive to ensure those who cannot or do not wish to be online will always have alternative provision of services and information. Covid-19 has shone a spotlight on the impact of forced isolation on older and vulnerable people in care homes or ” living alone, and the difference being able to use Facebook or other social media platforms has had on improving their lives. A report in November from the Carnegie Trust, Learning from Lockdown, says: “Since the outbreak of Covid-19, the scale of digital exclusion in the UK has been exposed and exacerbated beyond previous understanding.” It will have taken the NUJ 23 months from the day its three delegates to the NPC’s biennial delegate conference in March 2019 got a motion for a campaign approved to the day it will actually be launched – February 1 2021. The motion, proposed by the NUJ 60+ council, called for a digital working party to be set up to research the digital inclusion policies of the four nations, look for the gaps between policy and practice, then produce a report and recommendations for a campaign to address them. This may involve forming partnerships with other organisations with similar aims, such as the Good Things Foundation. Helen Milner OBE, its chief executive, said: “Digital inclusion is no longer a nice to have but a need to have. People urgently need access, devices, connectivity, digital skills and support.” In addition, the Centre for Ageing Better’s recent briefing, How has Covid-19 Changed the Landscape of Digital Inclusion?, notes that Covid-19 has spurred many more people to get online or to use the internet in new ways compared to before the outbreak. For example, 75 per cent of 50-70 year-olds say they are making video calls more often during lockdown and 31 per cent are emailing more than they did before the pandemic struck. “The pandemic has further exposed and deepened the divide between the digital haves and have nots. Many activities, information and services have moved exclusively online without offering offline alternatives or with offline alternatives being limited or restricted. This has placed those without digital access at even greater risk of missing out than before the outbreak.”

theJournalist | 11 hyperlocals Survival on a small stage

government which is tied to paying business rates.” Neither Cash grants, support from readers and new did they qualify for the furlough scheme or other support. ways of working are keeping small news The workload, meanwhile, was multiplying, especially when the government announced it would trial the Test and Trace outlets going, says Ruth Addicott app on the island. Perry says: “The need to deliver reporting and headlines that were not sensationalist or click-baity was even more rying to ask a question to the first minister of important and we went to great lengths to check and double Wales via Zoom with the tumble dryer going check ourselves before publishing. Seeing the government in the background was the least of Alan Evan’s provide large-scale financial support to the corporate T worries when the pandemic struck. regionals but ignore independent media was confusing.” As editor of hyperlocal Llanelli Online, he A week into lockdown, they decided to ask their readers was wondering how they would survive. “We were going from for support. month to month at times,” he says. “The strength of response was mind-blowing,” says Perry. Llanelli Online was unable to pay all staff from the end of “Not only thousands of pounds in donations, but the heartfelt March. The launch of a business directory had to be cancelled comments. It was a massive boost.” and attracting advertising was harder than ever. One donor said: “The work you do has completely changed “We have always struggled with capital costs and sometimes when your main Mac breaks down you are left wondering where you will get the funds to replace it,” he says. like in the US, where Llanelli Online was fortunate to be one of 20 beneficiaries Community news non-profit journalism is to receive a £60,000 Covid emergency fund grant in June more developed. from the Public Interest News Foundation (PINF). The £3,000 success needs “I think small publishers payment, designed to support small, independent news change of attitude that are set in their ways and providers through the crisis, paid for new equipment and have a specific idea of how to gave them a chance to refocus and plan new revenue streams. ALAN EVANS, editor of “It comes to something do journalism, sell Beneficiaries ranged from the Star & Crescent in Portsmouth Llanelli Online, believes it will when we are first at the advertising and so on are to Shetland News Online and Gal-dem, a print and digital be hard for small news scene of major incidents and going to struggle. publication sharing perspectives from women and non-binary providers to survive unless these huge companies don’t “The ones that seem to be people of colour. The list also included Emito, an online service attitudes change and have the decency to pay us doing well are the ones that for the UK’s Polish community, 5 Pillars, which covers British hyperlocals are given a for coverage or photos, are hungry for new ideas and Muslim news and The Ferret, an award-winning investigative share of advertising from the preferring to ask social media willing to experiment. journalism platform in Scotland. The PINF received 89 NHS, local authorities and users for them for free or opt “The virtue of being applications in total and is fundraising to support more. allowed to bid for public for generic Getty images.” small is that you can be On the Isle of Wight, online news service OnTheWight was notices payments. The Public Interest News nimble. You can try things also struggling. Editor Sally Perry says: “We watched the “It is so nonsensical to Foundation is calling for and, if they don’t work out, 14-plus years of hard work and dedication we’ve put into pay for a public notice in a government support and is in you can try something else building the publication have the potential of falling apart. newspaper that has no talks with charitable trusts, two weeks later, which is “Pretty much overnight, we had the prospect of the loss of connection with the foundations and big tech harder for big corporates thousands of pounds of expected income for the following community, does not companies. to do. months. Even areas we’d diversified into, such as job invest in the community Its executive director, “I think people who are ads, collapsed.” and does not publish its Jonathan Heawood, believes taking those risks will be “To keep overheads low, we – like many independent local weekly sales figures,” there are also potential the ones who will get news organisations – operate virtual offices, meaning we he says. funders outside the UK, through this.” didn’t qualify for the £10k-£25k grant from the UK

12 | theJournalist ALAN EVANS

hyperlocals

Jonathan Heawood, executive director of PINF

Alan Evans, editor of Llanelli Online

the landscape of this little place. You are a huge asset… Efficient regular local broadcasting of quality verified information could quite literally be a matter of life and death plans to develop reader revenue and moving into podcasting. right now.” Alongside the grant, the PINF ran six workshops over the The PINF grant helped replace some lost income and pay summer including on podcasting, reader revenue, for two full-time journalists. advertising, fundraising and community engagement. Zoom At the other end of the country, Shetland News provides We are confident made these accessible and kept travel costs down. in-depth coverage for the islands’ 23000-strong population. It Heawood says there is a need to share expertise with small saw ad revenue drop to zero virtually overnight. we will reach a news providers in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Managing editor Hans J Marter says: “We didn’t qualify for “ “There is a growing independent media sector all over the position where any of the Scottish Government help available, and had a world, but the problem is with very small organisations you massive fight on our hands through the ICNN [Independent the business can can get a little bit isolated,” he says. “We want to try and Community News Networt] to get some crumbs of the strengthen those connections so people can learn and Scottish Government public health promotion.” operate without support each other.” Lobbying for a share of government advertising for small Now Then magazine covers arts, culture and politics in news publishers “proved to be a waste of time”, he says. any support as Sheffield with a focus on citizen journalism. Those working “The situation was serious… I never had the feeling that we on it found the workshops invaluable and used the grant to would not be able to survive though.” we have grown fast-track the launch of their new website. They hope to start Readership went up and they took on an extra freelance reader revenue producing a printed magazine again in 2021. journalist. Thanks to grants from Google ($5,000), PINF The Ferret also found the training beneficial and invested (£3,000) and other support, Marter believes they “should every single in staff and software, having seen the need for fact-checking now be in a position to weather the storm”. increase. Director Alastair Tibbitt says: “The Ferret is not yet The Isle of Thanet News in Kent saw page views increase month since we sustainable from reader revenue alone – but we are confident from around 600,000 a day to just less than one million. But that we will eventually reach a position where the business while the website continued, the print edition was suspended launched can operate without any grant support as we have grown from March to September apart from a one-off Covid edition. reader revenue every single month since we launched.” The grant enabled them to restart the print edition and With so many other small news providers in need of help, paid for a new laptop. Kathy Bailes, former editor and what made these beneficiaries stand out? Along with a track journalist at Kent Regional Newspapers, who runs the site, record in journalism that was of benefit to the community was already working seven days a week. She says: “It wasn’t so and a commitment to reporting through lockdown, they had much extra hours, as packing extra work into that time.” to demonstrate a clear, compelling vision for the future. Jonathan Heawood, executive director of PINF, who is on “We are almost the last man/woman standing in independent secondment from press regulator Impress where he is chief news in the area if you discount the homogenised large groups, executive, says the pandemic’s impact has been frightening. ” which still have a stranglehold on advertisers,” says Evans. A survey in March showed 75 per cent of independent UK “I think we presented the reality of life for a small-town outfit, news providers were at risk of closure. Some have been forced which provides a lifeline of news to so many who are looking for to shut and he is concerned there could be more. However a trusted source of news in such uncertain times with almost there have also been signs of recovery with some accelerating everyone attempting to be a commentator on social media.”

theJournalist | 13 inclusion

Remote working can boost accessibility but can make work harder for disabled journalists, says Natasha Hirst, who is deaf and has ADHD

isabled journalists are skilled at creating strategies for mitigating barriers in their working and home lives. These range from D navigating inaccessible transport systems and workplaces to building communications and productivity resources and educating colleagues on working inclusively, all of which drain energy and head space that people would prefer to plough into work. These barriers reduce opportunities and place disabled journalists at a disadvantage. The first Covid-19 lockdown forced a huge surge in working from home and a need to find new ways of using technology to communicate and work. For some disabled journalists, such as myself, widespread remote working coupled with assistive technology has provided a more accessible environment and opened up opportunities to engage with meetings and training courses, and attend talks and networking events. It’s been a game-changer for me, but my experience isn’t necessarily echoed by others. “People think that online meetings are an equaliser, but they’re not,” says Eleanor Lisney, a freelance content creator and writer. “On the face of it, it looks easier – I don’t have to travel or plan complex journeys. People recognise that I can’t attend an event if public transport is inaccessible but it’s hard to explain the impact of chronic fatigue to non-disabled people who just don’t understand.” Lisney has personal assistants who work regular hours and assist with tasks such as making notes and transcribing meetings: “I can’t just change their hours because someone wants me at an early meeting, but I want to be seen as a professional, so I end up in back-to-back meetings that exhaust me.” As 2021 nears, many journalists are still working from home and people are expected to be available for online meetings throughout the day. ‘Zoom ACCESS fatigue’ is a familiar phenomenon but this is compounded for those with sensory impairments or who are neurodivergent. Accessibility features of common online meeting platforms often fall ALL short and may not be compatible with screen- reading software, missing opportunities to improve the user experience for all. Ann Galpin chairs the NUJ disabled members’ AREAS? council and co-chairs the TUC disabled workers’ committee. She shares her experience of inclusive online working: “Supportive facilitation is vital. In virtual meetings, ensure that people connecting by phone are asked if they wish to comment first, then any visually impaired members. Greater use of speech to text reporting makes meetings accessible to deaf/deafened, autistic and neurodiverse people, and people with learning difficulties. The facility to follow a transcription has been transformative

14 | theJournalist inclusion

for my own cognitive processing and learning experiences.” Julia Jacobie, chair of the Association of Verbatim Speech- records audio, minutes and to-Text Reporters, says: “Once people got the hang of online State support notes and collates them into a meetings, the requests for speech to text captioning online digital notebook that just exploded. It seems that clients want to make their events KNOWN by the disability apply for an Access to Work organises the files.” as inclusive as possible but also more people who need it are movement as the assessment via the Gov.uk Access to Work: https:// asking for this support.” Department for Work and site. But it’s not plain sailing. www.gov.uk/access-to-work Lisney points out that inclusion is a not new concept: Pensions’ best-kept secret, Ann Galpin says an TUC guidance: https:// “Running an in-person event, you’d ask about access needs. the Access to Work scheme irregular work history can be tinyurl.com/yytj3rkl It’s the same online. Allocate someone to organise access and provides funding and a barrier: “Disabled freelancers EHRC guidance on offer tech support. Look at whether you need to book a expertise to support disabled and those without employer reasonable adjustments: British Sign Language interpreter.” people at work. support may struggle to https://tinyurl.com/y2k8rwla Chat functions allow participants to contribute and a Individuals can access provide evidence of eligibility.” Speech to Text Reporters: designated meeting facilitator can read out comments so assistive technologies and Eleanor Lisney says she https://avsttr.org.uk/ nobody is excluded. Chat can also be used to summarise key software, personal assistant found it difficult to persuade BSL Interpreters: https:// points. However, be aware that the chat box can interfere support, funding for travel Access to Work it needed to asli.org.uk (Note: ask BSL with screen-reading software. Additionally, screenreaders and and advice on reasonable support self-employed users who their preferred those dialling in are excluded from chat and participatory adjustments to working people: “You don’t get paid for interpreter is – there are features such as the raise hand button to speak or emojis. practices that enable them to everything you do, but you regional dialects of BSL) Visuals, screensharing and PowerPoint slides also pose fulfil their role. are still working.” ACAS neurodiversity access issues. Providing slides in advance where requested Many employers and Yet the scheme can be advice: https://archive.acas. and reading out or describing visual content improves disabled people are not aware transformative. “My org.uk/neurodiversity accessibility. Galpin adds you should “ask invitees to let you of the support they could Smartpen has been amazing,” NUJ Disabled Members know their access needs in advance. Breaks every hour or secure through the scheme. says Lynn Degele, who has https://www.nuj.org.uk/ 90 minutes are an adjustment that can benefit all. What Both freelancers and staff can ADHD and dyspraxia. “It rights/disabled-members/ works for disabled people actually benefits everybody.” Freelances and increasingly employees are expected to have a multitude of skills to work and promote themselves. have been inaccessible pre-Covid.” Chair of NUJ Oxford Networking events, industry-specific talks and skills training Branch Lynn Degele found working remotely brought are crucial for journalists adapting their work to survive the benefits of streamlining communications with the use of pandemic. There’s no shortage of events to sign up for, online collaboration tools: “There is more knowledge sharing including courses run by the Federation of Entertainment Breaks every online than in the office, keeping people more in the loop. Unions, NUJ Training Wales and NUJ Training Scotland. Instant messaging is used much more – it cuts out formalities April Ryan, journalism graduate and intern with Journo hour or 90 and is to the point. I can respond or choose to delay if I need to Resources, found online courses more accessible and has “ stay focused. It makes it much easier.” embraced events that provide her with opportunities to build minutes are an Access to informal networking and relationship building has journalistic experience. “Travel was a barrier for me before – I adjustment that been cut. Lisney highlights the loss of opportunities to go to found it exhausting and expensive,” she says. “I miss the pub or cafe after an event to “socialise and talk to people face-to-face interactions but I’ve been able to improve my can benefit all. you may not meet otherwise”. She feels this limits the ability confidence, build networks and create opportunities for to build the trust required for disabled people to share their myself online. I can be more assertive about offering my skills What works for support needs. “The pandemic has had an emotional impact for and engaging in conversations via the chat box.” everybody but more so for disabled people. Working remotely However, few bespoke training opportunities exist for disabled people is a very isolating experience – the support isn’t there online.” journalists who have specific skills and access requirements, John Pring, editor of the Disability News Service, is concerned such as freelance journalist Dawn Sanders, who could not actually benefits about the lack of political party conferences and “extra delays in secure an Access to Work grant (see box). “The further training I everybody the freedom of information system. The last eight months have need is like gold dust,” she says. “I do feel like I have multiple been a real challenge as a disabled journalist, particularly when barriers to negotiate to keep my skills sharp.” there has never been a time when disabled people have more Sanders believes “there should be funding for journalists of a need to hold politicians to account for their decisions.” with additional needs to be able to pay for the bespoke training The working environment is likely to remain in flux for a that is involved”. For her, this requires an understanding of considerable time and each shift brings new accessibility “how a person with a visual impairment uses a screen reader challenges. For journalists who are at high risk if they and how to navigate with the commands, not the mouse, so contract Covid-19, working from home may remain the training has to be specialised and from the right person”. necessary. For anybody who has ever been the sole person Galpin points out that the “speed at which training is dialling into a meeting, the idea of ‘hybrid’ meetings of delivered can be a barrier for cognitive processing but, ” in-person and remote attendees will not be pleasant. equally, I’ve been able to join in some high-stakes meetings The solution is not just in improvements to technology – that I wouldn’t have had capacity to attend before, such as a cultural change is needed to bring in a new era of inclusive global conference on disabled people under Covid. I could working practises that do not leave disabled colleagues contribute meaningfully and find that what I said resonated, isolated and forgotten. Degele says she has “become creative giving me unexpected and positive reinforcement. These with solutions, spotting opportunities that wouldn’t have informal professional development opportunities would occurred in the office.” It’s an approach we can all learn from.

theJournalist | 15 million today. He hired his friends and relations – printers’ devils, you could say – his future biographer John Forster as a leader writer, his father-in-law George Hogarth as music critic and his uncle John Barrow as Our Man in India. The most incredible hiring was of his own father; the model for Mr Micawber, late of a debtors’ prison, THE a financial and family failure, John Dickens became overnight a respected mixture of managing editor and news editor. With the January 21 1846 launch date rapidly approaching, Dickens Junior was also tied up with his usual Christmas minibook, not to mention one of his elaborate amateur theatrical NITPICK productions. And his family Twelfth Night party. Yet The Daily News did hit the streets as promised. “For Madras, calling at the Cape of Good Hope, to sail 3rd February,” were the first words under the title, because front pages in those days generally consisted of small ads, in this case for shipping, insurance and the Direct Northern Railway. PAPERS Inside, Dickens nailed his radical colours to the Charles Dickens had a short-lived spell as a masthead: “Liberal Politics and thorough Independence,” he promised. “The Principles newspaper editor. Jonathan Sale looks back advocated by The Daily News will be Principles of Progress and Improvement; of Education, Civil and Religious Liberty, and Equal Legislation; elebrity editor walks out after Dickens had already thought of starting a Principles, such as… the advancing spirit of the only 17 issues of new paper shock newspaper to challenge The Times and times requires.” horror! It would not have been welcomed the idea of a regular salary, These were indeed stirring times in which to C the first time that anyone let out particularly when he managed to persuade start a newspaper: next day, prime minister a yelp of ‘What the Dickens!’ – them to double their original offer and ended Robert Peel declared his opposition to the Corn the exclamation had been used for centuries as a up with £2,000 a year – about a quarter of a Laws, which were gradually starving the country. less blasphemous version of ‘What the Devil!’ Yet those three devilish words have never been more apposite before or since that moment when Charles Dickens stomped out of the but, says founder national daily he had founded and edited. Paper launches can Andreas Whittam Smith This short chapter in Dickens’s life story had “The Independent on begun so well. In July 1845 the genius who called be a bumpy ride Sunday was my big himself ‘the Inimitable’ was already the author mistake.” of novels which still live on: The Pickwick Papers, IT IS much easier to Daily Star Sunday news, as did his 1988 This had an ill-fated Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby and A Christmas walk out of a newspaper following in 2002. paper, The Post. launch in 1990, a Carol, with more where they came from. than to launch one; in Murdoch’s Sun evolved The i newspaper few months after However, he craved financial security, fretting 1987, John Pilger in 1969 from a very sprang from the loins of that of The Sunday about the future health of both himself and his (pictured) resigned as different paper with the the Independent in 2010 Correspondent, a similar book sales. “With hindsight, this seems absurd,” editor-in-chief of the same name owned by and has survived at the middle-of-the-road Claire Tomalin points out in her highly praised News on Sunday before the Mirror group which newsagents. In 1986, broadsheet. Charles Dickens: a Life. it had produced any of had shone briefly after the (daily) Independent “A suicide pact,” is In an improbable but non-fictional twist of its few issues. rebranding itself from itself was a how Peter Cole, the fate, the great author’s apparent problems were Most of the national the proudly left Daily breakthrough of Correspondent’s launch solved by Joseph Paxton, (opposite, far right) the newbies have been the Herald launched in 1912. production and design editor, describes the Duke of Devonshire’s gardener at Chatsworth, offspring of existing Eddie Shah, owner of competitive dilemma of who had made some money on the side by papers, such as The the Messenger group of the two quality papers. investing in railways. This spare cash led him to Sunday Telegraph and local papers, started the He was fired: “One of suggest to Bradbury and Evans, who published Mail on Sunday. Metro technologically the backers made it a his annual Horticultural Register, that they all too came from the Mail advanced Today (and condition of the last three should go into the newspaper business. stable. The Daily Star Sunday Today) in tranche of money. I The publishers were persuaded; they knew just was born in the Express 1986, which soon never wanted to throw the man to be editor, their star author – Charles group in 1978, with became yesterday’s in the towel.” Dickens – and offered him the editorship. JAMES GIFFORD-MEAD/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

16 | theJournalist Looking back to: IANDAGNALL COMPUTING / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO 1846 UNIVERSALIMAGESGROUP

Dickens, however, was not long for the Dickens was a fierce social reformer and the newspaper world. He was a vigorous editor – but The Daily News remained a radical one for years. only when he got round to editing. George Bernard Shaw and HG Wells were John Forster, who had from the first advised contributors. In 1901, it was bought by Quaker Dickens not to take the job, rapidly came to the George Cadbury and campaigned for pensioners conclusion that The Daily News was a bad and against the Boer War. Merged with the Daily experience for its editor who would not take Chronicle in 1930, it remained a radical paper advice or accept criticism. “Dickens was so until it was taken over in 1960 by the Daily Mail intensely fixed on his own opinion and in his and its DNA disappeared in the bloodstream of admiration of his own works,” he said. the Daily Dacre. Dickens did not put it like that but he revealed The best story his paper never covered was to Forster that he was planning to resign and about the most famous Victorian writer in the return to his previous day job of writing novels. world, the young actress Ellen Ternan and the He then had the nerve to inform poor Bradbury lovenest in Peckham. and Evans that, given the amount of railway All of this was kept secret for the sake shareholders who had backed the launch, it of Dickens’ reputation and, to conceal the looked as if the paper was in the grip of detours necessary to visit her in South London, Victorian Fat Controllers. (This may have been a he had to have at his fingertips the details of good point but it had not prevented him from the journey he would have made if he had accepting the job in the first place.) And another taken the train directly to the family home thing – the management had been interfering in in Essex. THE BRITISH LIBRARY the hiring of a sub. Claire Tomalin, whose The Invisible Woman He then took a two-day break and handed in After working as a humble legal clerk, he learnt described the liaison of Ternan and the his resignation. Declaring that he was absolutely the dark art of the shorthand which gave him a author, came across the rumour that Dickens worn out, he persuaded Forster to take over leg-up to legal reporting and, in time, the had not died, as announced, in his own house as editor. parliamentary gallery. His treatment of but in Peckham. If true, this would mean On the face of it, those 17 issues were a tiny politicians in his novels feels like revenge for all that Ellen would have had to bundle the detour on his literary highway; AN Wilson’s those speeches he had to endure before rattling body into a horse-drawn cab and whip it recent study, The Mystery of Charles Dickens, back to London by carriage to deliver his copy away it to Essex, where his death could be contains only two brief references to The Daily before The Times reporter filed. The paper he left safely announced. News. Yet it was his journalism which enabled behind was selling only 4,000 copies a day, Think what Dickens could have made of this him to escape from his impecunious one-sixth of the circulation of The Times, and melodramatic material, in a novel or The Daily background and move in circles where people Dickens declared it was not long for this world. In News. Sadly, the Inimitable was not in a position earned money from the words they produced. fact, its circulation at one point reached 150,000. to write it.

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Reasons for hope and pride amid the tumult

Raymond Snoddy anticipates a better future after a testing year

t has been a year like be even worse than the impact of have been partiality turned off, even no other for journalists Covid-19. A deal of any sort would still though the true believers are already and journalism for cut GDP by four per cent – something migrating to ever more extreme I reasons almost too that could suppress advertising right-wing outlets. obvious to mention. budgets for the foreseeable future. There is a sense, which may be Many journalists have lost their jobs There are, however, some reasons to irrationally optimistic, that the battle and the already stretched finances of be cheerful, if not actually jolly. against fake news and conspiracy media groups have been further hit by The most extreme threats to the BBC theories from climate change the Covid-induced recession. as it approaches its centenary year scepticism to anti-vaxxing can be Commercial broadcasters, for seem to have gone with the departure sidelined if not actually defeated. example, suffered a 40 per cent drop in of BBC-hating Dominic Cummings and Journalists will be at the heart of that advertising revenue and, with daily his cronies. battle to reclaim sane public discourse. deaths still high, there is little reason to BBC director-general Tim Davie Very late in the day – but they did at be jolly for now. believes that the spectre of last get there – there were kick-backs on There is, however, reason for decriminalisation of the licence fee, American TV network news, when journalists to be proud about what which could have posed an existential blatent lies met live rebuttals. they have achieved this year and threat to BBC finances, has been lifted Even Twitter started to post warnings the high quality of the remote at least for now. over the factual inaccuracies of Donald newspapers and news programmes Newspapers that have concentrated J Trump. There is even the pleasing they have produced. on building a subscription base, from prospect that Trump, when he loses his It has come at a high personal cost. the New York Times and the Wall Street head of state Twitter ‘protection’, might An international survey by journalist Journal to the Financial Times, have be booted off the social media site for John Crowley, carried out with the help prospered in the time of Covid. repeated violations of its codes. of journalist and statistician Andrew At the FT, which had an international There is also hopeful talk of public Garthwaite, found that more than staff of journalists to track ‘the biggest service broadcasters like the BBC three-quarters of journalists had story’ around the world, subscriptions getting together with leading suffered some form of stress from rose by seven per cent year-on-year to international newspapers to promote working in lockdown. Only 38 per cent 1.1 million, 950,000 of them digital. fact-checking and intensify the battle viewed remote working as a positive There will always be those who will against false news. experience. To add to the irony, Crowley believe that Donald Trump won a There will still be an urgent need for was one of those who lost his job. landslide victory in October but the innovation in both broadcasting At least most listeners and viewers clear-cut victory of president-elect Joe and newspapers. have learned once again to value the Biden might just represent the high Newspapers that For newspapers, the challenge will be importance of verified facts and water mark for populism and populist to get newsrooms operating again trustworthy news, and audiences have politicians around the world. have concentrated although there will continue to be trended upwards, even though there is The motives of Rupert Murdoch, who more remote working than in the not always an equal willingness to pay. dumped Trump overnight from all his on building a pre-Covid world. Even if the Covid-19 vaccines do their media outlets – including Fox News, subscription base Broadcasters will have to intensify stuff and a sort of normality returns which did so much to create the Trump “ their online offerings to compete with after Easter or at least by the summer, phenomenon in the first place – are of have prospered in the streamers and reflect changing that will not be the end of the course entirely cynical. the time of Covid viewing habits. economic blues for the media sector. Murdoch is only interested in But at least, as we head for our The Office of Budget Responsibility winners who might be useful to three-family Christmas reservations, has warned that, without a deal, the hit him, not losers such as Trump. there really are reasons to be cheerful if from Brexit to the UK economy could One hosepipe of irrationality will not jolly, ” theJournalist | 19

Between the Covers. The world by Tim Lezard according to Jilly Cooper It’s easy to forget my fellow Gloucestershire branch member was a journalist (Middlesex Independent, Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday) before becoming an author of raunchy novels. Fifty years on, she’s published a collection of her favourite columns in the style that made her so successful, showcasing her trademark wit, irreverence and caustically artsXmas books special > he discovers “there’s far greater sharp observations. Wake up by Piers Morgan pleasure in helping Captain Tom https://tinyurl.com/y6ymomxt “He’s an inflammatory, deliberately Moore raise millions or shining a light provocative character,” writes Piers on migrant workers in the NHS than Unconsidered Trifles by Morgan about Donald Trump. He there is in waging war over vegan Mike Amos could, of course, be writing sausage rolls”. The Queen Mother, Juventus FC, about himself. And crucially: “There’s also a far Hollywood and Prince Harry all The former Daily Mirror editor’s greater purpose in holding feature in this charming memoir from champion, radical feminist and, lest transformation from scourge of the government ministers to account for an award-winning Northern Echo we forget, newspaper editor. Holmes left-wing ‘woke brigade’ to right-wing their life-and-death decisions than reporter who spent more than half a is unafraid to touch on the rupture hate figure has been fascinating to there is in constantly sniping at the century at the paper. It’s how between Pankhurst’s mother watch on GMTV and Twitter during the likes of Meghan Markle.” journalism used to be. Emmeline and sister Christabel and Covid-19 pandemic. I suspect this tenacity and this https://mikeamosblog.wordpress. her affair with the married Keir What begins as a rant about placing on record of ministers’ com/autobiography/ Hardie. Sylvia’s granddaughter Helen society’s “inexorable descent into the ineptitude in tackling Covid-19, describes the book as “extraordinary”. abysmal PC-crazed abyss” mellows as will be the true legacy of Wake Up – Too Hot for Comfort by https://tinyurl.com/yygmklwo an angry, occasionally irrational and, Andrew Bibby yes, provocative, book – Finance reporter-turned-crime writer Assignment Moscow – Reporting rather than his misplaced ire at Andrew Bibby completes his Cumbrian on Russia from Lenin to Putin by millennial snowflakes. Fells trilogy. Once again starring Nick James Rodgers https://tinyurl.com/y5ouxf9l4 Potterton, a successful London The former BBC reporter reveals how journalist now struggling as a local journalists’ experiences reporting from Comrade Sak by Marc Wadsworth freelance, this entertaining and Russia for the past 100 years mirrors The chair of the NUJ’s black members’ atmospheric mystery also addresses its changing attitude to the West. council has updated his 1998 social issues such as social media https://tinyurl.com/y4ehvp49/ biography of Shapurji Saklatvala, an trolling (maybe Piers Morgan might important study of African, Caribbean enjoy it?) and the economic plight of Tough times for performing arts and Asian working class history in the local newspapers. At the time of writing, the UK was on 1920s and 30s. https://gritstonecoop.co.uk/books/ the verge of a second lockdown. Comrade Sak charts Saklatvala’s too-hot-for-comfort/ According to Bectu at least,442 journey from privileged Parsi creative industry workers have beginnings to revolutionary Sylvia Pankhurst by been made redundant as a result communist, ending up as Labour MP Rachel Holmes of the pandemic. Actors and for Battersea North. Following the author’s biography of musicians have also lost their https://www.peepaltreepress.com/ Eleanor Marx comes the life story of a livelihoods. Please support the arts if books/comrade-sak woman – political rebel, human rights you can – solidarity.

, Spotlight > “This story is told so seeking simple safety on our consistently and shores whilst this persuasively that the government continues the Migrant blame game called out average Brit will point relentless transferral of “I view stories as both the powerful and moving “There aren’t many stories fingers at the vulnerable public wealth into private weapon and the modern-day Shakespearian the state seems more family hands, which is of course battleground on which tragedy. invested in than the idea the true source of power is won or lost,” Part poetry, part prose that migrants and asylum our suffering.” Potent Whisper tells Arts. and part Brexit rap, it seekers are the source Lucid Lovers is The musician has just attempts to reshape of this country’s ill available for free stream/ released his first audiobook, the asylum-seeker socioeconomic health,” download at www. Lucid Lovers, a profoundly blame game. he says. lucidlovers.co.uk

20 | theJournalist technology TechDownload Nicholas Fearn on technology for journalists

byte size... SOFTWARE CHECKS NOTEBOOK IN A PHONE COPY IS CONSISTENT Journalists have to write otebooks have always been a journalist’s clean, consistent copy and best friend, but in the 21st century, they now software can support N appear upstaged by productivity this. Intelligent Editing is powerhouse smartphones like the claimed to flag up unexplained Samsung Galaxy Note. handwriting notes, annotating documents, drawing, abbreviations, spot typos and The latest version of this handset, which is and navigating around your phone. check house style is adhered called the Note20, offers a 6.7-inch 2400 x 1080 The Note20 comes in three colours called mystic to. It can be customised to display, an octa-core processor, 8GB of RAM, a bronze, mystic grey and mystic green. house styles and works triple rear camera system, 8K video recording, a If you’d like a bigger phone, you can opt for the with British, American and 4300mAh battery, 256GB of storage and a USB C Note20 Ultra, which has a 6.9-inch screen and higher Australian English. port, and can run Microsoft Office. It is dust and specifications. There is also offering a 5G model. https://intelligentediting.com water resistant The Note20 starts at £849, while the 5G variant is What sets the Note20 apart from other handsets £949 and the Note20 Ultra is £1179. HIDE YOUR ONLINE on the market is the S Pen, which can be used for Samsung.com/uk FOOTPRINTS If you are conscious about online privacy, you should download a Dock lets you use multiple devices simultaneously” by the virtual private network. This will > American tech firm, it is ensure third parties cannot see ike most people role in the lives of modern productivity, I’d recommend plugged into a computer what you do online . ExpressVPN nowadays, you journalists but can easily checking out the All-in-One via USB C and provides nine offers access to 3,000 servers, L probably use a clutter up a desk and be a Mini Dock from PNY. additional ports. These AES-256 encryption, a kill variety of connected devices. nightmare to use concurrently. Described as “a solution include USB, USB-C, HDMI, switch, a no-logs policy and From laptops to smartphones, To organise all of your for those who need to VGA, RJ45, SD and MicroSD unlimited bandwidth. You can these play an important gizmos better and improve use multiple devices connections. use it only with five devices. At the time of writing, the cheapest plan was £6.69 per month. www.expressvpn.com STORAGE WITH SPEED AUTOMATIC WAY TO PHONE CHASE INVOICES PACKS A f you’re looking to improve the performance of your Freelances know the pain of PUNCH computer and don’t want to rely on cloud platforms due chasing up unpaid invoices, but Big-picture phone I to privacy concerns, investing in an internal solid state now there’s software to speed for productive work drive (SSD) is a great idea. At just £19, the CS900 SSD from US up this process. Using automated Huawei offers great smartphones for technology company PNY is definitely worth considering. credit control software Itsettled, increased productivity, and the P30 Pro New This compact SSD provides storage varying between you can automatically follow Edition is one of them. It offers a 6.47-inch 120GB and 930GB, and has read speeds of up invoices and receive overdue FullHD+ OLED display, a 40-megapixel primary 515-535MB/s and write speeds of 490- payments. It provides emails, camera, a 32-megapixel front camera, a Kirin 515MB/s per second. letters and call scripts to make 980 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 4200mAh As a result, users controlling your finances battery, a fingerprint scanner and 256GB of can expect quicker and easier. The basic onboard memory, as well as Google apps and increased subscription costs £4 per services, despite the US trade ban. This is a battery life, invoice and includes five stylish, highly capable Android smartphone, a cooler system invoices per month. and is available in black and silver. and improved https://tinyurl.com/ycar96pn, www.itsettled.co.uk £699.99 productivity, according to PNY. £19.63

theJournalist | 21 charity

Connect for free and help raise the profile of your charity, says Ellen Bramley

you can do your bit. By signing up to our newsletter as a free supporter and encouraging your colleagues and friends to do the same, you can stay up to date with industry news and services. Fundamentally, connecting with a greater number of journalists will help us all to keep in touch, allowing us to offer you the most effective help and support as you continue your career. Since the pandemic began, the Journalists’ Charity has prevented 15 journalists and their families from losing their homes. Hundreds of others affected by the crisis have received emergency assistance as part of a rapid response aimed at minimising stress and preserving mental health. To ensure we cater for a range of needs, we have extended our support by providing free online skills sessions on various themes relating to the industry. Additionally, we have some new grant opportunities coming up, including a support package for those who are new to journalism. Joan, a freelance journalist who Charity offers a ‘huge received support from us when her income dried up in July, described the long-term impact of our support. Aside lifeline’ in a crisis from the short-term relief of bills getting paid, receiving assistance crucially means “you’re not wasting ack in April, when the and down the country underlined the your time worrying about finance, UK was in the early importance of journalism. you’re actually going out there and stages of the Journalists have gone above and digging for more work”. B coronavirus crisis, beyond the call of duty, campaigning Similarly, sports journalist Ross culture secretary Oliver on behalf of readers for the provision Connecting will described the charity as a ‘huge lifeline’ Dowden dubbed the news industry of everything from PPE to government when the seasons ended prematurely ‘Britain’s fourth emergency service’. grant schemes, free school meals and help us all to keep and work disappeared overnight. He He was paying homage to journalists newspaper deliveries for the elderly. in touch, allowing said: “All the live matches were wiped up and down the country as they It was therefore no surprise that the out – and that is something I largely worked tirelessly to keep the nation World Without News report, published “us to offer you the relied on. The support from the informed at a time of great uncertainty. in October, revealed that 66 per cent of most effective help Journalists’ Charity was absolutely In the ensuing months, the industry Brits appreciate and value journalism invaluable at a time when I felt scared continued to perform an essential more since the pandemic began. and support and alone.” service for a nation in crisis, providing Journalism is still being tested. The ability of the charity to continue scrutiny and critical insight. Advertising revenues are likely to its support and make a positive During a national lockdown, with plummet further, while social difference is inextricably linked to curbs on most aspects of distancing is making it hard for awareness levels among journalists. By everyday life and working readers to access print media. spreading the word to your peers and practices turned News teams are likely to encouraging them to sign up to our upside down, become even smaller database, you can help us to support journalists stepped and resources further the sustainability of quality journalism up to the challenge stretched, adding to – a crucial pillar to our democracy and, – helping to keep the pressure on staff indeed, our fourth emergency service. communities and freelancers alike. together, inspiring At this difficult time, • Scan the QR code (left) to become heroes and, in some it is vital that the part of the Journalists’ Charity cases, saving lives. Journalists’ Charity The stories that ran increases its visibility and Ellen Bramley is Industry Relations across news outlets up gets its message across – and Manager for the Journalists’

22 | theJournalist NUJ debate In praise of a broad church active, talented member who simply could not get past that 50 per cent mark. Perhaps we should start looking at different criteria. After all, does the proportion of one’s earnings necessarily reflect the amount of work done or even its quality? How do other unions with large freelance memberships cope? Two come to mind, both of them fellow members of the Federation of Entertainment Unions: the Writers’ Guild and Equity, the actors’ union. The Guild lets you in if you have written one or more pieces of work under contract ‘for which payment has been received at union rates, or earned more than £5,000 from ‘non- journalistic’ writing (https:// Now that having other jobs is common, should the NUJ’s writersguild.org.uk/join-renew/ full-membership). There is no membership rules change? asks Jenny Vaughan assumption that you must have ever made or expect to make a significant he media is changing: and lasts a maximum of three years. If, amount of your living from writing. online publications at the end of that time, you have not Equity members, whose professions and broadcasts are passed the 50 per cent mark, you must are renowned for employment T expanding, while leave the union. insecurity, need only to have ‘one job traditional forms are But in the world of the gig economy, Someone with a on an Equity contract, or evidence of under ever greater pressure. How can where having other jobs is likely to be earnings in excess of £500 from the the NUJ adapt to this? the norm, does this criterion, based not wealthy partner can industry in an area of work covered by Our rules already offer membership on how much journalism someone join if they do very Equity’ (https://www.equity.org.uk/ in a range of jobs that purists might not does but on the proportion of their little – while more about/how-to-join). see as journalism (see rule 2: https:// income it brings, make sense? Is it fair? “ Both unions accept that members www.nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-rules). Someone with the support of a wealthy productive people may look elsewhere for work to survive, Maybe we should also think hard about partner or family can afford to qualify but that does not detract from their how we organise in the plethora of even if they do very little – while more are kept out identity as writers or actors. small-scale, badly (and even non) paying productive would-be members are It even seems that sometimes publications that are growing up. kept out. members call on their union for Our rules say that, to become a full It is hard for branches to know what support outside the area of Equity member with the rights and happens to every temporary member work. LFB chair Matt Salusbury responsibilities that brings, journalism they admit, but sometimes we find out. describes working on a magazine, must be your ‘principal occupation’, Take, for example, a member of the where several actors were in telesales providing at least 50 per cent of your NUJ’s London Freelance Branch (LFB), and one needed employment advice. earned income. whose temporary membership will Salusbury says: “His Equity rep didn’t For staffers that is relatively soon come to an end. She had a ask any questions… there seemed to be straightforward, but for freelances regular column in a local paper, an acceptance that members had day – nearly a quarter of our 26,000+ writing about community issues. Her jobs other than acting and needed members – it is less so. There’s a raft of work was praised, both by that advice on how to stay in that regular would-be or part-time journalists who community and within the NUJ. She work… if they needed that steady are not eligible to join the NUJ. They may was an enthusiastic member. income stream alongside whatever never be able or even want to overcome But the paper, when it pays at all, irregular stuff they did as actors.” the 50 per cent barrier. But they won’t offers only 10p a word (£100 per 1,000 Is our profession ready to be more give up journalism. words). Unless our temporary member flexible about its entry requirements? The union’s solution is temporary can persuade someone to give her It’s hard to imagine the NUJ going as membership for those ‘seeking to make enough work at decent rates (not an far as that Equity rep, but might it be a career in journalism’. We have more easy task these days), she must drop time to think about how we, too, than 350 temporary members. out of the union. address the issue of recruiting and Temporary membership comes with Similarly, a colleague in Manchester serving potential members in our limited responsibilities and support mourns the loss from her branch of an increasingly precarious working world?

theJournalist | 23 obituaries

TIM DAWSON self-mockery that put everyone at some inner wellspring of goodwill, incapacity and pain broke his their ease. so engaged his fellow members spirit. Maybe Covid isolation put Partly, I think, that came from his that we elected him to everything the tin lid on it — convivial pre-NUJ years in showbiz. In the in sight: branch chair, freelance togetherness had been his meat 1970s he schlepped UK’s length and industrial council, national and drink. breadth as drummer with some of executive council… Admitted to the Royal Free pub rock’s finest: The Count He loved chairing the branch… Hospital in Hampstead one more Bishops, The Rockets and, most and the branch loved being chaired time in October, he died of almost-famously, The Pleasers – see by Dave. He was such an inspiring, diabetes, pneumonia and sepsis. them on Cheggers Plays Pop at tone-setting examplar of grace and Dave’s friend of 40-years-plus, www.youtube.com/ decency – while keeping the best of The Pleasers’ singer/bass player Bo watch?v=dRHhrmGiHrs, plus order, naturally. Benham said: “Dave Rotchelle was adjacent YouTubes. However, by the time he was one of the most straight-talking, Once he’d hung up the mohair elected member of honour in 2016, intelligent, fair-minded, level- and gold lamé, he wandered into diabetes had cruelly robbed this headed, giving, secretive, talkative Dave professional photography in a drummer/photographer of clear and kindest individuals you could largely unreported period – but it eyesight and dexterity. Worst, the ever wish to meet.” Rotchelle did feature a summer job at lower half of his left leg had to be You can read a small avalanche Buckingham Palace. This lends amputated. of tributes from NUJers at “Remain calm,” would have been some intriguing possibilities to his He didn’t surrender. He worked www.londonfreelance.org/ Dave’s wise counsel to anyone favourite one-liner about how you like an SAS recruit to learn how to fl/2011obit.html and some photos inclined to rend garments on should never be a name-dropper: use his prosthesis and proved such of him from the London freelance hearing the terrible news of his “The Queen herself told me that.” an encouraging presence to fellow branch archive over the years at death. He said exactly that out loud Soon earning a solid living from amputees that the doctors asked www.londonfreelance. org/ when chairing a myriad of assorted the usual pick’n’mix of newspapers, him back several times to talk with fl/2011dave.html. NUJ meetings and it usually worked magazines, one-off commissions others about how to cope. a treat. and a longstanding residency at In the end though, despite Phil Sutcliffe He and his ever-battered London Press Club events, he joined the best efforts of his sister headgear purveyed a mild, the NUJ and London Freelance Trish and brother-in-law John, irrefutable authority via the sort of branch in 1998 and, propelled by friends and professional carers,

member of hyperlocal service Local matter how blunt he was” – leaves two brothers and 13 nieces News South Wales. Ken Smith. and nephews. Its multimedia platform Port “Mike was an enduring pillar of In his honour, his branch plans Talbot Magnet aimed to fill a local strength for the NUJ – a true to make donations to Action on news vacuum left as major comrade of the old school” – Hearing Loss and Médecins publishers reduced coverage of this Mike Witchell. Sans Frontières. significant Welsh industrial town. He was a humanitarian and Mike’s legacy includes the title, a internationalist who had solidarity Andy Pearson salute to Port Talbot’s proud steel and fairness stitched into his making history. beating red heart. NUJ colleagues paid tribute Mike’s fight with illness over his to him: final few months was as dogged as “Mike was a stalwart of the union one of his many arguments in for as far back as I can remember” favour of branch support for – Roger Butler. workers facing repression close to “We wouldn’t have had the home or oceans away. Mike Magnet without Mike – he was also His love for creative flair one of the ‘big seven’ on the remained strong. Even as he neared Burrows original board. He was the the end, he told anecdotes such as backbone of our NUJ branch for that about a visit to Hungary to NUJ honorary life member Mike many years” – Rae Howells. meet football great Ferenc Puskás Burrows has died at the age of 72. “Good man with a passion for and how he gave a fresh-faced A retired sports journalist, Mike rugby and committed NUJ young Welsh actor called Michael was a committed, long-serving and supporter. Remember fondly his Sheen a part in a film he loyal member of the Swansea and quiet wit” – Chris Peregrine. was producing. district branch. He was a former “Mike was a good man and solid A memorial celebration of Mike’s member of the Wales executive and trade unionist and socialist. He was rich and creative life will be held attended many delegate meetings. a typical Swansea man – to the when circumstances allow. In recent years Mike was – with point and no nonsense. Mike was Mike was the beloved best friend NUJ colleagues – a founder always worth listening to, no and soul comrade of Helen. He

theJournalist | 24 Obituary

Journalist Jan Morris was renowned for her travel books and news stories, including those written before her gender transition, says Paul Clements Jan Morris 1926-2020

an Morris, who died on memorably headlined by the November 20 2020 paper: ‘No news from Iceland’. aged 94, was a Morris said that he had cabled J renowned travel writer his story in ‘a moment of and journalist. cheerful idleness’ scarcely As James Morris, before transition in expecting them to print it. and sure enough, when I looked up at 1972, he was a correspondent with The His work was anthologised in the glass receptacle, there he was. There Times and Manchester Guardian. the Bedside Guardian in 1959, was to his movements a queer stiffness Morris was best known for his which led Alistair Cooke to or jerkiness of locomotion. He hardly old-fashioned scoop for The Times write: ‘It is pretty safe to say that looked at the courtroom – he had about the first conquest of Everest in Harvard and the London School nobody to look for – but even in his 1953 when Edmund Hillary and of Economics… will, in a few small gestures I thought I recognised Tenzing Norgay made it to the summit. decades, make the despatches the symptoms: somewhere inside him, With a large amount of cunning and of James Morris compulsory GERAINT LEWIS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO behind the new dark suit and the faint the help of Sherpa runners, Morris reading for any student.’ suggestions of defiance, Adolf used a coded message to get the news In April 1961, he covered the Adolf Eichmann was trembling.” down the mountain to Kathmandu and Eichmann war crimes trial in Later, as Jan Morris, she continued to back to London. It caused a sensation Jerusalem, which was attended by be in demand and reported on events and he became a celebrated figure, more than 400 reporters from news such as the fall of the Berlin Wall and known as ‘Morris of Everest’. organisations around the world. Morris He painted a the handover of Hong Kong. After this success, he was appointed linked his dispassionate reporting with Morris left full-time journalism to Times Middle East correspondent, fell the drama of the courtroom and portrait of ‘the write travel and history books. These in love with the Arab world and found painted a powerful portrait of the gallimaufry of the include a renowned trilogy on the it a place of political intrigue, tensions lawyers, defence counsel, translators, British empire, Pax Britannica (1968- and eternal squabbles. secretaries, policemen and ‘the press seething 1978), which she said was the artistic He left the paper in 1956 because gallimaufry of the press seething and “ and cultural centrepiece of her life. they would not allow him to publish grumbling and scribbling and making and grumbling Morris was always wary of any kind books and joined the Manchester half-embarrassed jokes in its seats’. and scribbling of state power or oligarchy. ‘Nothing is Guardian (1956-61). There he was part Then came his description of the more boring than a one-party state,’ of a journalistic coterie that included man on trial: “And there stood the and making half- she wrote about Lee Kuan Yew’s Geoffrey Moorhouse, Michael Frayn bullet-proof glass box, like a big embarrassed jokes’ Singapore in the 1970s. She had a and Michael Parkinson. Morris reported museum showcase – too big for a civet healthy dislike of authority, detesting from all five continents, becoming or a bird of paradise, too small for a officialdom, bureaucracy and the known as ‘correspondent to everywhere’. skeletonic dinosaur – which was the whole apparatus of hierarchy. While reporting on the 1956 Suez focus and fulcrum of it all… he slipped For aspiring journalists, a key book of crisis, he uncovered collusion between in silently, almost shyly, flanked by Morris’s reportage is A Writer’s World, Britain, France and Israel. Two years three policemen. No shudder ran 1950-2000 (Faber), a portrait of the later, in the spring of 1958, he went around the courtroom, for hardly seminal moments of the second half of non-stop from covering the Icelandic anybody noticed. ‘There he is,’ I heard a the 20th century. Cod War to the civil war in Algeria. rather self-confident English voice Even when there was nothing to somewhere behind my shoulder, rather Paul Clements edited Jan Morris: report, he still managed to file copy. as you sometimes hear mourners Around the World in Eighty Years, From Reykjavik, he wrote a piece pointing out rich relatives at a funeral: published by Seren in 2006

theJournalist | 25 and finally...

Why isn’t there more interest in Assange?

Chris Proctor would like to see the story on the big screen

ow does this sound as exchange between Assange’s lawyers advisedly. All that training to end up in a pitch for a high- and the US spokespeople about likely a foreign country listening to an budget film? conditions in US jails if they lay their Australian on the loo. H A man determined hands on him. I stress that the film’s humour would to expose criminal “Will my client be held in solitary not be confined to the lavatorial. At activities by the US government finds a confinement if he is extradited to times, it would soar into Samuel Deep Throat source who provides him the US?” Beckett-like absurdity. Did Sam with classified files. After various “He will not.” ever think of having an Australian newspapers publish them, he puts “Will he be allowed out of his facing a UK court accused of infringing another cache of genuine information prison cell, which is the size of a car US laws for publishing articles in online. The US security services close parking space?” European newspapers? in. He takes refuge in a foreign “Yes. For an hour. Every day.” Or having a state deciding which embassy. The CIA hires a third party to “And will he be allowed to converse truths were acceptable and which not? enter the building and plant bugs to with other prisoners?” It’s like a burglar arguing that CCTV record his conversations. The man is “No, he will not.” evidence was not to his liking as it sprung from the embassy by UK police “You wouldn’t on reflection consider could reflect badly on his image if he and placed in solitary confinement. that to be solitary confinement?” was seen, jemmy in hand and swag bag The US demands he is handed over to “Nope.” over his shoulder, engaged in the act them and a gripping trial commences, And if that exchange doesn’t tickle of pilfering. featuring celebrities and experts across you, there is still fun to be had with the And what about not allowing the the globe. gent who, acting for the CIA, popped defendant, Mr Assange, to explain why Upon this trial hang vital issues of into the Ecuadorian embassy where he’d done what he did? There is press freedom, international law and Assange was seeking asylum, to install a precedent for this, when Daniel the fate of a man under threat of life few bugs. Obviously the US government Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon papers imprisonment… wanted to listen in when he spoke to his It really is absurd that helped to get Nixon impeached. Not bad, eh? Well worth a punt? lawyers. Only reasonable. He did exactly what Assange is It seems not. This scenario has been The bug man, however, failed to put that Donald Trump accused of, but he’s now feted as a playing for real in UK courts for a bug in the bog. He explained that he spent four years champion of freedom as opposed to 18 months, featuring Julian Assange. didn’t think Assange would brief his lying to the public being banged up in Belmarsh. Ellsberg Far from being accepted as a pitch for a lawyers in the privy. This excuse was “ told the UK court he wasn’t allowed to blockbuster, it seldom makes a given short shrift, and he was sent back as US president include any justification in his defence paragraph in the papers. The problem to the embassy to complete the job. to the Espionage Act charges. is that it is not sexy. The foolish fellow had not seen the while Julian Maybe, like Ellsberg, Assange will ‘Sexy’ is Kim Kardashian’s lockdown need for a tap in the toilet. emerge a hero if the UK extradites him party island, Matthew McConaughey’s For the film, I’d like to build up the Assange wastes and after he completes his US jail term. thoughts about the ‘chemistry’ character of the person paid by the US away in a UK prison Although, as the Americans are between Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt, diplomatic service to listen to the pushing for a 175-year stretch, he’s or the riveting tale of a man who tapes. An educated man with for telling them unlikely to enjoy his new celebrity. changed his forenames from Donald qualifications in international the truth It really is absurd that Donald Trump Jacob to Jacob Tiberius. relations, he finds himself employed in spent four years lying to the public as It’s a great shame. Some of the a sound-proofed room in Grosvenor US president while Julian Assange dialogue I’ve put together for the pitch Square, carefully attentive to Assange’s wastes away in a UK prison for telling is almost Marx Brothers – like the movements, and I use that word them the truth. 26 | theJournalist ” Moved house or changed your WORKING email address? FOR POVERTY WAGES

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FREELANCE RIGHTS CHARTER Fair deal for freelances

The Covid-19 Trades union collective Work free from pressure crisis has further bargaining to improve to operate on a PAYE terms and conditions basis, or to incorporate, marginalised already 1 6 for freelances side by side or work through umbrella vulnerable freelances with staff companies working across the media industry – Fair written contracts Equal health and safety this NUJ Freelance free from the threat protections including Rights Charter 2of disadvantage for parity of training, asserting their rights 7 demands improved insurances and security protections and provision benefits regardless of Respect for their creators’ rights and employment status. Fair fees and terms, and 3unwaivable moral rights prompt payments Support our call 8 for a Fair Deal for Equalised rights with employees including; Dignity and respect Freelances, where all sick pay; maternity, at work, free from freelances have the 4 bullying, harassment or paternity and parental leave; 9 right to: unemployment benefit; full discrimination, with parity of access to benefits and social access to grievance procedures securities Equal professional Choice over how they rights, including freelance and are taxed, 10the right to protect 5with an end to advance sources, seek information and tax payments uphold ethical standards