MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS

WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2021

No place like home... Remote working, love it or loathe it Contents

Main feature 12 All well on the home front? Pros and cons of remote working News o, after a very long time, life is 3 Plan for gag on journalists beginning to feel like it is returning to a semblance of normality. Reporters treated like spies Social restrictions imposed in the face 4 BBC staff ‘pushed to the limit’ of the pandemic are lifting and people NUJ warns over staff morale Sare venturing out more. Some are going back into offices that have been deserted for nearly 18 5 Journalists as spyware target months. But the probability is that not all of us will go back to Governments’ plans revealed working in exactly the same way as we did before the pandemic. 6 ‘Mean-spirited’ Newsquest Enforced homeworking has changed the shape of work for good Anger over ‘fire and rehire’ in the industries where it can operate effectively. Our cover feature looks at the pros and cons of homeworking, 7 Channel 4 up for sale? “drawing on an extensive survey of the book industry carried Consultation on privatisation out by the union’s Oxford branch. Working from home is not ideal for everyone. While it offers some people much-needed Features flexibility and a release from time-consuming commuting, it can also impose isolation on others, and it can be tricky if your 10 Spotlight on Exeter home isn’t suited to converting to a work space. In our ‘And The media-friendly city Finally’ column Chris Proctor also looks at the ergonomics of 14 Remembering lives working at home. Pandemic highlights obituaries Another flicker of good news is that recruitment seems on the rise in parts of our industry, particularly at Reach as the biggest 16 Inside Out publisher starts hiring again. Looking back to outside broadcasts Here’s hoping that the feel better factor lasts beyond the summer. Regulars 21 Technology 22 Obituaries 25 And finally... 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] Warners Cover picture www.warners.co.uk Dublin office [email protected] Stephen Collins Distribution GB Mail ” ISSN: 0022-5541 www.gb-mail.co.uk

02 | theJournalist news Courts could treat journalists inbrief... RUSBRIDGER TO EDIT PROSPECT MAGAZINE as spies under planned laws Alan Rusbridger, the former editor-in-chief of the Guardian, has The union’s submission to the Home Office been appointed the next editor of states: Prospect, the monthly current • The threat of prosecution has been used affairs magazine. He succeeds Tom against NUJ members in an attempt to silence Clark, who has been editor since public interest journalism. ‘The union has 2016. Rusbridger was editor-in- • There should be explicit limits within any chief of the Guardian from 1995 to new legislation to restrict extra-territorial pressed the 2015, taking it from being a printed offences in regard to journalists and media Government to paper only to one of the most used organisations abroad. and recognised news websites. • New legislation should not remove the introduce a public requirement for prosecutors to prove that an “ JOURNALISTS could be treated like spies and unauthorised disclosure was damaging. interest defence SALES FALL AT the Government would be able to block more • Whistleblowers and journalists acting in in law REGIONAL PUBLISHER information under plans being considered to the public interest should not be subjected to Sales at regional publisher Midland overhaul official secrets laws. increased prison sentences. News Association fell by almost a NUJ analysis of the Government’s proposed • Journalism should not be equated with third last year because of the legislation finds that they conflate journalism, espionage and media employees should not impact of the pandemic. Its biggest espionage and ‘hostile activity’. There also be criminalised under any future espionage paper the Express and Star also lost appears to be the intention to increase the laws. its position as England’s largest risks and penalties for journalists and media News organisations have also warned that paid-for regional daily last year. It organisations acting in the public interest. the media’s work is under threat. The Sun has reported sales of £17.8 million, The union has pressed the Government to said that its exclusive on the former health down 31 per cent from £26 million introduce a public interest defence in law for secretary Matt Hancock’s relationship with an in the previous year. . journalists investigating and reporting on state aide would not have been possible under the wrongdoing. intended legislation. KEATING ACCEPTS HACKING DAMAGES Fears for parliamentary coverage Ronan Keating, the former Boyzone singer, has accepted substantial CROSS-PARTY concern has been that a 40 per cent reduction in the staff work in parliament. It could also phone-hacking damages from News expressed about cuts to the unit which in the BBC Regional Political Unit will mean no specialist political reporter Group Newspapers, publisher of the supplies local BBC TV and radio stations mean contributions to debates from will be available to explain the key now-defunct News of the World with news and clips of their MP local backbench MPs will no longer be political events to a local radio and The Sun. Mr Keating had said speaking about local issues. covered to the same extent. The cuts audience for breakfast programmes, that he was suspicious about the MPs who have signed an early day could lead tofewer stories being the most listened to broadcasts of origins of stories about him that motion about the intended cuts fear spotted and less scrutiny of the routine the day. appeared between 1996 and 2011..

Rolling Stone British style Irish code of practice rejected Rolling Stone is soon to have a dedicated British edition more than 50 THE UNION’S Irish executive workers”. He added: “The years after Mick Jagger first tried to start council has dismissed the NUJ is currently seeking to proposed new code of vindicate the rights of workers a UK version of the iconic US magazine. practice on employment in RTÉ, where a review of Stream Publishing, which publishes LGBTQ status as “a tired old solution bogus, self-employed magazine Attitude, has signed an exclusive which will not solve the contracts has not resolved the licensing deal with Rolling Stone owner problem of bogus issue of retrospective rights of Penske Media Corporation to launch the employment contracts.” workers wrongly misclassified brand in print and online in the UK. The It has urged robust as self-employed workers over launches are planned for the autumn and legislation rather than what many years. Against this seven jobs will be created. Rolling Stone is a Irish secretary Séamus Dooley backdrop it is shocking to monthly publication in the US, but the described as “a feeble and read a code which fails to frequency of the UK title hasn’t inadequate response dressed recognise the genuine losses been confirmed. up in fancy words and breezy suffered by misclassified photographs of happy workers.”

theJournalist | 03 news Longer hours and job cuts at BBC leave staff ‘pushed to the limit’

THE NUJ has warned about staff morale at the BBC following “Staff, many of whom worked flat out during the pandemic the publication of the corporation’s annual report. and were rewarded with a pay freeze over the past 12 months, The report for 2020-21 shows that the BBC has reduced its are rightly aggrieved.” workforce by more than 1,200, equivalent to six per cent. The report said: “Time spent with the BBC went up to Senior manager numbers were also down by more than five 18 hours two minutes, from 17 hours 45 minutes, on average, Staff, many of whom per cent, and spending on top stars reduced by 10 per cent. per week. Over 28 million people came to the BBC for evening The BBC said it had made £272 million in annual savings (up entertainment on an average day... In a year of complex news, worked flat out during from £199 million in the previous year), bringing its cumulative as the UK battled the global coronavirus pandemic, audiences the pandemic and savings since 2017/18 to £890 million this financial for the BBC News at Six were the year. In 2021/22, it plans to largest in almost two decades. were rewarded with raise that total to more than BBC One’s 6.30pm bulletin in “ £950 million. Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland a pay freeze over the Paul Siegert, NUJ national and the English regions is the past 12 months, are broadcasting organiser, said: UK’s most watched “The BBC is clearly doing many news programme.” rightly aggrieved things right – and it’s good to Research from accountancy hear that the gender pay gap is firm KPMG showed the corporation delivered £2.63 of narrowing and that the salaries for some of the top stars have direct economic impact for every £1 spent with 50 per cent of Paul Siegert reduced. that occurring outside London, compared to a sector average of NUJ national “But the recent staff survey shows the BBC is far from a 20 per cent. broadcasting organiser happy place to work. Staff say they don’t believe recruitment is It won more than 130 awards since last April, including: fair and transparent or that their careers are likely to progress. • 31 out of 48 BAFTAs “The reduction of the workforce by six per cent while not • 16 out of 23 broadcast awards, including Channel of the reducing the amount of output means there are now fewer Year for BBC Two. staff doing the same amount or work. Staff are overworked • 16 out 25 gold wins at the Audio and Radio Industry and suffering from burnout. Many journalists say they are Awards, from best news coverage to best music breakfast show being pushed to the limit. to best local station.

national executive council, journalists everywhere to do Remembering Veronica Guerin and Séamus Dooley, their job. Veronica was a NUJ members marked the behalf of the union by her member of honour. Irish secretary. brave freelance journalist anniversary of the murder of former Sunday Independent NUJ representatives Dooley said: “Veronica’s who was devoted to her work Sunday Independent colleague Martin Fitzpatrick, included Cearbhailld death was an assault on at the Sunday Independent. journalist and union who is chair of the Dublin O’Siochain from the media freedom and, as “Her enthusiasm, member Veronica Guerin. (Newspapers) branch, and Irish executive council, journalists, we honour her by commitment and courage A wreath was laid on Mary Curtin, who is a Fran McNulty from the standing up for the right of remain an inspiration.”

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04 | theJournalist news Journalists targeted for inbrief... JEWISH CHRONICLE PAYS DAMAGES possible surveillance The Jewish Chronicle has fully apologised and paid substantial AT LEAST 180 journalists, including the editor libel damages to journalist and of the Financial Times, were selected as campaigner Marc Wadsworth potential targets of surveillance by following an article which alleged governments around the world using a that Mr Wadsworth was involved spyware surveillance tool called Pegasus. Pegasus is a malware with a group of Labour members The targeting was revealed in a report by which intended to intimidate Jewish Forbidden Stories - a Paris-based worldwide that infects iPhones Labour activists. The paper said it collaborative group of journalists and media and Android devices fully acknowledged that the groups which aims to protect media freedom. allegations were entirely untrue. Pegasus is a malware that infects iPhones “ and Android devices to enable operators of the tool to extract messages, photos and on governments to enshrine in domestic law GUILTY VERDICTS emails, record calls and secretly activate the inviolability of journalists’ AFTER BLOCKADE microphones. It has been developed by the communications. Six Extinction Rebellion protesters Israeli cybersurveillance company NSO and Among others who have been the targets of were found guilty of obstructing sold to a number of clients, including states the global spying operations are human rights the highway after a blockade of the across the world. defenders, political protestors, lawyers, Newsprinters plant in Hertfordshire The NUJ and the International Federation of diplomats and heads of state. last year. Judge Sally Fudge at St Journalists have condemned all attempts to It is thought that Roula Khalaf, editor of the Albans magistrates court said that interfere with journalists’ private FT, was targeted for surveillance by the United while the demonstration was communications, encourage journalists to use Arab Emirates in 2018 when she was deputy ‘peaceful’ it had a significant impact

extra vigilance to protect their data and call editor. VIA GETTY IMAGES JOEL SAGET/AFP on the businesses and caused newspapers to lose an estimated £1 million. investigating the 2006 Dutch crime reporter killed disappearance of teenager REACH HIRES MORE AN AWARD-winning Dutch hailed as a hero for his work threatened for his Natalee Holloway in Aruba. SPORTS JOURNALISTS journalist who exposed on behalf of the families of involvement in criminal cases. Tony Sheldon, chair of the Reach, the UK’s largest publisher, is criminal and drugs gangs victims of crime. People De Vries has worked for De NUJ’s Netherlands branch, hiring 76 sports journalists. It said died last month days after queued early in the morning Telegraaf, Panorama said: “NUJ members are the jobs would enable more being shot in Amsterdam as to file past his coffin which magazine, Algemeen shocked and angry at the in-depth coverage of some of the he left a TV studio. was displayed in a theatre. Dagblad and ran his own TV murder of Peter R de Vries biggest football clubs. It said it Thousands turned out at a It is believed that he had crime programme. He won and stand shoulder to would build on projects such as public memorial for reporter previously had police an international Emmy Award shoulder with our Dutch and Liverpool Echo’s Blood Red podcast. Peter R DeVries who was protection after being in 2008 for his work international colleagues.“

Harri quits after LGBT+ pressure on taking the knee Broadcaster Guto Harri resigned from government GB News after he was suspended for taking the knee during a discussion about racism THE NUJ has signed a TUC letter criticising the Government over towards England footballers. GB News its inaction to address the inequality experienced by the LGBT+ had apologised after Harri, a former BBC community who face discrimination at work. The letter, signed by Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary, correspondent and advisor to Boris Johnson and Ann Galpin, co-chair of the TUC disabled workers’ committee when he was London mayor, made the gesture. to Liz Truss, women and equalities minister, says: The broadcaster said it had breached its “We were dismayed that you have jettisoned the 2018 LGBT standards. In his resignation letter, Harri asked Action Plan, which was based on evidence from more than the organisation to “please explain how that 100,000 LGBT+ people. And we were disappointed at the [Farage’s stance] does not breach editorial decision to disband the LGBT Advisory Panel. standards but I did”. Nigel “Nearly two in five LGBT workers have been harassed or Farage had said he wouldn’t discriminated against by a colleague. A quarter have been take the knee for anyone. discriminated against by their manager, and around one in seven by a client or patient.” ATHENA PICTURE AGENCY LTD / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

theJournalist | 05 news Anger mounts at Newsquest in over 'mean-spirited' fire and rehire PRESSURE is growing on duty of care to journalists and “We believe that the “Our members throughout Newsquest to end its practice journalism at the centre. actions of Newsquest in Newsquest are appalled and of firing journalists and “The practice of fire and Oxford are detrimental and also bemused as to why the rehiring them on worse rehire has been roundly damaging to regional company is choosing to take terms – especially at the condemned by trade unions journalism and that such an extreme measure as The fact that this Oxford Mail. and politicians, has no place Mr Walker should practise fire and rehire against their The NUJ chapel at the within Newsquest and should ‘charity begins at home’ and Oxford colleagues for such a action is being Oxford newspaper said: “This be banned. immediately end this small saving. taken against local Newsquest group chapel “The company is risking its condemns the use of fire reputation with the local “journalists sullies the and rehire tactics at the community by deploying award made to the Oxford Mail to force through disproportionate measures to cuts to members’ terms achieve so little and the fact chief executive for his and conditions. that this controversial action “Stripping journalists of “We also note that chief unethical employment is being taken against services to regional bank holiday payments in the executive Henry Faure practice in his company.” hard-working local journalists journalism wake of a year when they Walker was awarded an MBE The chapel is pressing the sullies the award made to the have pulled out all the in this year’s Queen’s publisher to withdraw chief executive for his services stops to serve their local Birthday Honours List for dismissal notices and work to regional journalism. Chris Morley communities is disgraceful services to ‘regional with the union to resolve the “There can be no legitimate NUJ organiser and and has piled stress and journalism and charity’. dispute and also address place for fire and rehire tactics Newsquest group anxiety onto a newsroom In accepting the award, staffing and workload issues and our group chapel urges chapel coordinator already facing reduced staffing Mr Walker said: ‘The real in Oxford. the company to engage in levels and unacceptably long recognition should go to the Chris Morley, NUJ Northern proper negotiations to resolve working hours. amazing people that work in and Midlands regional matters honourably rather “The treatment of staff in local news publishing across organiser and Newsquest than using this depressingly Oxford symbolises a failed the UK.’ group chapel coordinator, said: mean-spirited action.”

collection we have ever New home for Hebrides history received. We are overwhelmed with RETIRED freelance journalist Butt of Lewis to Barra – an photographs, negatives and gratitude to Bill.” Bill Lucas of Stornoway in area of 1200 square miles transparencies – as well as Lucas started his the Hebrides, an NUJ life – by car, ferry and air. He tapes for the BBC. Major journalistic career on his member, made the local provided a news service to all stories as well as official home town’s paper, the headlines when he donated the national and regional reports of some major Hamilton Advertiser. After his extensive Hebridean papers, trade and technical inquires are also included. national service, he moved 1961 to set up his freelance Press Service archive to the journals, magazines, and Malcolm Macdonald, to the Stornoway Gazette, agency. In 2005, he was Stornoway Historical Society. radio and television stations. chair of the Stornoway then spent three years on awarded the Barron Trophy, For 50 years, Lucas covered The archive contains more Historical Society, said: The Scotsman before which recognises a lifetime the Western Isles from the than 3,000 images – “This is the most remarkable returning the Stornoway in achievement in journalism.

'Endemic' abuse leads Reach to create safety editor role

NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER Reach is searching media platforms about cases of abuse and Reach’s management decided to create the for an online safety editor, a new position campaign for action to address the problem role after a survey of more than 550 staff believed to be the first of its kind in Britain. in general. showed the extent of online abuse. The remit will be to tackle ‘endemic’ abuse The editor will ensure Reach’s online abuse The move came as the Media Lawyers and harassment of its journalists. policies are followed and also support staff Association published Online Harassment and Reach, which publishes the Mirror, Express who are victims. They will also develop Abuse: a Legal Guide for Journalists in England and many regional newspapers and websites, training for employees on how to deal with and Wales, which can be downloaded from said the appointee would liaise with social online abuse. https://medialawyersassociation.org/news-2.

06 | theJournalist news Auction block beckons for inbrief... SUBSCRIBERS TO THE ECONOMIST RISE 9% Channel 4 after 40 years The Economist has reported a nine per cent increase in subscribers in CHANNEL 4’s near 40 years in public the year to the end of March. The ownership appears to be nearing the end rise takes the total to 1.12 million after the Government announced plans to sell However, revenues at the the broadcaster. Economist Group fell three per cent Oliver Dowden, the culture secretary It's hard to see any to £310.3 million partly because of (pictured right), said there would be a the decline in events revenues. consultation on proposed privatisation, in a justification for move that would mark the end of an era in privatising Channel 4 British broadcasting. other than ideology BUZZFEED LISTS ON Paul Siegert, NUJ national broadcasting “ US STOCK MARKET organiser, said: Buzzfeed is listing on the US stock “It’s hard to see any justification for distinctive programming and serve diverse market through a merger with 890 privatising Channel Four other than ideology. audiences across the UK. Unlike other Paul Siegart, NUJ 5th Avenue Partners, an acquisition Channel 4 has achieved what it was asked to broadcasters it is required to reinvest its profits broadcasting officer company. Buzzfeed is valued at $1.5 do and has proved a hit with viewers. So, if it in new shows. billion. As part of the deal, isn’t broke, why is the government proposing Mr Dowden said that privatisation would Buzzfeed which also owns the the fix of privatising it? Four years ago, the ensure Channel 4 kept “its place at the heart HuffPost, is to buy the speciality Government said it would continue to be of British broadcasting” and allowed it to publisher Complex Networks.This owned by the public and it should honour that adapt to audiences drifting away from year, Buzzfeed forecasts that the promise.” traditional television channels in favour of combined group will have a Channel 4, which broadcasts its own news, streaming services. turnover of $521 million. is editorially independent but has been owned A swift consultation period could mean by the state since it was established created in draft legislation on privatisation being

1982. It operates with a remit to commission published by the autumn. PHOTO STOCK UWE DEFFNER / ALAMY KEVIN PALMER AND DERBY BRANCH In the last edition of The Journalist the reporting of the union’s delegate Kidnap attempt on Iranian journalist meeting accidentally assigned Kevin THE ATTEMPTED kidnapping Persian service. journalists based in this harassment and abuse they Palmer to the new newly created of an Iranian-American The intended target of the country live in fear that have to live with. Their Leeds and West Yorkshire branch. journalist in New York has kidnapping plot was Masih what happened in New York families are also constantly Kevin is in fact chair of Derby and increased fears for the safety Alinejad, who reports and could happen to them,” said targeted and used as Burton branch. Kevin had spoken in of the Iranian press in the campaigns on human rights the NUJ’s broadcasting weapons against them. And support of a motion tabled by Leeds UK, particularly those issues in Iran. organiser, Paul Siegert. all just because they are and West Yorkshire. We apologise for reporting for the BBC “Everyday, Iranian “That’s on top of the daily journalists doing their job." the mistake.

The Sun sees its value drop to £0 TUC call on Long Covid News Group Newspapers, publisher of The Sun titles, has reduced the balance LONG Covid should be • More than nine in 10 (95 sheet value of the news paper to nil, down from recognised as an per cent) have been left with occupational disease to give ongoing symptoms. £112 million in 2019. The group reported a loss workers access to legal • A majority had of £201 million on sales of £324 million for the protections and experienced side effects year ended June 2020. Damages and legal fees compensation, the TUC has including brain fog (72 per for claims of phone hacking at the now closed said. cent), shortness of breath (70 News of the World cost £52. 3 million last year Its call came after more than per cent), difficulty which was nearly double the amount in 2019. 3,500 workers responded to its concentrating (62 per cent) News Group Newspapers is part of survey on the impact of long and memory problems (54 per Rupert Murdoch’s News UK, which Covid on daily working lives. cent). publishes The Times stable The survey found that: • Over half (52 per cent) had of publications. • Nearly three in 10 (29 per experienced some form of cent) have had symptoms discrimination or disadvantage lasting longer than a year. due to their condition.

theJournalist | 07 Online activism Clicking into action

update and support branches about The pandemic has led to better use of technology and the delegate meeting and what’s been going on with motions. In that respect, this is bringing us together, says Chris Merriman it has enabled me to be more accessible to members, which is important to me. “In-person meetings fatigue me far s we crawl, blinking, convenient to invite speakers from all more quickly than online ones, so I can back into the light after over the UK and, in a couple of cases, participate and follow much better two years of restrictions abroad. In both cases, it’s much easier online, as well as fitting more in, A that have, at times, for people to commit an hour of their because I don’t need to travel. proved more difficult time when they don’t have to factor in Geographical “The opportunities to engage more, to follow than the instructions for an travel and accommodation.” on councils and committees and with Ikea Wørrdrobe, the world has been “Edinburgh freelance attracted barriers, such as the members directly put me in a better transformed. It’s time to take stock. several new regular attenders during expense and time it position to be elected as vice-president. It’s not that there’s been a quantum the pandemic, in part because we’ve “As someone who advocates for more leap in technology since 2019 – it’s us upped our frequency from monthly to “takes to travel, were disabled people being in leadership who have changed, forced to embrace weekly, something that would have eliminated, and we roles, it’s really important for me to technology that passed us by before. In been too costly and inconvenient if we have this platform to do more for our 2014, I wrote an article about the 50th weren’t online. On many occasions, it appealed to a much disabled members and challenge the anniversary of the first video call, and also seems to have encouraged a better inequality that disabled people questioned society’s reluctance (at that gender balance.” wider group experience.” point) to embrace it. How things change. Training too has moved online to of learners Some of our number have always The pandemic has proved to the rest great success. Rachel Howells, training been happy to travel from wherever of the world what journalists have project manager for NUJ Wales they’re based down to ‘that’ London for always known – you don’t need to be explains: “We found traditional meetings but many more people are sitting in an office to do a brilliant job. geographical barriers, such as the able to take part in union activity Whether it’s conducting on-air additional expense and time it takes to online.. That matters. We’re stronger interviews over Zoom or an editorial travel from north Wales to south, were together, especially given the variety of meeting on Slack, we’ve been forced to eliminated, and we appealed to a much issues facing our profession and the rethink our processes and it hasn’t wider group of learners from across range of people affected. turned out nearly as bad as it seemed Wales, including people of colour and By moving online, we’ve taken away when we were first being told to stay those with disabilities. We are now the biggest obstacles to engaging at home. building on these successes and members – time, distance and the The NUJ has also been forced to beginning to offer our first human condition (the part that says adapt. I’d be the first to put my hand courses delivered in the that the spirit is willing, but there’s up and say that I’ve not always been medium of Welsh.” something good on TV later). Zoom and the most active union member over Our recently elected its ilk have their own challenges but, in the years and generally only pipe up if vice-president Natasha 2021, things are advanced enough for us my boss tries to pull a fast one. Yet, Hirst, who has a hearing to consider a hybrid future. since the first lockdown, we’ve been disability, agrees: In these interesting times, where holding branch meetings over Zoom. “I’ve also been outlets are closing or slashing their Voting has been possible through the able to roster, the role of the NUJ has never magic of the interweb. This should be been more important, and we should our legacy of the pandemic, because it all be glad that we live in an age where has seen engagement with the NUJ technology has advanced enough that growing steadily. we’ve not only survived but have Mark Fisher, secretary of the actually become stronger as a result. Edinburgh freelance branch, shares his experiences, which are echoed in branches up and down the country: “Going online has had two clear advantages. It has encouraged attendance from members who live further afield and it

NED JOLLIFFE has made it

08 | theJournalist viewpoint

When stealing your own words can be a minefield

We should be able to copy not waste, says Rahila Gupta

efore we consider the She then expressed the hope that If I have already crafted a succinct ethics of self- those changes would be enough to paragraph about the ‘facts’, why can I plagiarism, we need to pacify the senior editor who had been not copy and paste it? Why reinvent B ask whether such a considering taking the article down. the wheel? thing even exists, I was told that up to 200 words It is not something I would put in given that plagiarism means theft (of self-plagiarism) would have quote marks because it is not an and, in theory, you cannot steal been acceptable. Surely this is an opinion where I need the precise from yourself. arbitrary number? In the article of wording of the speaker. If I had any doubts, they were soon 800 words, that would be nearly a I could insert a hyperlink to another put to rest when I was accused of quarter, which would surely be article I have written about it but that self-plagiarism recently. My cheeks too much. is only useful when I am referring to burn with shame even as I recall it. As Christine Buckley, editor of something in passing and I want to I wrote a 4,000-plus word article The Journalist, notes, if she is paying give readers the opportunity to find in 2019 for a digital magazine on good money for an article she expects out more. whether ‘crip’ theory – riding on the a journalist to produce fresh material If my current article is focused on, coattails of queer theory – empowered not simply regurgitate copy published say, the restorative principles of their disability activism or not, using my elsewhere. I get that. But what are the justice system, I need to provide a personal experience of bringing up a boundaries? description of the political structure so disabled child. It is a particular problem for readers can follow my argument. In it was a 400-word section on campaigning journalists like myself, if I Self-plagiarism seems, unfairly to my battles to get my son into want to spread the word and reach new me, to apply more to the act of writing mainstream school. I lifted it from an audiences for an issue that I am than speaking. I use my articles article with a completely different passionate about. frequently as the raw material for angle that I had written in 2012 for Ever since I visited Rojava in 2016 in my speeches in public debates openDemocracy, which was about the Northeastern Syria where a women’s about the subject and nobody raises difficulty of expressing grief publicly revolution is taking place behind the an eyebrow. over the loss of ability, when disability battle lines with ISIS and now Turkey, I There are two further compulsions politics requires you to value disability have been writing about it as that make self-plagiarism so attractive. at all times. extensively as possible to counter what First, I hate waste of all kinds (I put A few days after the article was appears to be a deliberate silence. that down to my Indian upbringing): published, the editor contacted me to While the angle may by different old clothes are torn into kitchen rags; say that this act of self-plagiarism had in each article or be pegged to elastic bands from store-bought spring been brought to their attention. some newsy development, there If I have already onions are used as stationery; and I I went through a mental list of is a core part of it that needs to crafted a succinct reuse words that may otherwise vanish enemies who had enough time and be repeated. into obscurity. vindictiveness to trawl the internet and A different readership needs the paragraph about Don’t we all use secondhand words? report me. facts: the structure of democratic the ‘facts’, why can Is self-plagiarism simply an argument I felt so humiliated that I could confederalism; direct democracy from “ about syntax, about recycling the same think of nothing else for the next the neighbourhood commune up to I not copy and paste order of words? few days. city level with a co-presidentship rule Second, I can’t let go of my faves. To add insult, the editor then rewrote that gives equal power, presence and it? Why reinvent They have to be born again. My twitter that section by changing a few words opportunity to women; the raft of the wheel? biog says, ‘I wring the fabric of my life here and there as if I couldn’t be relied women-friendly laws; the commitment to produce words. They could so easily upon to rewrite it myself. Did those to ecological sustainability; and equal have been tears.’ cosmetic changes make it OK to repeat representation for racial and Remember, you didn’t read it the substantive content? religious minorities. here first. ” theJournalist | 09 working life Exeter

Ruth Addicott 15 journalists work across the print edition and website talks to DevonLive.com, around 10 of whom live in Exeter or just journalists about what it’s like outside. All staff are now working remotely. It was the cuts in local newspapers that prompted former to live and work in Exeter Express & Echo editor Marc Astley to look for other revenue streams when he left the paper in 2011. “I spent the last three years of my career making people redundant and that made cream tea one minute, a grisly murder the me miserable,” he says. next… it might sound like a scene from Recognising the situation wasn’t about to change, he set Agatha Christie but, for journalists in the up independent crowdsourced website The Exeter Daily as West Country, it’s not far from the truth. ‘an antidote to hard news’ and the ‘courts, crime and crashes’ Spotlight on... Spotlight A As an ITV regional reporter, based in Exeter, covered by DevonLive. He now has 12 websites under the Richard Lawrence has covered it all from the collapse of Flybe Daily banner, covering Devon and Eastbourne, as well as to unexploded Second World War bombs to Dartmoor ponies. lifestyle, travel, property, parenting and pets sections. Lawrence moved to Devon from the Midlands in 1991 and is Eighty per cent of the content comes from people who use one of two ITV reporters in Exeter, based in the same building the sites – the rest they curate from sources such as press as the Met Office. releases or write themselves. “Devon was always a holiday destination for us so, in some “On an average day, there will be at least six stories written respects I’ve always felt I’m on holiday down here, whether to be published and photographs sent too. I give it a check, that’s doing something hideous or something of interest,” he hit the publish button and up it goes,” he says. says. “We try and celebrate the region – all the colour and life “They may not be Pulitzer prize winning but they’re in the West Country, from your Dartmoor ponies to murders perfectly well written and legible and, most importantly, it’s and arguments over cream teas.” good local community grass roots content.” While the West Country escaped the worst of the crisis, the The pandemic worked in his favour. With a lot of pandemic still brought new ways of working. advertising moving online and people taking more of an “The NHS weren’t very cooperative to our requests, even interest in their local community, revenue increased by simple answers to simple questions, so we did very little 10-15 per cent, prompting him to launch six sites in the last intensive care unit type stuff,” says Lawrence. year alone. Some interviews were done over Zoom, but he also got out “It took a while to get the model right – we tweaked it as we and about, looking for light-hearted stories as well to balance went along – and we’re now in a position where the Exeter the doom and gloom. The difficulty was trying not to alienate site is a strong revenue generator, Devon is coming up close the viewers by being in too many locations. “You don’t want behind and the lifestyle sites are generating cash as well,” to be stood there talking about the beach when your viewers he says. are stuck at home,” he observes. Astley absorbs the initial costs and the website editors work Although Exeter is a rapidly expanding city, jobs in for free until their site starts to generate an income and they journalism are in steady decline. The local newspaper, the do a revenue split. Express & Echo (published by Reach), moved from daily His biggest decision now is whether to grow organically,

SAM FROST SAM to weekly in 2011 and is now based in Plymouth. Around albeit slowly, or look to invest. (He has already had

10 | theJournalist working life

– that’s part of the BBC’s and content for corporate several other crowdsourced Local opportunities commitment to encouraging clients. They work with websites, believes there is and developing new talent.” the BBC and charities such “a massive opportunity” BBC goes to college produce output for BBC as the MS Society and hire to take the model further. The BBC is opening a Spotlight on BBC 1, Radio Independent films freelances on a project basis. “In terms of subject matter newsroom inside Exeter Devon and the BBC News Preston Street Films and geography, there is College this year. Mark website. Journalism and media is one of a number of No limit to absolutely no limit to what Grinnell, editor of BBC Radio students at Exeter College small independent community news we can do, but each site takes Devon, says: “BBC journalists will also pitch story ideas companies creating Marc Astley, founder of investment and a while to working in the office will and have mentoring sessions videos, documentaries The Exeter Daily and generate money.”

approaches.) “I’m surprised not more people are doing what “People can enjoy that The move would enable services like XpressionFM, the we’re doing,” he says. “It’s a no-brainer.” rare thing – a work/life Exeter University station, and Spark Radio at Exeter College The appetite for local news is also driving Radio Exe, the balance. Meetings are a to go digital too. only commercial radio station broadcasting from Exeter. cup of coffee on the So what is Exeter like as a place to live? Lifestyle magazines Managing director Paul Nero describes the impact of the quayside, weekends are Exeter Living (owned by Bath-based publisher Media Clash) pandemic on Radio Exe as ‘catastrophic’. spent walking along the and Exeter Life (published by Archant) offer a glimpse of not The station launched a crowdfunding campaign and BBC River Exe, taking in a only the scenery but also the sense of community. Radio Devon (based in Plymouth) stepped in to provide news pint along the way, and Although the pandemic has seen some big restaurant bulletins. All the staff, bar one presenter, were furloughed beaches and green chains collapse, it has paved the way for independents. and the station relied on volunteers and freelance help to countryside are nearby.” “The entrepreneurial spirit in Exeter runs deep and maintain the service. Harriet Noble, innovative indies are popping up all the time,” says Harriet “This is a team of eight people producing a 24/7 radio Exeter Living Noble, editor of Exeter Living. “Businesses like Sacred station,” says Nero. “We don’t get any public money – Grounds, the hi-end vegan eaterie, Pura Vida, the cool cafe our advertising funding is all we have and most of our “There is never any with eye-popping interiors, and Bookbag, the city’s newest clients were in the tourism, hospitality and retail sectors shortage of stories.” independent bookshop.” so, as soon as the pandemic came on, just about all our Richard Lawrence, As well as the university, the city is home to Premiership revenue disappeared.” ITV and European rugby champions the Exeter Chiefs, and Having said that, Nero is hopeful for the future. The station football club, Exeter City, one of the few clubs to be owned has just hired three local democracy reporters and there are “Diversity and by its supporters. The city is also a big shopping destination signs the audience is growing. opportunities are with a John Lewis and an IKEA; it has a good range of bars and “Local content is what drives this station,” he says. “We limited but, if you have a restaurants, including The Ivy, which has recently opened can see the importance of news through the readers on our young family, it’s a nice opposite the cathedral. website – we actually have more readers on our website than city to be in.” Guy Natanel, a documentary filmmaker and co-director of listeners. That shows it’s driven by news.” Guy Natanel, Preston Street Films, moved to Exeter from London in 2016. Exeter has been chosen as one of 25 locations in the Preston Street Films One attraction for him was the open space. UK to get new ‘small-scale DAB’ radio stations, which could “You have the hills, rivers, moors, beaches and that’s see the launch of 25 radio stations for the city by the end of “It feels like a city on amazing,” he says. “After I moved here from London, I the year. the up.” understood green space a bit differently. Radio Exe has applied to run the network as part of Paul Nero, “When you’re in the city, especially during the pandemic, a consortium called ExeDAB with community stations Radio Exe the parks and green space are like islands within the city Phonic FM and Riviera FM, and hopes to set up a station where people find refuge. I see Exeter as the opposite – an called Devon20Twenty (‘everything you need to know in urban space within a green landscape and that’s really good Devon in 20 minutes, every 20 minutes’). for work-life balance.”

theJournalist | 11 working from home All well on the home front? boss has converted a spare room into a lovely office at her Remote working is welcomed by some but house, I am stuck working from home in a studio, so no divide tough on many, finds Gill Oliver between work and personal, on a desk barely wider than my computer and a chair that isn’t very supportive, both of which I had to purchase myself specifically for WFH and not even here are always winners and losers in any storage for work documents, meaning I have piles of work and situation and working from home provides magazines on my floor.” the perfect example. Some felt the need to move – decamping to parents’ homes T After more than a year of staff being or renting or buying a bigger house in another (cheaper) area. encouraged not to go into the workplace, The erosion of boundaries between home and working lives there is a growing gulf regarding the experiences and and an inability to switch off were also major source of stress. prospects of publishing professionals whose homes have had This has led to ‘accidental overworking’. One in three to become their office. respondents were working more hours than before and a Working from home has upsides, such as saving time and significant number were doing unpaid extra work. money from not commuting and the opportunity to live One wrote: “Far easier to work overtime without the prompt further away. It works better for some, particularly those with of getting a train or seeing everyone else put on their coats.” a dedicated working space. Another said: “Without having to commute, I start earlier But younger and earlier-stage career employees have been and tend to get carried away at the end of the day so finish hit hard, with many frustrated that those making the decisions later as well, without having a deadline to stop such as train appear to have little or no understanding of their situation. to catch/office closing.” These findings are from a national survey carried out by the Other issues included the feeling of being expected to be Oxford branch of the NUJ working with the Oxford Publishing ‘always on’ and Microsoft Teams and Zoom ‘fatigue’. Society (OpuS) and the Oxford branch of the Society of Young Publishers (SYP). Almost 1,000 publishing professionals took part in ‘Beyond lockdown – does working from home work for you?’, representing academic books and journals and schools/ educational publishing, through to trade publishing, children’s books and magazines and newsletters. The majority (87 per cent) work full time but the survey also included part-time, freelance and short-term contract workers. From the outset, Oxford branch felt it crucial to allow respondents to add comments throughout the questionnaire and as follow-up. Nothing could have prepared us for the outpouring of heartfelt insights about a lack of suitable equipment, unreliable broadband, childcare problems, impossibly cramped working conditions, isolation and longer working hours. But back to the positives. Just over half of respondents said their working from home environment in terms of space, lighting, heat, noise and less interruptions was ‘slightly better’ or ‘a lot better’ than their usual office. Workers with disabilities, such as anxiety and ADHD, particularly valued being away from the workplace. However, the picture is far less rosy for younger and earlier career staff. Home working requires space, so those sharing flats or houses often struggled with difficult conditions. Many just did not have the space for equipment that complies with health and safety regulations, such as a properly adjusted screen, separate keyboard and mouse, supportive chair and suitable desk. More than half (57 per cent) were managing with ‘slightly worse’ or ‘a lot worse’ equipment while working from home. A significant number were suffering back pain, eye strain, shoulder and arm tension, wrist pain and even sciatica.

STEPHEN COLLINS STEPHEN COLLINS There was a degree of exasperation. One wrote: “While my working from home

She adds: “Members tell us they are struggling with musculoskeletal and mental health issues and feelings of isolation. What was coped with because we knew we were in an emergency situation is now becoming a long-term requirement with companies closing offices. We’re seeing members leave All well on the home front? jobs because they don’t want to work in this way any more.” So, where do we go from here? Oxford branch, with OPuS and “We’re always at work – meetings are arranged for all hours SYP, aims to open up an inclusive, national conversation about of the day to fit global timetables and now there is no ‘home how we all want to shape the home/office balance in the future. time’ and no need for commuting. There is an unspoken Anna Wagstaff, Oxford branch secretary, explains: “While expectation that we are available,” one reported. some of us have enjoyed working from home, others have Anxiety over not being able to read colleagues’ and They are losing found it highly stressful. The survey’s value has been to shed managers’ body language during video calls was coupled with light on the reasons behind these different experiences.” a fear of interrupting when direct messaging with a query. opportunities And spare a thought for those just starting out in their Perhaps most concerning is the large number of “ publishing career, since opportunities for informal teaching most of us took respondents who felt isolated. This often affected confidence, and learning and networking are lost when working remotely. relationships with colleagues and mental health. for granted to Wagstaff says: “The survey reveals they are being particularly Asked what were the key stresses, one respondent wrote: hard hit because they are losing opportunities most of us took “Confidence – you feel like you’re on your own so attending/ listen to and for granted to listen to and learn from those around them, and presenting at meetings can be more overwhelming somehow.” meet and interact with people beyond their immediate team. Another commented: “Isolation – this has led to me learn from those “This poses a question about not only the development of second-guessing a lot of my decision making and my the next generation but also how the industry will deliver on self-confidence has taken a hit. I feel less self-assured.” around them its commitments to become more diverse and inclusive. Pamela Morton, NUJ national organiser for magazines and These and other issues are going to be a huge issue across the books, says: “This survey brings into sharp focus how working publishing industry as we move towards a new normal.” from home impacts people differently and the difficulties She adds: “As a publishing union, it is up to us to take a lead individuals are facing. While it works for many, lots of members in arguing for companies to carry out meaningful and are having to work in unsuitable accommodation and work transparent impact assessments before introducing major environments, with inadequate space and equipment.” changes to how we work, and to monitor the impact to ensure new arrangements don’t disadvantage those who are already struggling the most.” ” It is a view shared by Morton, who adds: “Companies should be consulting and making sure they do impact assessments, looking at the impact on those with protected characteristics, regularly checking how staff are – and companies need to be flexible and offer individuals choice and control.”

Too little help, too low pay

OVERALL, the ‘Beyond Another said: “Don’t have setup?” Another wrote: lockdown’ survey shows space for a desk, so work “The last year has thrown that many employers area is a combination of side into sharp relief how awful provided support that was table, small chest of drawers salaries are in publishing and too little or too late – one and knitting machine table.” how little sense it makes to year into the pandemic, in Employees allowed to expect us to live in one of some cases. collect office equipment the most expensive cities Some respondents had to were often left to arrange in the world on such little buy or borrow equipment, transport but, without a car, money. and many could not take up this was not feasible. “I didn’t mind my rubbish offers of workstations owing Many feel strongly that flat when I had an office to to cramped living conditions. salaries needed to be work in but now I’m trapped “It’s a small flat, it’s not increased – especially at in it, unable to afford to rent designed to be lived and early career level. anything better but also worked in at this level. There One asked: “How can the unable to take the plunge are four of us squashed in, publishing industry pay and leave London because all needing tech and entry level staff £23,000 and we might be back in the broadband access,” one expect them to have a office at some undetermined wrote. comfortable work from home point.”

theJournalist | 13 obituary writers Remembering their lives

“Last March, I was prepared for the worst, I felt was a convincing case to my editors to The pandemic has thinking I would be snowed under with expand the obituary pages, but to no avail,” highlighted the work of candidates,” says Ann Wroe, obituaries editor at he says. The Economist. “I remember a week when Tom “Maybe it was considered in poor taste, or obituary writers, says Hanks caught Covid, and I imagined a long perhaps it was felt readers would tire of too queue of famous names all jostling for my single much death. There certainly have been the Simon Creasey weekly slot. candidates to fill additional pages. “But it hasn’t worked out that way. The great “There’s always a backlog of obits in winter, majority of the people I’ve covered – perhaps 90 but the backlog never eased up in the summer ne group of journalists who have – didn’t even die from Covid but from months and I’m sure some excellent stories have been busier than others something else entirely, usually just the wear never been told.” throughout the pandemic are and tear of old age.” When it comes to editorial decision-making O the obituarists. In 2020, the UK She adds that this might be because the around who is be included in the obituary pages, experienced an estimated people she covers in the magazine White says he has been applying the same additional 85,000 deaths, many as a direct result “predominantly fall into the middle- or upper- criteria as he always applies throughout the of the Covid-19 pandemic. And 2021 is shaping middle classes – that is true of all obituary pages pandemic – “the useful difference a subject up to be another year that will see a high in the national press – and people in that made, expressed in terms that readers will find number of additional deaths. How have obituary demographic haven’t been so susceptible to the interesting. It’s always difficult, but the last year writers and editors coped with these pressures virus. That may explain why nothing seemed hasn’t been any worse.” and how has the way they work changed? to change”. It is an approach shared by Cooke, who says The biggest and most obvious change Although Ben Cooke, an obituary writer at that, when writing an obituary, you have to obituarists have experienced over the past The Times, says the past year has been choose a lens through which to view someone. 12 months is the sheer number of deaths that challenging in many ways, his workload as an “For instance, I’ve just been writing an have been recorded on a daily basis, month obituarist has not been more demanding obituary of a physicist and theologian,” he says. after month. For freelance obituary writers than usual. “In so doing, I had to decide whether to see his such as Tim Bullamore, work has felt ‘relentless’ “I haven’t been much busier or had to work to story through the lens of his scientific or his at times. tighter deadlines because we haven’t actually theological work. Was he a theologian who “As soon as one obit is written, another is increased the page count of the obituaries happened also to be a scientist, or a scientist waiting to be started,” says Bullamore. “That’s not section,” says Cooke. “So the increase in the who happened also to be a theologian? unusual in the winter months, but it has been death rate this year hasn’t translated into a “For a few people, Tom Moore included, Covid like this for a long time now. There has been little higher number of words to write.” has become that lens. Another example would time to write advance pieces and even less time Although The Times did not increase the be Li Wenliang, the Chinese doctor who tried to to spend hunting down fascinating stories of pagination of their obituary section, some rival warn people about Covid before falling victim to people who are not famous, which in quieter publications did to ensure they were in a it himself. months is one of the more interesting parts of position to cover additional deaths. “For many other people, Covid hasn’t had this job.” “When the Journal section was reorganised at quite such a defining effect on their legacy, but it Chris Maume, deputy editor at The Telegraph, the start of lockdown a year ago, our pages went has impinged upon it. For instance, I mentioned reports a similar situation. He says the paper has up from 10 to 14,” recalls Robert White, Covid in my obituary of hygiene expert Val had more obituary pieces to contend with obituaries editor at The Guardian. “Our previous Curtis even though she didn’t die of it, because it because of the pandemic. space had been rather cramped, with single illustrated, in the last year of her life, the “At the end of the year, we did a gallery of all pages on three days of the week, and we now importance of her work.” the Covid-related deaths we’d covered – and publish an Other Lives spread every week, as Maume says that decisions on who to cover there were 53,” says Maume. opposed to fortnightly previously.” and who not to cover in the obituary section of While the number of additional deaths in the Bullamore believes that some editors missed a his newspaper did not change as a result of the UK over the past year has been high because of trick and that more publications could have set pandemic. “If they’re worth doing a piece on, it Covid-19, for some obituarists it has not turned aside additional pages to cover obituaries. doesn’t matter how they died,” he says. out to be as torrid a period workwise as they had “In the early days of the pandemic, when arts However, he adds that towards the end of last initially feared. and sports news all but evaporated, I made what year “we were asked by the back bench if it was

14 | theJournalist ALAN EVANS

obituary writers

DAVID HUMPHREYS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

LEFT: RICHARD LEVINE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO feasible to run a gallery of ‘ordinary’ because of the pandemic. “We don’t people who had died of Covid but, to be normally give a cause of death for honest, we just didn’t have the manpower over-70s, but we took a decision at the to take that on. I don’t think The Times or beginning of the pandemic to state the Guardian have done that either although cause of death, if Covid, whatever the age, the bigger American papers have done so”. simply because it was the issue dominating Wroe says that she did contemplate everything so seemed newsworthy,” he says. doing a series of obituaries on ‘ordinary’ people has, nevertheless, changed the way some As for Bullamore, he says the biggest shift he – in the past she has written about victims of obituaries are written up. has detected for obituarists is that some deaths terror attacks in Paris and in Christchurch in “Covid has quickly taken its place among a have been politicised by members of the public. New Zealand. handful of historic events that crop up again “Increasingly, an obit that says ‘died of “For a while, I planned to do the same with and again in our obits, the Second World War Covid-19’ will generate comments such as ‘died Covid and find just one victim – a London bus being the prime example,” he says. “These are of or died with?’ as if we are intentionally trying driver was my first thought – whose life I could events of such import that they change the to portray an exaggerated picture of the write,” she explains. “But to gather enough direction of people’s lives. pandemic,” he says. “It is not a comment that I details of any one driver’s life – without “The best example of Covid’s power to do so is recall being made about other causes of death. contacting the family, which I don’t do on probably Captain Tom Moore. Moore would We are not looking to provide a medical report principle – proved impossible. And, as the probably not have got an obituary had he not or an autopsy but just to give the reader an idea numbers of dead grew and grew, it looked become, in the last year of his life, a national of what happened, especially in the case of increasingly odd to focus on merely one symbol of fortitude in the face of the pandemic younger deaths.” of them.” and, had he got one, it would have read It is too early to say if the way obituarists While the way some obituary writers and very differently.” work will change indelibly because of the editors work may not have changed significantly Maume highlights another key difference in pandemic but their work has become higher since the start of the pandemic, Cooke says it the way obituaries are written up at his paper profile and more mainstream than before.

theJournalist | 15 Jonathan Sale travels back in time in the outside broadcast van INSIDE OUT

lthough he was only eight at the with two mobile television vans; the audience short length of the cable between camera and time, Richard Whiteley never might not have had their own sets but a total of transmitter. forgot his first glimpse of an 150,000 watched in 28 special viewing rooms. “At present, the camera is tied to a huge cable A outside broadcast van. On the ‘Mobile’ is not quite the word for the BBC as thick as my wrist,” explained Cecil Lewis at the way home from school, he cameras in those early days. There were two time. A pioneer of radio who had now moved to saw it parked on a road on the Yorkshire Moors. designs in use. The John Logie Baird variety television as director of outside broadcasting, he His father asked if his little boy could have a involved two types of picture-making; close-ups added: “We can only go as far as the cable can look inside. were shot in a darkened studio with infrared stretch, a few hundred feet round the Palace “By all means,” said the technician, who then lighting, which prevented performers from grounds.” Surveying London spread below, he went back into the van and shut the door in reading the script; long shots came courtesy of added: “Look at all those outside broadcasts their faces. For years, little Richard wondered 17.5mm film (35mm cut in two) which was waiting for us to get to them!” what lay inside. rapidly processed and scanned to be turned into He prophesied a time when London would be Although we were on the same corridor of the a television picture. equipped with a network of ‘special co-axial same Cambridge college, reading the same Then, presumably, everyone would lie down in cables’ into which the mobile cameras of the subject and both working on Varsity, the student a darkened room to recover from this technical future would be plugged. Looking even further paper, he kept quiet about his ambition for a job fiddle-faddle. If so, they got up when it was time ahead, he said: “You could take a ‘young’ in TV. Finally, after graduating, he joined ITN and to make another of their pioneering transmitter about with you in a van and send a discovered what lay on the other side of the door. programmes, some of which were outside – wireless signal to the main transmitter… Then He soon moved to Yorkshire TV and Countdown. or fairly outside – broadcasts, limited by the the world’s your oyster.” For many in the real world – ie not the media – an OB may be the nearest they get to the workings of the TV world. It is television’s great selling including his young point: it brings us something happening far away Simpson’s world of translator, who was – at the very moment when it is happening. next to him. There are several milestones marking the war broadcasting Coming round, development of live transmissions outside the Simpson contacted security of the studio. The first OB ‘high- “SOD’S LAW,” declares and the mujahideen “In the first Gulf War, London on his satellite definition’ broadcast in Britain – ie you could BBC World Affairs editor forces. Bullets are every time the ‘coalition’ phone: “Within five make out what was on the screen, as opposed to John Simpson, “means small and go terribly forces started attacking minutes, they cut me a few ghostly lines waving about – in Britain was that, directly you start fast and you can’t see – one of the bombs hit straight into the live one of the experimental transmissions at filming, the firing and them – fortunately. both our hotel – the cowardly broadcast.” Alexandra Palace on its hill in north London. bombing always stop sides had tracer bullets Iraqi police would come During this OB report, On 5 September 1936, a few weeks before the and you make yourself which shone very in for shelter and so we an American paramedic, official launch of the BBC, comedian and singer look an idiot to the clearly through the were able to get on to concerned about the (‘Let’s All Sing the Lard Song’) Leonard Henry left newsroom: Why is this evening light. London, only to be told, blood coming out of the building, got into his car and drove away man making such “We did an entire ‘We’re doing an Simpson’s ears, came to round the corner. OK, not much of itself but a fuss?” programme without any interview with the his aid. someone from The Daily Telegraph, who chanced On the other hand, he let-up. As far as I know, it LibDem education “I was a little bemused to be popping into the studios, suggested that a continues: “There was was the first time spokesman. We can’t and got it into my stupid camera be pointed at this little scene. It was the one time, 20 years ago, anyone had recorded possibly interrupt’.” head that, as he was lift man who realised the significance of this when my cameraman anything like a full battle. In the second Gulf American and it was an historic event: “Blimey, we’ve made an OB!” and I were recording a War, he was blown American plane, he was The fact that he used that handy abbreviation programme for unconscious in a US trying to stop me. instead of the full ‘outside broadcast, suggests Simpson’s World. plane’s ‘friendly fire’ Something about being that the concept was not a totally new one and, “We happened to bombing which killed a journalist – you always blimey, it wasn’t. The Germans had beaten the be in a gun battle 18 US soldiers and think someone is trying Brits to it by a month. The Berlin ‘Nazi’ Olympics between the Taliban mujahideen allies, to stop you reporting.” had boasted live coverage from three cameras PJRNEWS / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

16 | theJournalist Looking back to: OBs

HO/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

Until the oyster opened up his world, the writing on the (worthless, as it turned out) handful of BBC viewers had to make do with OBs agreement signed by Chamberlain and Hitler. of assorted activities in the grounds of Alexandra They could hear the PM declare that he had Palace. There were model aircraft in flight and brought back ‘peace in our time’. ‘simulated sheepdog trials’ (sadly, no footage Unfortunately, the time was not peaceful – not, SUEDDEUTSCHE ZEITUNG PHOTO / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO remains of simulated sheep). Sir Malcolm at least, until seven years later. The failure of the Campbell – yes, the Malcolm Campbell, holder of trip, and the ensuing hostilities meant that OBs the land and water speed records – showed off the later, tennis at Wimbledon got the OB treatment. and all the rest of BBC TV transmissions were off new models coming to the Motor Show; a Major So, later, did two of the pre-war FA Cup finals, air until 1946. Apart from a Mickey Mouse Faudel-Phillips gave a riding lesson. Another although the scarcity of TV sets meant there were cartoon, an outside broadcast was the last item snippet made the comedian-in-car episode seem more people in the stands than watching at home. transmitted in 1939 (as a rival cartoon creation positively action packed: a camera placed on a The next major OB event came in 1938: Neville would put it, ‘That’s all, folks’) and, in 1946, it was Palace balcony showed a selection of nearby trees Chamberlain’s return by air from his meeting an OB – of an announcer going into Alexandra and was itself filmed, with its cameraman, by with Hitler. The BBC was able to act with a speed Palace – which, in a pleasing echo of the first OB, another camera inside the building. that would be impressive even today. The started the BBC cameras rolling again. As you may have gathered, like ‘steam radio’, decision to cover the landing was made on the Incidentally, technology cannot conquer steam television took a little while to come to the morning of September 30 and off the OB van everything, as war baby Richard Whiteley was to boil and may have given sceptics the impression raced to Heston airport. It carried two cameras: learn when trying to conduct interviews on a that this new-fangled device would never catch one on the roof provided the mid-shot and the state-of-the-art satellite OB truck in Westminster on. Fortunately, less than a year later, the BBC was other focused on the aircraft steps for the after the ‘resignation’ of Margaret Thatcher. This able to achieve its first far-flung outside broadcast, interview with the prime minister. sent its signals 26,000 miles into space to reach the coronation procession of George VI. Not the “We saw, and heard, the machine circle in the Yorkshire TV in Leeds but the vehicle could not whole procession, but the bit visible from Apsley air, land and taxi up to the waiting group of be parked on the green opposite the Houses of Gate on Hyde Park Corner, where the mobile cabinet ministers,” enthused The Listener Parliament. No parking permit, declared the units were very stationary at the time. A month magazine. Viewers could even read scraps of the traffic wardens.

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18 | theJournalist on media

Liars, damned liars and Boris Johnson

Raymond Snoddy ponders terminological inexactitudes

hat on earth should we Butler was expelled from the House for linear television. call Boris Johnson? a day for this. Campaigning lawyer and film-maker No, not that – at To qualify as a full-throated liar, two Peter Stefanovic created a video of W least not on this conditions have to be met. Repeated “provably false’ Johnson statements in occasion. This is a offences are necessary because a single the House of Commons and challenged serious question and one that most of lie hardly qualifies a person for the broadcasters to show it. the media, particularly television, has enduring status of liar. There should also For months, despite the video failed to address properly or resolve. be deliberation – the person involved eventually having more than 25 million Is Boris Johnson a liar and, if so, absolutely knew that what they were views on Twitter, none did. should he be called out unambiguously saying was false at the time they said it. Then, in early July, Good Morning as one live on air? That, unfortunately, can be a difficult Britain ran part of the video and Perhaps the softer description as one to prove either way, although interviewed Stefanovic, as it happened, someone who has sometimes told lies Johnson came close to meeting the when former Labour spokesman would suffice. criteria when he called true allegations of Alastair Campbell was presenting Or does Johnson simply make up or an affair ‘an inverted pyramid of piffle” alongside Susanna Reid. totally mangle numbers because of a There is the additional problem of Apart from the border in the Irish marked distaste for the hard work of different types of lies and lying – Sea, the exhibits against Johnson preparing and absorbing briefs and pathological and narcissistic as well as include the claim that the pre-Covid does not care? Could it also be that he bog standard lying for advantage. UK economy had grown by 73 per cent simply uses preposterous streams of You might think Johnson fulfils some under recent Conservative words to bamboozle his opponents of the definitions of a pathological liar governments. The true figure is rather than lying? – someone who tells stories that fall around 20 per cent and the 73 per cent The BBC’s political editor Laura between conscious lies and delusion, figure includes 15 years of Labour Kuenssberg has uncovered another and who may even believe their own government. Is this a Johnson lie, just theory about Johnson’s casual lies. Narcissistic liars emit blatant lies, more Johnson wishful thinking or relationship with the truth. spin the truth and try to distort your making things up as he goes along? A former minister told her: “The sense of reality, a syndrome that has a In most cases, it may be near problem is that it’s becoming clearer somewhat familiar ring to it. impossible to tell and the standard of that the PM treats facts like he treats all You can take your pick but the media evidence needed to call the prime his relationships – utterly disposable overall has to find better ways to minister of the UK a liar, as opposed to once inconvenient.” expose the many things Boris Johnson lying, is high. Does making misleading statements says that are demonstrably untrue. In the end it may not matter too count? If so, a large number of Political commentator Peter Oborne The media overall much what the media actually decides politicians would be caught in that net. did not hesitate to denounce prime has to find better to call Boris Johnson. What matters In the case of parliament, where ministerial lying in his book mightily, however, is that he be held to honourable members are not allowed The Assault on Truth, complete with ways to expose the account for the many provably false to call other honourable members examples including Johnson’s claim many things Boris statements he has made from the liars, is there any life left in that there would be no border controls “ dispatch box and never corrected as Churchill’s famous 1906 coinage – between Britain and Northern Ireland. Johnson says that the rules require. terminological inexactitude? This was repeated even after he had As the work of Stefanovic and Oborne Labour MP Dawn Butler blew such signed the protocol making them are demonstrably (whose book has largely been ignored by niceties apart recently when she called inevitable. Johnson’s biographer untrue the main media outlets) demonstrate, Johnson a liar on the floor of the Andrew Gimson has attributed such an there is still much work to be done. Commons, adding that “We get into outrageous claim to ‘wishful thinking”. For democracy can barely function trouble in this House for calling out Calling out Johnson may be easier to when governments have only a loose the lies rather than the liar”. Ironically do in print and online than on live attachment to the truth. ” theJournalist | 19

and engage with their grief, telling George Dearsley writes about his by Tim Lezard the story of denial, anger, bargaining, 49-year love affair with Turkey, depression and acceptance through including being arrested as a spy, their trademark blend of silly, joyful watching a man swallow a snake, songs, deadpan stand-up and riotous judging a beauty contest, being given storytelling. The production shows a front row seat at a circumcision and how they find meaning, humour and seeing Turkey’s most famous criminal beauty in the hardest part of life. crash a plane. https://tinyurl.com/p7a9rbhy https://tinyurl.com/pp29j5n3 Books Music Geordie Plays (Volume One) Edinburgh Summer Sessions artsFilm > by Ed Waugh August 6-15 Profile Ed Waugh has published a collection Veteran knicker-receiver Tom Jones Released August 6 of his plays about three Geordie headlines twice during this year’s How far would you go for a story? heroes: Carrying David (about event. Other stars include Aussie French journalist Anna Erelle’s book Glenn McCrory becoming the rockers DMA’s, London indie/folk/ In The Skin of a Jihadist has been first world champion boxing from rock/soul singer Michael Kiwanuka, turned into a mystery thriller, Profile, the north east), Hadaway Harry Scottish rockers Simple Minds, funk which details her undercover (about former Durham miner legend Lionel Richie and Glasgow investigation into the recruitment of Harry Clasper who invented the sport bore-rockers Travis. young European women by ISIS. She and 1921, approximately 1,400 people of rowing as we know it) and https://tinyurl.com/kpuvdepe creates a fake Facebook profile, died. Cork city and county saw the The Great Joe Wilson (about the bard pretending to be a recent convert to bloodiest of the fighting. More than of Tyneside). Alabama 3 Islam and, against the advice of her 60 photographs and accompanying https://tinyurl.com/4weyzvm5 On tour in the summer and in news editor, plans to join her terrorist text by McGrath reveal the full extent spring next year contact in Syria. of the lives of the people and the There’s not three of them and they’re https://tinyurl.com/zbzysupb places in the city where they perished not from Alabama, but don’t let that during the struggle for freedom put you off. The Brixton-based The Last Letter From My Lover https://tinyurl.com/d6ubat9b bluesters hit the road to play sweet Released August 6 pretty country music all night long. Ambitious journalist Ellie Haworth Comedy https://tinyurl.com/5h4cmb65 discovers a trove of love letters from Sarah Millican: Bobby Dazzler 1965 and becomes determined to Sarah has spent the last year writing Theatre solve the mystery of the forbidden jokes and growing her backside. She Oleanna by David Mamet affair at their centre. Based on tells you what happens when your Arts Theatre, London the novel by JoJo Moyes, this mouth seals shut, how to throw poo Until October 23 stylish romance flits effortlessly over a wall and how truly awful a Set on an American campus, a between decades. floatation tank can be. seemingly innocuous conversation https://tinyurl.com/94ttvtj7 https://tinyurl.com/68uj85d3 between a college professor and his female student leads to a claim of Exhibition Jonny and the Baptists: Dance sexual harassment. With its take on For Those That Tell No Tales Like It Never Happened the corrosive excesses of political Crawford Art Gallery, Cork and On tour throughout August correctness and exploration of the use online and September and abuse of language, this is the Until August 29 This is a show about grief and loss. In Twelve Camels For Your Wife ultimate drama of pupil power and Dara McGrath focuses on Ireland’s War their most honest and personal show by George Dearsley student revenge. of Independence when, between 1919 yet, the musical duo learn to accept NUJ life member and former stringer https://tinyurl.com/8fmwnrcc

, Spotlight > what stayed the same, what they had to change and what does the future hold Pandemic lives of the ‘low skilled’ for them. What’s the difference interviews with workers Covid-19 pandemic meant “For the first time in a long between a low-skilled who kept everything going for them, their struggles time, the rich seemed to worker and a key worker? during lockdown. and how they continued to realise that they needed the About a month, according to From bus drivers to work while the government ‘low-skilled’ more than they comedian Mark Thomas. cleaners, from care home failed to get to grips with needed the rich,” Mark His new podcast project, workers to bin collectors, the crisis. tells Arts. Key Words, draws on they talk about what The podcast asks what https://tinyurl.com/ nearly 100 hours of working through the changed for workers and ncpxmsve

20 | theJournalist technology TechDownload Chris Merriman on technology for journalists

byte size... ANTIBACTERIAL PRO SOUND FOR PODCASTS LINT-FREE CLOTH It’s a universal truth that you nyone who is anyone seems to have a never have a lint-free cloth podcast these days (hence I don’t) and when you need one. Smart A they’re not all created equal. Screen comes in a protective bag Fortunately, the Shure MV7 podcasting table, it can compensate for background noise or if attached by a handy popper and, microphone is here to give a professional edge to your you’re sitting too near (or far) from the microphone. as it is impregnated with silver musings, even if you don’t have a full-on home studio. Most importantly, it can adjust your voice to give ions and an antibacterial agent, Based on the popular professional Shure mic (the it those warm rich radio tones, and you don’t have to its makers claim it removes 99 per hallowed SM7B), this version adds a USB connector so know a thing about sound engineering. cent of bacteria. It can be washed you can plug it straight into your computer without It’s not just for beginners, however. It has all the up to 15 times without losing that lots of faffing around with mixing desks – though it specs of a studio mic, so it will meet your needs as coating. You can pick up a Smart does have a proper XLR connector too, studio geeks. your skills and confidence grow. You can order one Screen in six colours from £9.95. The MV7 has a few more tricks up its sleeve, thanks from Shure’s website, starting at £259 if you already www.smartscreen.store to a glut of extra controls in the bundled app. For have a mic stand. If not, add £30. example, if you’re trying to record from the kitchen https://tinyurl.com/edayrpvf EVERNOTE GETS MAJOR UPDATE Evernote has recently received TV monitoring in a box an Android TV box into one still ‘coming soon’ for boring its biggest updates in years. The > 4K-ready box. It can take you licensing reasons. note-taking app integrates with f, like me, your work limited services, and software from BBC News HD to a (legal) It has a 1TB/2TB hard drive. most major apps and services. involves a lot of updates stop before the set stream of an NBC affiliate in The 4K will make films ‘pop’ Additions include a dashboard, a I media monitoring, reaches the end of its useful life. the US with a few clicks. and offers some future-proofing spell-checker and printing from the value of a separate set-top Fortunately, the Humax Aura It supports pretty much any for when 4K TV channels mobile. That’s just scratching box cannot be overestimated. does it (almost) all. It combines service although, at the time become more prevalent. the surface and it’s well worth Smart TVs tend to have a a Freeview Play recorder and of going to press, Netflix was https://tinyurl.com/v8sutx7t a look. If the free version isn’t enough, subscriptions start at £4.99 per month. https://evernote.com/ SPEAK WELL ON THE ROAD MOTIVATION WITH REMOTE BY RETRO INSULTING APP FIT hether it’s to take with you on assignment or for If you need some help with presenting to an audience, once in a while you need a self-discipline, the Productivity Control your space, W good speaker. There are so many on the market that it’s Challenge Timer app is your friend, including the curtains tempting to assume that they’re going to be much of a muchness. albeit one that believes in tough Switchbot has taken a new approach to The truth is there are some terrible ones that cost twice as much love. Based on the Pomodoro automating your home or office. The original as the Anker Soundcore Motion Boom, which is among the best technique, which divides your day Switchbot was a tiny robot arm that stuck to I’ve tested. Anker products have always been a cut above, and the into 25-minute bursts of work, it your switches and pressed them on or off for combination of rich, room-filling sound, intuitive set-up and keen gives some fairly colourful insults you. The latest addition – a bot that sits on your pricing sets a new bar. if you slack off and a rating that curtain rail and opens and closes them for you. Add the fact that it’s incredibly light, starts at ‘unrepentant slacker’. I The optional hub doubles as an infrared remote has a moulded carry handle and the won’t spoil the others – earning controller, which you can teach to control option to connect two together them is part of the fun – but your products. Retrofitting devices can be for an bigger stereo sound, it’s

‘resigned attendant’ is halfway up a bit fiddly, but the results work brilliantly. hard to find a reason not to Bots start at around £25. the list. It’s free on Android, with recommend this. Curtainbot is around £90. some optional paid extras. www.switch-bot.com They are £89.99 on Amazon https://productivity – but look out for offers. challengetimer.com www.link.com

theJournalist | 21 obituaries

Born in Swansea, Brian was the youngest of four brothers, one of whom – the late John Morgan – had at one time been the highest paid freelance journalist at the BBC, working on the Tonight programme and for Panorama. He later worked at ITV for This Week. Previously, Brian pursued a different route, studying maths and physics at Swansea University before working in a variety of roles, eventually becoming managing director of the company that ran what was known as the Jam Factory in Ledbury, Herefordshire. He became interested in marketing and in the early 1980s set up a local community magazine called Letterbox with his daughter Ruth. It was at this time that Brian pursued his interest in photography too. A few years later he moved to Cardiff, where his journalism went in two directions. His strong sense of social justice led him to investigate a series of cases relating to child abuse and irregularities in child custody cases. He forged a strong relationship with a small George Makin Away from work, he was a doting husband to team of investigative journalists working for Deborah and a loving father and grandfather. HTV Wales on the Wales This Week programme. George Makin, an ‘old school’ Black Country local He loved wildlife and nature and was a keen Brian’s enquiries resulted in some strong, democracy reporter and dedicated NUJ member, bird spotter. hard-hitting programmes. has sadly died. Chris Morley, NUJ Northern and Midlands At the same time, he met and fell in love with The 62-year-old, who had been covering the senior organiser, said: “George was a solid Mo Wilson, a talented photographer from Sandwell and Dudley areas as part of the and popular NUJ member who took to the Scotland who had moved to Cardiff and became BBC-funded scheme, said in April that he had new local democracy reporting scheme with his partner. incurable cancer. He succumbed to the disease a passion. Brian and Mo became closely involved in two on June 15. “He very much stuck to the essence of the job, local communities – the Riverside district of George worked as a freelance photographer finding stories of public interest and reporting Cardiff, where they took countless documentary and as a production assistant for a video without fear or favour. photographs of local people, and Rhondda, production company for a number of years. “Despite his distressing circumstances when where they helped young mothers create their He embarked on a career change in 1998, diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, George did own annual magazine, called Teen Mams, for when he earned his NCTJ pre-entry certificate not hide away but was open about his feelings. distribution across Wales. from Sutton Coldfield College to complement The Black Country has lost a top-notch journalist In both communities, Mo and Brian became the City and Guilds radio and journalism and champion in George.” greatly loved figures. qualification he had completed five years earlier. Very sadly, Mo was diagnosed with a brain He was a journalist in the West Midlands for Gurdip Thandi tumour in 2008 and died two years later. more than 20 years, having started his Always a stalwart member of the NUJ, Brian journalism career at the Walsall Advertiser in took comfort from his membership of the 1999. Here, he spent a decade first as a senior union, to which he devoted a great deal of reporter and worked his way up to become energy and time in his final years. deputy chief reporter. At a time when persuading members to attend He was also the lead reporter on politics in the branch meetings could be a daunting challenge, borough, where he built a reputation for being Brian was a constant presence, his contributions dogged and determined in holding those in always valued. power to account. He had a famously booming voice and His flair and skills saw him scoop a clutch of enjoyed singing with the Canton Chorus choir awards, including the Central Independent in Cardiff. Newspapers Story of the Year in 2005. He was During the pandemic, his health declined and, also honoured at the Newspaper Society awards after being admitted to hospital, he was for his feature writing in 2007 and 2008. Brian Morgan diagnosed with cancer. After leaving the Advertiser, George became a He spent his last two months in a hospice at freelance journalist and public relations officer Brian Morgan, a longstanding secretary of Penarth, where it was difficult to visit him – one of his major clients was the Walsall Cardiff and South East Wales branch and because of Covid restrictions. A little over a week Labour Group. member of the Welsh Executive Council, has before he died, some of us were pleased to be His vast experience covering politics meant died at the age of 81. able to speak to Brian from a park on the other he was the ideal candidate to fill one of 150 Although he was an NUJ activist for many side of the hospice fence. new local democracy reporter roles when the years, few realised that he had had a career in scheme was launched in 2018. industry before he became a journalist in his 40s. Martin Shipton

22 | theJournalist obituaries

and expertise lightly. I still recall his amusement their property in the Laurieston area of Falkirk. when a regional newspaper company declined to It was a testament to Neil’s great practicality provide criteria for redundancy selection. When that he was undaunted by the prospect of taking George doggedly insisted that the company was on an extremely run-down property which obliged to justify its decisions, the HR manager lacked the basics – and he expertly set about told him with an air of disdain that a union restoring it. official could hardly be expected to understand It was first a holiday home, then a permanent the business case. bolthole when Neil and June left Scotland for George – who had represented Enterprise good to live the life they had long dreamed of. Ireland across India and Asia and served on two Former colleagues have paid tribute to Neil enterprise boards – replied that not only could including his one-time boss Jack Shennan. he understand their problem but also he might Jack said: “Neil was a huge help to me when I be able to find a solution that did not involve was appointed editor of the Cumbernauld News redundancies or layoffs. and his knowledge of the area and vast array of He was widely respected by both members contacts were invaluable. George Kiely and management representatives, who “He had previously worked in the case room came to respect his integrity and solution- – where the company’s newspapers were George Kiely’s crowded career spanned focused approach to what often appeared formerly prepared for publication – and I could journalism, sales, public affairs, industrial intractable problems. always count on him for help with pages as the development and the study of bioethics and George joined the Irish state economic news deadline hurtled towards us. embraced far-flung corners of the globe, where development sector in 1980 and worked in “What I will miss most is his dry-as-a-bone this son of Liverpool proudly flew the flag for several capacities including two overseas postings sense of humour – sometimes mistaken for industrial development in Ireland. in Iraq and Singapore. He also carried out a taciturnity by those who didn’t know him – and At the time of his untimely death on July 15 variety of assignments for the World Bank in Asia. his stories of his case room days which would following a brief illness, George was vice-chair A lifelong Liverpool FC supporter, he became often leave me helpless with laughter. In and treasurer of Dublin press and PR branch and most animated when talking about his days newspaper parlance, Neil was ‘a good operator’ had been working on a part-time basis as an as a freelance sports reporter on the Liverpool and I can think of no finer tribute to him.” organiser attached to the NUJ’s Irish office. That Evening Echo. Another former editor, Jackie Mitchell, said: description scarcely does justice to the scale of A former member of the NUJ ethics council, “Neil was an extremely capable colleague, an his contribution to the union. he worked extensively in the field of bioethics old-school journalist who shared his local George had a well-deserved reputation as a and took a year’s sabbatical in 2005 to work in knowledge with generosity. He will be tenacious negotiator with finely honed skills Dublin City University as a visiting researcher much missed.” allied to a deep commitment to social justice. in bioethics. I worked with Neil for more than 15 years. He On his retirement from a senior post in His untimely death deprives the NUJ of a had a very forthright nature – he just said what Enterprise Ireland, he accepted a part-time champion, but the greater loss will be felt by he thought. He had a gruff exterior. Yet he could contract with the NUJ and embraced with Sheila, whom he married on St Patrick’s Day be suave and capable of sensitivity, generosity energy the duties of organiser, handling with 1986 in Singapore. and a kind word in the bad times. sensitivity a range of personal cases across all It is a cause of great regret that George and Neil was very well known to a lot of our sectors, north and south. Sheila will never get to host his long-promised Kilsyth readers as well, as he had worked George and his wife Sheila had decided to Dublin press and PR outreach meeting in their in the office in Market Square before coming move from their home in Dublin to west of Ireland home of which they were to Cumbernauld. Strokestown, County Roscommon, for a quiet so proud. I see Neil as a very big part of the fabric life but George immediately threw himself into of our newspaper on which he has left an his new role. Supported by Sheila, he became an Séamus Dooley indelible impression. indispensable member of the Irish office team, working remotely but always available to travel. Clare Grant George graduated in modern languages, philosophy and ethics from King’s College London and business studies from the University of Liverpool. He also took an MSc in science communication (ethics) jointly at Queens Mike McKeand University Belfast and Dublin City University. George brought a depth of knowledge, memorial service experience and wisdom to his branch and to his Mike McKeand’s work as an official. He served as a senior adviser family invite former in the entrepreneurship division of Enterprise colleagues to a Ireland, the state economic development agency. memorial service at A member of the Irish union SIPTU (as well as Neil Smith noon, Friday October 1, the NUJ) George served as chairman of the at Bosham church in Forfás/Enterprise Ireland/IDA section Neil Smith was the chief reporter at the West Sussex, with food committee in the state and related agencies Cumbernauld News. and drink afterwards. branch of SIPTU from 2003 t0 2006 during a He retired from the paper back in 2017 and Contact nigelmckeand critical time in the sector. had gone to live in the Charente-Maritime in @gmail.com Always self-effacing, George wore his learning southwest France with wife June after selling

theJournalist | 23 photography

Four billionaires controlling the press (l-r): Rupert ‘Murdoch (News Corp) Sir Frederick Barclay (Telegraph Group), Lord Rothermere (Daily Mail), Evgeny Lebedev (Evening Standard, The Independent)

Get the picture? Or a picture, anyway. Two protest marches starting at exactly the same time nearly two miles apart. Time St ry to place your bets. Extinction Rebellion on the Free the Press march – they always made pictures. But I’d seen all that before and, besides, the news picture of the day was already over and gone, everywhere. Early in the morning, XR had behind dumped manure outside the Mail. Two problems with that picture. One – you couldn’t get it, they’d kept it quiet and the pic appeared bylined ‘Extinction Rebellion/PA’. Two – it was just a news pic. Not too much anyone could have done with that. the Freedom to Dance, now, that sounded new, and costumes, colour? So – off to see the dancers. Only to find not what I’d imagined at all, just a small group of people outside the BBC – wrong call. No doubt many more later and later so there were, ravers on parade, but later was too late and I had to get down picture to Extinction Rebellion fast on the off chance that march had not already started. Which it hadn’t. Saved by the speeches – they do have their uses. And then – there they were in Parliament Square. A rogues’ gallery on Extinction Rebellion’s Free the stilts. Murdoch, Barclay, Rothermere, Lebedev. Four spitting images of the media moguls, ready for the off. That really was new. I wanted Murdoch – Press march 27/06/2021 target number one and by far the best caricature – central, but you get what you’re given and I wanted Lebedev’s forked tongue. Really shouldn’t go for By Andrew Wiard the colour red, but it was a grey day… The result is nothing special, and too dependent on the work of others. However, it does capture the spirit as well as the ‘message’ and it says it in one, without any banners or placards. And it has a life beyond the day.

24 | theJournalist and finally...

Are you sitting comfortably?

Ergonomics should begin at home, says Chris Proctor

loathe being told I’m I’ve been spoiled by health and inadvertently building up an expanded doing something safety reps over the years. I’ve always clientele for my osteopath chum. wrong when I am. So, been lucky enough to suffer the And it’s clear that, if we carry on I it’s been very trying of attentions of a pedant. I used to stroll working at kitchen work surfaces on the union to keep into the office and, without thinking, stools with screens jostling for space reminding me of how I should sit when plonk my posterior on a pew before with the ketchup, we will end up I’m working, how my screen should be sipping a coffee and checking the odds dreadfully knackered. positioned and where to place papers on a racing site. (I think this should Recalling the union’s home working I’m looking at. read ‘beginning immediately with the inspection checklist is one of the good It worries me. work I was being paid to perform’? Ed.) things to come out of the lockdown, When lockdown began, it was a bit of Next to me, I would discover a like not having to visit in-laws or watch a novelty to work at home, like going frowning figure, tutting over a Arsenal. It’s the first time for ages I’ve on a picnic. I scattered stuff around the clipboard. After an initial cry of woe, he looked at it – and I’ve not come off all living room table, plugged in the would fluster round my buttock area that well. laptop and started scribbling. Six like a distracted hornet, adjusting It asks some embarrassing questions. months later, I felt twinges in my back. levers like a steam-train driver. Wooden Is all wiring adequately covered? Gulp. I panicked and arranged my first-ever chairs were replaced by seating that Hand and wrist support? Absent, miss. appointment with an osteopath. moved up and down, forward and back. Do windows have blinds? Sort of. Is the He told me he’d been to see his GP There were rumours of a de luxe model screen shielded from natural light? I the previous day. He said he went in, that went from side to side. must do something about that… took one look at the medic and said, The process of sitting became a If home working becomes the norm ‘Are you having back pains?’ The doctor controlled descent into a state of – and to some degree it probably will confessed she was. It seems she was relaxed positioning, conducted with – employers are going to save a lot of sitting at the front of her chair, the precision of a space tourist’s return cash on rent, tools, service charges, bending into the screen, had no to earth. I settled into my workstation power costs and security. footrest and was generally behaving chair with a convenient keyboard and a It’s not unreasonable that some of like me. He straightened her up, tranquillised spine. Before me shone a Next to me would be these savings are used to provide us adjusted her workstation and left. He nexus of angle-poised machinery that with adequate working conditions. said it was only later he remembered looked like an advert for a Meccano a frowning figure. No one’s doing us a favour: we’re his ailment. Super Construction Set. After a cry of woe, lending them a bit of our house. It’s He says we have all developed a At home, at the start, the Dunkirk more than I care to do for the children, collective notion that ergonomics are spirit asserted itself. I kept calm and “he would fluster to be frank. only for offices, just as dogs are only carried on. But then again, I wasn’t round my buttock And for freelances, it’s even more for Christmas. doing badly: at least we had a semi- important. If we don’t take this as At work, we need eye-high screens, spare room. My neighbours are a area like a hornet, seriously as our health and safety document holders, detachable young couple in a one-bed flat. Or, as it people urge, we’ll end up with spines keyboards and comfortable mice (it became, their two-office, one-bed flat. adjusting levers like that look like longbows. might be ‘mouses’ but I can’t bring Becky sat on a kitchen stool leaning a steam-train driver We’ll be able to moonlight as props myself to type ‘mouses’, although I just into a laptop on the work surface. Tom for productions of Henry V. We’ll all have, twice). Working at home, flopped in bed with his laptop propped have horizontally inclined necks, and standards drop. It’s a fact. I always on a pillow. They spent most of the day shoulders that join in the front. We’ll deteriorate if no one’s looking. Zooming, taking notes and all look like Quasimodo on a bad day. ” theJournalist | 25

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