MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS

WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2020

Out with the old boys Media networking for the many, not the few Contents

Main feature 16 Beating the old boy network How to break the ‘class ceiling’ News elcome to the last edition of 2019. 03 Scottish titles in strike vote It’s that time of the year when we look back and make plans and Anger at fresh Newsquest cuts changes for the new year. 04 ‘Scroogequest’ cuts hit local papers In a similar spirit of changing NUJ urges new investment Wsomething old for something new, our cover feature looks at how the old boys’ club is being 05 Dutch court boosts freelance pay changed in the media for a new way of networking. Holly Judgement hailed as historic Powell-Jones looks at how mentoring and helping young people 06 Irish delegate conference find accommodation in expensive cities can promote diversity Reports on biennial meeting in the media and give newcomers that all important first step. Another recent change in the media landscape is the growing “opportunity for journalists to make money from newsletters. Features Jem Collins guides us through the ins and outs of the subject. 10 Getting close to readers We’ve got a bit of looking back too. Jonathan Sale continues Newsletters can boost income his absorbing and entertaining media anniversary series, this time throwing the spotlight on the first newspaper colour 12 A riot of colour supplement. And Phil Chamberlain takes a look at the heyday Uproar over first supplements of the radical press and a new project to document it. 14 Heyday of alternative press As The Journalist went to press, we were awaiting the general Radical impact on mainstream media election in Britain and we have yet to see what the new government has in store for the media. And speaking of elections, I’m very pleased to have been Regulars re-elected as editor. I’m honoured and grateful to be backed by 09 Viewpoint those members who voted. Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous 2020. 19 NUJ & Me 26 And finally...

Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley Arts with Attitude Pages 20-21 Editor NUJ [email protected] 72 Acton Street Design London WC1X 9NB Surgerycreations.com [email protected] [email protected] www.nuj.org.uk Advertising Tel: 020 7843 3700 Melanie Richards Manchester office Raymond Tel: 07494975239 [email protected] Snoddy [email protected] Glasgow office Print [email protected] Page 18 Warners Cover picture www.warners.co.uk Dublin office Letters [email protected] Simon Spilsbury Distribution Page 22-23 GB Mail ISSN: 0022-5541 www.gb-mail.co.uk ” The Journalist’s polyfilm wrapping is recyclable at carrier bag recycling points in supermarkets. 02 | theJournalist news Scottish Newsquest titles inbrief... MALTA’S PM RESIGNS AMID PRESSURE ballot for industrial action Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is to resign in January NUJ MEMBERS at Newsquest’s Scottish titles, By coincidence, the NUJ had conducted a following public pressure for the which include The Herald, Herald on Sunday, stress survey shortly before the company’s truth about the 2017 car bombing The National, Sunday National, and the announcement. Among other findings, the that killed journalist Daphne Glasgow Evening Times, were balloting for survey showed that 83 per cent of respondents Caruana Galizia. Muscat will quit as industrial action over believe the quality of their They don’t believe it leader of the Labour Party on proposed staff cuts, as The title has declined over the January 12 and subsequently resign Journalist went to press. last year; 78 per cent say is possible to work as prime minister. . The move is in response their workloads have harder than they do to the company’s increased in the last year; announcement on 57 per cent say they are already DAILY MAIL BUYS THE proposed redundancies, pressured to produce work “ I PAPER FOR £49M stating that it will make faster than they are The Daily Mail and General Trust, John Toner, NUJ compulsory dismissals if it comfortable with and just which publishes the Mail and Metro, Scottish Organiser cannot achieve proposed nine per cent said they has bought the i paper from JPI cuts of around £500,000 had confidence in the Media for £49.6 million. It said it by any other means. current management. wanted the i because it is a strong The ballot at the John Toner, NUJ print title with a reputation for Glasgow-based titles also national organiser for quality journalism. It promised to follows a series of Scotland, said: “Our preserve its editorial independence. structural changes that members are very staff say will have a detrimental impact on the committed to providing Scotland with quality quality of their work, health and family lives. journalism, and our survey demonstrates that ORWELL SOCIETY Although the company has yet to confirm commitment, despite the severe reduction in OFFERS BURSARY the exact number of jobs they will cut, this is staffing levels over many years. The Orwell Society is inviting seen as a further blow to journalists who have “This latest blow has galvanised them, and aspiring journalists to enter a faced more than a decade of cuts to staffing they don’t believe it is possible to work harder competition for a £3000 bursary. It levels and almost no increase in wages during than they do already, with fewer people than is open to students studying in the same period. they already have.” September/October 2020 or those aiming to take up a journalistic job at that time. For more information email [email protected] with Samira Ahmed claims pay parity Bursary Journalist in the header. THE BBC presenter Samira the programme in July 2018. By Ahmed, backed by the NUJ, has contrast, Samira was paid £440 REACH CLOSES LAST made a claim for equal pay at an per programme from 2012. This CORNISH NEWSROOM employment tribunal. The ruling increased in 2015 to £465 but Reach is closing its last newsroom in is expected soon. then reduced again when the BBC Cornwall and another office in the The case was heard at the moved presenters onto south west. Its journalists there will Central London Employment employment contracts. work remotely or in shared spaces Tribunal over several days and View between 2008 and July Samira previously secured while others go to a hub in Plymouth. focused on her contracts on 2018. He was paid £3,000 per backdated pay in line with male No jobs will go from the closure of the Newswatch. Her equal pay episode between 2008 and 2018. comparators for work on BBC Truro and Exeter offices. comparator was Jeremy Vine in His fee was then reduced to Radio 4’s Front Row and Radio 3’s relation to his work on Points of £1,300 in January 2018. He left Night Waves/ Free Thinking.

JESS HURD GROCER’S TRIUMPH OVER APOSTROPHE A society that championed the Nicholson was eliminated correct use of apostrophes has Journalist editor re-elected second with 93 votes. At that closed. John Richards, a former CHRISTINE BUCKLEY has been scoring candidates are point Christine Buckley was sub-editor, started the Apostrophe re-elected editor of The systematically eliminated, elected with 1364 votes. Jane Protection Society in 2001 when he Journalist in a ballot of NUJ and their second preference Anderson polled 572; retired. Now 96, Richards is ending members. Nine candidates votes distributed to other Samantha Downes 120; his mission. On its website, he said: competed for the role. candidates until a candidate Alanna Gallagher 154; Marc “We, and our many supporters The election was conducted reaches a required quota. Bill Jones 169; Matt Salusbury worldwide, have done our best but by single transferable vote McCarthy was eliminated first 182; and Lynne Wallis 126. the ignorance and laziness present which means that the lowest with 55 votes and David Turnout was 11.2 per cent. in modern times have won!”

theJournalist | 03 news inbrief... Union condemns ‘Scroogequest’ WIN FOR FREDDIE STARR’S HAMSTER ‘Freddie Starr ate my hamster’ has as Christmas cuts hit local papers been voted favourite Sun headline by readers. The poll marked the NUJ MEMBERS in Cumbria and Darlington majority of the experienced reporting staff in 50th anniversary in November of have been informed of hefty new cuts to local Carlisle have left in rounds of cuts. Rupert Murdoch taking ownership newspapers owned by Newsquest. Cuts are also being made at the group’s of the paper. One in five voted for The editor at the Carlisle News and Star is magazine titles, including Cumbria Life, the 1986 front page that said the leaving without replacement. At the Dumfries and Galloway Life, Carlisle Living and Starr had eaten a live hamster in a Workington and Whitehaven titles, the a business magazine. Six employees have sandwich. He later denied the story. associate editor and content editor are at risk been put at risk of redundancy and staff have of redundancy, as is the editor of the been told that two jobs will remain. Most of Westmoreland Gazette. the production work on the Cumbria THE SUN EXPANDS The arts and leisure writer at Westmorland magazines will move to Newport in Gwent. DIGITAL FOOTPRINT Gazette, journalists working on Carlisle The NUJ is urging the company to The Sun is expanding its digital features and the arts and leisure reconsider and operation to the US, saying it has writer in Kendal commit to investing in ‘ambitious plans for growth’. The are being sustainable local title, which is the most-read news consulted on journalism and jobs. brand in print and online in the UK, redundancy. Chris Morley, revealed the US launch in a job If these jobs Newsquest NUJ group chapel coordinator, The loss of advert for a head of audience based are cut, one group editor will remain in Carlisle said: “Yet again, as we approach Christmas as journalists’ jobs since in New York. to edit all the titles in Cumbria. the season of goodwill, Scroogequest looms At Darlington, home to the Northern Echo large. Newsquest took over and the Darlington and Stockton Times, “The job losses most often affect older, just 19 months ago AFTER-SCHOOL TV journalists were told the weekly multimedia more experienced staff whose local “ NEWS UNDER THREAT content manager post was being axed, along knowledge and invaluable experience are has been staggering The BBC wants to cut Newsround’s with a sports editor (production), a freelance being lost to the detriment of their after-school bulletin after almost 50 specialist writer and the IT technician. communities.” years to focus on online children’s Since Newsquest took over the family-run He added: “The loss of journalists’ jobs at Chris Morley news content. The CBBC channel CN Group in 2018, all of the subeditors, four CN Group since Newsquest took over just Northern and Midlands now airs three daily Newsround out of our five photographers and the 19 months ago has been staggering.” senior organiser bulletins of 5-10 minutes each to meet an Ofcom requirement of 85 hours per year. The BBC has asked for changes to its licence to require Academic: reclaim black radicalism

35 hours per year with a minimum ACADEMIC KEHINDE Andrews a dead end. It’s not good HAZEL DUNLOP of one scheduled daily bulletin. made a passionate call to enough to have a few black arms to black people who he people making it when others said had been stopped by are at the bottom of the pile.” GUARDIAN GOES FOR racism from building on He urged black people to get NET ZERO EMISSIONS advances made in previous organised and fight for their The Guardian Media Group has decades, when he gave the rights, including in unions. pledged to reach net zero carbon NUJ’s keynote Claudia Jones He added: “We need to emissions as a business by 2030. Memorial Lecture in London. reclaim the politics of black year as part of London’s Black It has also promised to ‘prioritise The Birmingham City radicalism because it’s not History month in honour of and give prominence’ to its University professor and just an ideology in the radical journalist Claudia Jones environmental journalism and never author, who runs Britain’s first tradition of Malcolm X but a You can watch the full lecture allow its reporting to be influenced black studies course, said: blueprint for major change.” here: https://tinyurl.com/ by commercial or political interests. “The liberal road to reform is The lecture is held every ukf6546.

STYLIST PLEDGES A LONG FUTURE IN PRINT Time with the NME falls down the charts Women’s free magazine Stylist has a ‘long lifespan’ in print yet, its TIME SPENT reading the NME and Dr Richard Fletcher had In March 2018, the NME less costly, it’s also more editor-in-chief Lisa Smosarski has has fallen 72 per cent since previously shown that the ended 66 years of print constrained, with much said. She said the 10-year-old title the music magazine went Independent saw an 81 per publication after a three of the attention simply had a solid audience and advertiser online only, according to an cent fall in the time readers years as a freesheet. stripped away.” base and distributed 410,674 copies academic study. were spending on it when it Dr Thurman said: “While a Read the study at https:// a week. Authors Dr Neil Thurman went online only in 2016. post-print existence may be tinyurl.com/spjmwpv

04 | theJournalist news Freelance journalists’ pay inbrief... FT APPOINTS FIRST FEMALE EDITOR boosted by Dutch court Roula Khalaf has been appointed the first woman editor of the FT. IN A HISTORIC judgment, a Dutch court has Khalaf, who is now deputy editor, ruled it reasonable for two freelance will start in the new year when journalists to be paid 50 per cent more for current editor Lionel Barber leaves. their work. Hourly rates of approximately Barber has been editor for 14 years £12.50 were judged too low. This was a historic and Khalaf has been deputy for It was the first time a case, brought under three years. She has been at the the Netherlands’ Authors’ Contract law, has judgment with paper for 24 years, having intervened in the market to offer better pay consequences for all previously been foreign editor. for freelances. Employer DPG Media must now pay the “Dutch self-employed reporter €0.21 a word, and the photographer photographers and YOUNGE BECOMES €65 a photograph. was offered rates of 13 cents a word for a SOCIOLOGY ACADEMIC Thomas Bruning, general secretary of Dutch 500-word article taking four hours. journalists Gary Younge, editor-at-large at the journalists’ union the NVJ, said the new rates Their lawyer Otto Volgenant said: “This is Guardian, is leaving the newspaper were a first, important step towards fairer pay too little to live on.” Van Uem said: “I refuse to to join the University of Rosa García López for regional journalists. The NVJ now plans to work for a newspaper which thinks €15 an Manchester as a professor of Secretary, NVJ bring further legal cases for a large group hour a reasonable rate.” sociology. Younge, who has freelance and of freelances. Under the authors’ law, journalists have a reported from the US, Europe and photographers’ In January 2019, the NVJ, with its right to ‘reasonable’ reimbursement, but this Africa, will continue to write for sections photographers’ section the NVF, organised a is the first time a court has said what is the newspaper. national strike against low pay rates for reasonable. It took into account the gap freelance photographers which, it feared, between freelance rates and staff salaries. could turn the profession into a ‘glorified Rosa García López, secretary of the NVJ’s PROFITS FALL AT hobby’ within 10 years. More than 500 freelance and photographers’ sections said THE TELEGRAPH members – half of the Dutch profession – laid this was a historic judgment with The Telegraph’s pre-tax profits fell down their cameras for 24 hours. “consequences for all Dutch self-employed by 88 per cent to £1.6 million last The union then backed claims for higher photographers and journalists”. year. However, total subscription rates by regional freelance photographer DPG Media, which employs 4,000-5,000 revenues rose by 10 per cent after a Ruud Rogier, who had been paid €42 for regional freelance journalists, argues it 27 per cent increase in income from photographs, involving up to three hours’ is important that regional journalism digital subscriptions. work each, and reporter Britt van Uem, who remains profitable.

CLARIFICATION FOR ENNISKILLEN REPORT Reporter ‘does the job of the police’ In a news report about online A HEALTH TRUST read an article by NUJ said he knew “just what I’ve organised the meeting. threats to a reporter who had representative shocked a member Rodney Edwards in read in the papers”. NUJ national executive investigated historic child abuse in public meeting in the Impartial Reporter. Since March, Edwards has council member Anton Enniskillen in the last edition of Enniskillen, Northern Martin Carey, representing been running articles McCabe was a speaker. He The Journalist, it was wrongly Ireland, when he said he did the trust’s chief executive, exposing sex abuse in the asked: “Why was it left to stated that the chair of Fermanagh not know girls from a was answering a question area. As a result, victims and local journalists? Why was and Omagh District Council refused children’s home were being about what the trust was survivors established a this investigation not carried to take a motion commending the sexually abused until he doing about the abuse. He group, Silent No More, who out by police?” reporter’s work. We would like to clarify that no motion was tabled although the reporter was praised.

THE CHRONICLE, 7th N ov e m b e r 2019

Page 33

TRAVEL INSURANCE Coleraine Chronicle marks 175 years FOR JOURNALISTS The International Federation of THE COLERAINE Chronicle, one of Northern Ireland’s oldest newspapers, celebrated its 175th Journalists and battleface – a anniversary in November with a souvenir supplement. This included a reprint of the paper’s first specialist travel insurer – are front page in 1844, which then showed only advertising. offering insurance to journalists. IFJ Editor John Fillis said: “No matter how we get the news out to our readers, one thing remains members, which include NUJ paramount – trust. Readers have to know that what they are reading is true and unbiased, members, can access protection for never more so in the age of fake news and bloggers. medical expenses, evacuation, “It’s why the Chronicle has managed to maintain its position as the most widely read accidents and injuries. For more newspaper in town – and just one reason that will continue to see it keeping that position.” information: https://www.ifj.org

theJournalist | 05 Irish delegate conference

Reports: Deaglán de Bréadún. Photos: Derek Speirs and Mark Maxwell Government attacked over RTE’s funding MARK MAXWELL THE IRISH government was he received from the office of sharply criticised over its communications minister approach to the major Richard Bruton, which stated: financial crisis at state-owned “It is a matter for the RTÉ public-service broadcaster board and executive in the To those who run RTÉ RTÉ (Raidió Teilifís Éireann) first instance to decide on and those who are in a motion carried at the the optimum strategy to NUJ’s Irish Biennial Delegate meet the strategic and about to ruin RTÉ: this Conference in Dublin. financial challenges the country needs RTÉ – Proposed by the Irish company faces”. “ executive council, the motion Brady described the you have no right to condemned “the refusal of comment as "a blatant successive governments to abdication of responsibility”. banjax it provide adequate funding The NUJ has launched for RTÉ; the refusal to reform had “failed in its politicians:"Don’t a political lobbying campaign the outmoded licence fee legal and moral banjax the aimed at securing Séamus Dooley collection system and the obligations to country.” government support for RTÉ. Irish secretary action of the current minister RTÉ” and that RTÉ Dooley added: It is the first stage in a for communications, climate management had “I’m going to say to wider campaign supported by change and the environment “shown themselves to lack those who run RTÉ and sister unions SIPTU and in postponing the vision and to be inept”. those who are to ruin RTÉ: Connect and the Irish introduction of a new Earlier at the conference, this country needs RTÉ – you Congress of Trade Unions. collection system for Dooley recalled how recently have no right to banjax it.” The slogan is ‘It's your RTÉ, five years.” deceased broadcasting Ronan Brady of Dublin save it’ – in Irish, ‘Leatsa é Irish secretary Séamus legend and NUJ member Press and Public Relations RTÉ, sábháil é’. Dooley said the government Gay Byrne used to say to Branch quoted a recent letter

The motion said there was “no Move to review The Journalist defeated criticism of what is recognised as A MOTION calling for a cost-benefit online publication was narrowly Fagan called for a debate as to a highly professional and lively analysis of the continued publication defeated by five votes to four. whether producing The Journalist publication”. It said the question of The Journalist and a feasibility Proposing the motion on behalf was the best use of the union’s was “about priorities at a time of study on replacing it with a daily of Dublin Freelance Branch, Kieran limited funds. stagnant or falling income”.

Call to beware complacency over press freedom THERE CAN be no be used to accommodate complacency in Ireland over asylum-seekers. press freedom, Séamus Dooley also highlighted the DEREK SPIERS Dooley said in his report to decision of Communicorp the conference, which was on Media, owned by the theme ‘Defending businessman Denis O’Brien, journalism in times of crisis’. to ban interviews on its radio He described an incident stations with Irish Times A freelance video on Achill Island where a journalists as well as staff and journalist was freelance video journalist was contributors to a news escorted out of a public website, The Currency. escorted out of a meeting, amid jeers and The NUJ complained to the public meeting, amid shouts of “out, out, out” from Broadcasting Authority of “ a minority of those attending Ireland. Dooley said: “I can jeers and shouts of the event. confirm that our concerns are The meeting had been to be considered by the “out, out, out” called following reports compliance committee of that a local hotel would the authority.”

6 | theJournalist Irish delegate conference NUJ remembers murdered in brief... WORKERS LOSE STEADY INCOME journalist Lyra McKee The rights of journalists, health workers, teachers and other DEREK SPIERS ALL AROUND the world, professionals to steady employment media freedoms are being and a predictable income have threatened and journalists declined, Irish Congress of Trade are losing their lives for doing Unions assistant general secretary their jobs, the NUJ general Owen Reidy told delegates. He said: secretary told delegates. “This is a common problem which Michelle Stanistreet made a can only be challenged by common special presentation to Sara resolve across all economic sectors.” Canning (pictured right), partner of journalist Lyra McKee, who died after being NEW DUO TO CHAIR shot on April 18 this year as she IRISH EXECUTIVE observed a confrontation Dara Bradley and Siobhán Holliman between police and rioters in taking notes and filming on particular their right to life.” from the West of Ireland branch the Creggan area of Derry. her phone, doing her job, A motion from the Belfast have been elected to chair the NUJ’s NUJ members held vigils going about her work, while and District Branch, passed She was standing Irish Executive Council on a and other events in many so-called dissident republicans unanimously, instructed taking notes and job-share basis, in succession to locations to celebrate McKee’s rioted in the Creggan”. the Irish executive council Gerry Carson of Belfast and District life and signed condolence He added: “Whatever “to liaise with the ICTU to filming on her phone, and Bernie Mullen from Derry books in her memory. about their right to hold call action as necessary doing her job, going North-West Branch, who jointly held Stanistreet said she was certain views, these people do against sectarian violence “ the position for four years. presenting the books to Sara not, I believe, deserve the and the activities of about her work, while “on behalf of Lyra’s NUJ family honour of being called paramilitary groups”. The for whom she will always be ‘dissident’.” He said the term motion also instructed the IEC so-called dissident TOUGH CONDITIONS IN held in massive affection”. dissident implied “thinking to work towards the NUJ republicans rioted SOMALILAND Owen Reidy, assistant against the grain – it implies setting up a charitable fund NUJ member and asylum-seeker general secretary of the Irish acting in a manner which is that will commemorate Lyra Mohamed Abdi Curad was an Congress of Trade Unions, true to your own beliefs and McKee by providing training, Owen Reidy observer at the conference. He told said that when Lyra McKee values while not trampling on grants or other assistance to Irish Congress of Trade delegates about the difficulties was shot, she was “standing the rights of others, in young journalists. Unions experienced by journalists in his home country of Somaliland, including inhuman treatment and imprisonment. Name those who reject recognition REFUSAL BY managements to Trade Unions for a campaign to and it works particularly well with DELEGATES CALL FOR recognise unions is increasing, highlight this practice — including local newspapers, and I’ve seen SAFETY TRAINING the conference heard. a naming and shaming campaign”. that on an ongoing basis.” The conference passed a motion, Delegates unanimously Irish Organiser Ian McGuinness He added that ICTU was also proposed by photographer Liam approved an Irish South-West said: “Naming and shaming pressing the Irish government to McBurney of Belfast and District Branch motion “to seek the works. It works in Ireland, legislate for statutory recognition Branch, to organise training for NUJ backing of the Irish Congress of because we’re a small country of trade unions. members in Ireland around personal safety in situations where they might be at risk, as well as support for those who experience violence, threats or trauma in their work. Social media bullying controls could backfire RECOGNITION FOR SOME PROPOSED solutions to social media problem was that “the very activists who are LIFE MEMBERS harassment could be counterproductive, Dr often attacked also need anonymity, especially Life membership certificates were Karlin Lillington (pictured left) told a session on outside western democracies”, she said. presented to Irish NUJ members who

DEREK SPIERS ‘hate speech’. Sara Canning, who was Lyra McKee’s partner, have been in the union for at least The Irish Times columnist added that it was said McKee had been “the victim of a sustained 40 years. One of them Tony Mulvey, often argued that social media users should bullying campaign” on social media. who recently retired from the Clare have to provide formal identification and On a separate issue, Dr Lillington said she Champion newspaper, joined in people should not be able to hide behind would like to see tax from companies such as 1961 and his father had joined in anonymity by using encryption. However, the Google ringfenced for public-service broadcasting. 1943.

theJournalist | 7 reporting guidelines Folklore or racism?

they are consciously pitting people There is growing controversy over the Dutch Christmas against each other.” character Zwarte Piet. Tony Sheldon reports Hokstam, who launched black community publication Afro Magazine, joined the NUJ in 2018. He was pleased n the Netherlands, it is ‘killjoys’ and said to have ‘spoiled the to find the union has a record of the time of Sinterklaas, children’s party’. challenging racism, and guidelines to whose arrival from Spain An article in a daily called the Kick Out ensure stories are balanced and reporters I in November, according campaigners ‘a handful of fanatics’ and not forced write things considered racist. to Dutch folklore, marks ‘extreme left activists’ whose ‘agenda “The NUJ is light years ahead of other the start of the Christmas festivities. was to remove icons of Dutch culture’. unions. It is only now that the Dutch This white-bearded, fatherly Kick Out campaigner Jerry Afriyie was media are considering adjusting the do-gooder is helped by his diminutive described as a ‘poet activist’ and a use of offensive language.”. and hapless sidekick Zwarte Piet, or columnist said his activist talents could Today Hokstam and his BMC Black Piet. Piet is often played by white be put to better use in Ghana, his country colleague Martin Todd, backed by their people in blackface, with thick black of origin, referring to an Amnesty I find it truly NUJ branches, are urging journalists to curly hair, thick, accentuated, red lips International report on the death penalty adhere to professional standards. and hoop earrings, much like enslaved and repression of gay rights there. appalling“ when Hokstam says: “The fact that there is Africans are supposed to have looked. In a TV debate, Douwes refused to still debate about this in 2019 is While some insist that the character is share a stage with Afriyie, so the black journalists openly concerning, especially when journalists an innocent part of folklore, others decry man sat in the audience while the choose a side. and newspapers appear to take sides in him as a racist stereotype. In recent white woman was on stage. “The talk favour of those supporting black Piet. years, Sint’s arrival in the Netherlands show host relegated him to the back of Then it is not about “Journalists, talk show hosts, radio and Belgium has sparked heated debate the bus” says Hokstam’. and TV presenters have ridiculed the about whether Black Piet should be less Questionable reporting appears Black Piet but campaign’s views, allowing audiences to racist or relegated to the past. persistent, with one recent news story believe minorities do not have the right Marvin Hokstam of the NUJ’s black talking of anti-black Piet activists ready about journalism to criticise Dutch traditions, no matter members council’s (BMC) moved to the ‘to clash with angry fathers’. and ethics how offensive they consider them.” Netherlands from the Caribbean in Hokstam says: ”When I see this sort 2012. He says: “Blackface is without a of subjective reporting, my hopes of Marvin Hokstam worked with Tony doubt a racist depiction of black people more balanced reporting fade. It’s like Sheldon on this article which causes insult and it should DPA PICTURE ALLIANCE ARCHIVE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO require no explanation any more. “But I find it truly appalling when journalists appear openly to choose a side ” in the debate. Then it is not about Black Piet but about journalism and ethics.” The worst coverage followed an incident in 2017 when buses carrying Kick Out Zwarte Piet supporters were prevented from attending Sinterklaas’s arrival. The road was blocked by lorries, minibuses, cars and forklift trucks. Dozens of young men, some hooded, surrounded the buses, threatening and, reportedly, shouting racist abuse. Subsequently, 33 of these counter- demonstrators were found guilty of blocking the public highway. Jenny Douwes, who had urged people on Facebook to support the blockade, was found guilty of incitement. All were given community service orders, although these were reduced on appeal. However, in the media, it was the Kick Out Zwarte Piet supporters who were described as ‘troublemakers’ and

8 | theJournalist viewpoint

Why did the media not ask the Irish question?

British Brexit coverage missed a main issue, says Séamus Dooley

rish Times cartoonist Born in Antrim, educated in Derry As the backstop emerged in November Martyn Turner uses an and Dublin, Connelly brought local 2017, the heretofore forgotten border acerbic pencil and can knowledge, expertise and political suddenly became relevant. Connelly I always be relied upon nous to his coverage. His performances described the Brexit negotiators’ clause to get to the point. on British TV were impressive. as an “innocuous-sounding paragraph One of my favourite Turner cartoons I followed British coverage – radio, … the infant that would grow into the features the Queen of England TV, print and digital – from my home single most intractable source of commenting that no Queen’s Speech in the oldest part of Dublin, the conflict in the negotiations”. would be complete without reference to Liberties. I can’t say European affairs There are genuine challenges for Northern Ireland. In the next panel, she usually float the boat of punters in media organisations in comprehensively is seen waving a large handkerchief as Fallon’s pub under the shadow of covering such a major story. Given the she declares: “Hello, Northern Ireland.” St Patrick’s Cathedral or are a burning intricacies of border controls and VAT It is a supreme irony that the two topic of conversation among Meath or John Bercow v Boris Johnston, it’s features analysing the media coverage of Street stallholders – but Brexit probably not surprising that hard facts Brexit in the October-November edition captured the attention of the Irish were obscured by theatrical tantrums. of The Journalist did not even doff a hat public from day one. It was not just the Significant sections of the media, such in the direction of Northern Ireland. chattering classes on this side of the as The Sun, the Telegraph and the Daily The omission is all the stranger Irish sea who followed the referendum. Express, tried to turn Taoiseach Leo because Raymond Snoddy is from We Irish strongly value our ties with Varadkar into what Roy Greenslade, there. He knows better than most the Britain. We are united by connections writing in the Guardian, described as the complexities of Anglo-Irish relations, of history, politics, sport, family and, Brexit Bogeyman. The Mail on Sunday of the vital importance of the Good for many Irish journalists, our trade once said that Theresa May loathed him. Friday/Belfast Agreement and the deep union. We also value the peace brought The British and Irish public paid the political divisions that materialise about by the Good Friday Agreement price for the lack of a proper analysis whenever the border is mentioned. It and watched with horror from afar the from day one. The failure of the British used to be called the Irish question. unfolding threat to that fragile creation. media to hold the political class to And, as Denis MacShane is a former What struck me was that two central account in relation to Northern Ireland minister for Europe, it’s hard to believe issues – workers’ rights and the is worthy of serious examination. he is unaware of Northern Ireland. implications for Northern Ireland On the morning the referendum Anyone writing on “the uncertain fate of – received little attention in the result was announced, I sent a text to Britain” cannot be blind to the uncertain British media. an NUJ colleague, quoting from the fate of Northern Ireland or of the failure Inevitably, elections and referendums When the result Second Coming by WB Yeats: of the UK media to adequately explore are personalised but, above the din, was announced, Things fall apart; the centre the implications for UK/Irish relations there could and should have been cannot hold; of the referendum. meaningful media analysis. When the scant regard was Mere anarchy is loosed upon The problem that dared not speak its result was announced, scant regard was paid to the result in the world, name – the Irish dimension – was paid to the result in Northern Ireland, “ The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, simply ignored by all but a handful of where the majority voted to remain. Northern Ireland, and everywhere journalists and media organisations. That blind eye was a harbinger of The ceremony of innocence I may be partisan but one of the few what was to come. When the where the majority is drowned; journalists who seemed to get the full Democratic Unionist Party assumed a voted to remain The best lack all conviction, while implications of Brexit was Tony powerful position in Westminster, the worst Connelly, RTÉ’s Europe editor and a many journalists suddenly found Are full of passionate intensity. former colleague at the Irish themselves trying to figure out what A vision of anarchy in the UK? The Independent in Dublin. was going on ‘over there’. media should have seen it coming. ” theJournalist | 09 newsletters

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Since DIFTK’s launch three years ago, it has grown into an Producing newsletters can raise income and all-encompassing support group for freelances with children. bring you closer to readers, says Jem Collins As well as organising events, Frankie produces a podcast and newsletter, and runs social media groups where freelances bond over the “utter ridiculousness of trying to take a client n October, London Playbook sent out a call with a toddler gnawing at your ankle”. newsletter about the Brexit process to its tens “Until a couple of months ago, it was something I did of thousands of subscribers. Nothing unusual completely for the love,” she explains. In September, though, I there. However, this edition also contained a as well as exploring sponsorship, she “took a leap of faith” and reference to an obscure type of animal, a zebu. asked the community itself to lend their financial support. What’s a zebu? you ask. “Look it up,” wrote reporter Charlie “While I’d been slowly building up a generic newsletter list, I Cooper, almost in anticipation of the question. And look it up could never justify the time and headspace to send anything they did, with Google recording a 100 per cent rise in the to it,” she says. usual number of searches for zebus by 1pm. While she still keeps a free list for general DIFTK updates, It’s an incredible engagement statistic, especially when she feels a premium monthly offering gives some reports estimate readers spend as little as 30 seconds both the justification and head space to create reading articles online. However, it is less surprising when you something ‘really useful for people’, which also think about the reason newsletters have endured. acts as a small thank you. “They’re a very engaged medium,” explains Gavin Allen, a Financial rewards aside, newsletters can be a lecturer in digital journalism at Cardiff University. “They’re lifeline for other reasons. New York-based writer self-selecting. The chances are, if you sign up for a newsletter, Sonia Weiser runs Opportunities of the Week, a you’re going to use that newsletter.” mailout made up of a scarily comprehensive list of However, while newsletters have long been an engagement calls for pitches and freelance work across the tool for publishers, freelance journalists have been using globe. Launched a little more than a year ago, it now them in recent years for their own original reporting – and has more than 1,000 subscribers on Patreon alone, charging readers directly. all parting with between one and 10 dollars a month. Substack, a start-up that helps journalists do just that, now “It was an extension of my obsessive night-time facilitates thousands of writers, with more than 50,000 job searches that I had been doing for years,” Weiser people subscribing to a Substack publication. explains. “Jumping from retweeting opportunities to Similarly, Ko-fi, a site that allows fans to pay creators for their compiling them into an email wasn’t that much of an work, say more money is changing hands than ever before. imaginative leap. “We hit a milestone in September of a million dollars in a “I was at a point in my life where I felt completely single month being earned,” says Simon Ellington, one of the useless. The Harvey Weinstein news and its immediate site’s founders. “That’s the first time we’ve crossed that kind fallout pushed me to an edge not only in terms of my of chasm.” personal experience with men but also because I saw For Eve Livingston, a journalist based in Scotland, a paid-for how much journalism could do. And, with that, how newsletter was the perfect way to combine nuanced, little I was doing as a writer to make any kind of specialist writing with a steady stream of income. No Offence, positive change.” her monthly mailing about free speech, contains two original It was originally a free weekly newsletter – “people pieces of reporting, analysis of a topical issue, and links to grabbed onto it quickly” – and it became vital for Weiser too. related reading elsewhere. “It became something that I could work on when I was too “I wanted to write about these topics,” she tells The Journalist, depressed to do anything beyond typing keywords into “but the arguments I wanted to make were quite nuanced and Twitter and, being someone with chronic depression, my theoretical, and obviously places don’t always want to go for that.” other work often got sidelined for this kind of menial labour.” Finances were a key consideration, with a subscription $1m A few months later, Weiser began to charge for the newsletter offering “something sustainable and steady”. “It service – she was now spending eight to 10 hours a week doesn’t make me loads of money but it does pay about a day Amount earned on it, and it was limiting her own ability to write. Now rate,” she says. with a recommended price of $3 a month, it covers her Similarly, Frankie Totora, who runs Doing It For The Kids in one month main expenses. (DIFTK), says it was about making a ‘side project of epic “Not having to think about making rent has opened up proportions’ sustainable. at Ko-fi space in my brain which was otherwise occupied by financial

10 | theJournalist newsletters

VLADISLAV KOCHELAEVSKIY / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

How to start a newsletter Just start producing,” he adds. for everyone, so don’t be The key is simply to just “At that point, you can pick afraid to quit. start, says Simon Ellington a launch date for your “If it’s not going well and from Ko-fi. “Don’t overthink subscriber-only content.” you’ve been doing it for six it. It doesn’t matter if months, you shouldn’t feel you have 10,000 readers Always have some like you can’t put that down,” or 10.” free content says Gavin Allen. “Just start writing, publish “Even once you have “If you have an audience, anxiety. Not to say I’m rolling in money, but the newsletter on a consistent schedule, payments enabled, you you can still transfer them definitely helps.” then seek feedback from should continue to do to a new product.” However, as with anything, starting a newsletter does not your readers,” echoes regular, high-quality free Hamish McKenzie. “Don’t Find software that work for everyone. As Livingston, Weiser and Totora all posts,” stresses Hamish, invite paralysis analysis.” works for you indicate, putting together a good-quality product is a suggesting these are sent out at least once a week. There are lots of options. time-consuming business, and there is no guarantee things Go free first “This free content should Ko-fi, Substack and will take off straight away. Even if a paid newsletter is often be your best stuff, Patreon offer an all-in-one “We don’t suggest you open up your page and this will be the plan, start by producing a because that’s what builds service, while sites like your full income stream,” adds Ellington. “It’s additional, not high-quality free newsletter, your reputation, brings in CampaignZee integrate instead of. Don’t quit your job to open a Ko-fi page.” says McKenzie. new readers and can be with Mailchimp. Finding an audience itself can also be tough – especially in “Keep adjusting [your shared.” Make sure you look at content] until you’re in a what works best for you, good rhythm and you know Don’t be afraid to stop looking at both fees and the people like what you’re A newsletter doesn’t work user journey.

a crowded marketplace. “Newsletters are becoming more and more specific,” explains Allen, pointing to the Washington Post’s Trump impeachment newsletter. “It shows how specific it’s getting. It’s not just a Trump letter – you’re going down three notches of niche.” While Livingston found she was easily able to entice readers, she admits this was thanks to the profile she had already built. Then, there’s the noticeable silence after you press send. Even if your newsletter has thousands of subscribers, you won’t be inundated with replies. “You know that people have read it because they’ve all opened it,” adds Livingston. “But there’s less of a feedback loop. It’s rewarding on a personal level, but you aren’t getting the same sort of discussion going.” After all, asks Allen, when was the last time you replied to a newsletter? However, challenges aside, subscription newsletters offer freelance journalists a new way to diversify their income and connect with the readers in a more meaningful way. With subscription prices varying anything between £1 and £9 a month, they’re not a million miles away from packages offered by The Telegraph, The i Paper, and other national news sites. So, just what is it that makes readers willing to pay journalists directly? “There’s a qualitative difference between the idea of paying for a publication and paying to support a person,” says Hamish McKenzie, a co-founder of Substack. “You don’t subscribe to get content, you subscribe to a person. Really, a subscriber is paying for a newsletter that improves their life.”

theJournalist | 11

A riot of colour

Evans moved from The Northern Echo to First sunday supplement proved to be controversial, The Sunday Times editorial chair. Later to be Sir says Jonathan Sale Harold, he was a serious, campaigning journalist and looked askance at the louche lads and lasses of the magazine. They in turn looked to Lord he innovation was not quarter of a million new readers who were Thomson, for whom they were soon making a universally welcomed: ‘suddenly, drawn in by the only colour in a black-and-white fortune, to watch their backs. there was a scream of horror, Sunday world. The magazine chronicled and “The golden age was in the 60s and 70s,” says T followed by shouts of rage, became a conspicuous part of the Swinging George Perry. followed by a clatter of dustbin Sixties. Lord (Roy) Thomson had started it “A period of paradise,” agrees Philip Norman, lids.” When Hunter Davies shared his unashamedly as a vehicle for advertising and, one of the star writers. “The magazine was entertaining reminiscences at an NUJ freelance encouraged by the fact that ads made up the 60 completely irresponsible.” In a good way, he adds: branch meeting about his career at The Sunday per cent of the pagination at then enormous “They sent me round the world.” Times, he did not mention the morning of rate of £3,000 per colour page, he held his nerve. He once remarked when I was dropping in my February 4 1962 nor the horrified old lady in the So too did the editor of the paper itself, who freelance copy that there was a novel to be flat below his. Nor did he refer to the pair of was known as ‘the brigadier’ because he was, in written about the goings-on at the magazine and, sugar tongs with which she gingerly picked up fact, a brigadier (well, actually a lieutenant- a quarter of a century later, he wrote it. the loathsome colour section and then dumped colonel). Everyone’s Gone to the Moon featured in The it in the rubbish bin. George Perry, who joined a few months after Journalist’s recent round-up of classic journo He was seeing the reaction of many readers the launch, pays proper credit: “Denis Hamilton yarns. It is a wickedly humorous tale of the whose Sabbath had been ruined by the launch was a tremendous overall editor. If readers struggles between a young provincial journalist issue of this vulgar comic that was lurking like a complained, he said: ‘It doesn’t matter what they (like Norman, say) and his editor who bears no cuckoo in the nest of their respectable copy of think – they will be enlightened. Our job is to resemblance to, er, Evans. The Sunday Times. Being a reporter on the give them what they don’t know about.’ ” “If the novel paints Harry as the villain, that’s ‘steam section’ (as the trendy magazine staffers Always a restless soul, Boxer flew the nest he how we saw him,” says Robert Lacey, who, in dismissively referred to the main, black-and- had constructed after a mere three years and addition to his day job on the magazine, started white newspaper), Davies could plead not guilty was replaced by Godfrey Smith, aka Godders. work on Majesty, his authoritative book on the to any involvement with the gaudy newcomer; it Hamilton moved upstairs two years later. Harry Queen. “Evans’ genius lay in allowing units like was just as well that the lady downstairs would TIME LIFE PICTURES not have guessed that one day he would be the fourth editor of this add-on which changed the person, who got others (type)face of British newspapers. The future held Ideas man boxed clever to execute them. 12,000-word features on genocide – and articles “The visual image MARK BOXER, the Having made his This was John Anstey, by Jilly Cooper. moved him,” said his editor of the inaugural name as the cartoonist who took ages to come successor, the late The first cover of this groundbreaking issue of the first UK ‘Marc’, he joined and up with dummies; these Godfrey Smith, “but he publication displayed 12 shots of model Jean colour supplement, was redesigned Queen (later were not liked and he appreciated good Shrimpton in a Mary Quant dress taken by her ahead of the curve to Harper’s & Queen). left without producing a writers or ‘wordies’ as boyfriend David Bailey and its contents included the point of being early Oddly enough, he was single issue. He later he liked to call them, a Robert Carrier recipe for stewed oyster. Yet for his own funeral. not the first person to be became the launch editor and knew intuitively these delights did not save the day: “The Sunday When he was appointed editor of The of the Telegraph’s colour how to mix the two. Times issued an apology the following week rusticated (suspended) Sunday Times colour mag, so his dummies “Pencil thin, because it was such a disaster,” recalls Magnus from Cambridge section (as it was called). must have improved. meticulously dressed, Linklater, the third editor. for publishing a poem Lord Thomson, the dark hair – a younger Looking back at the early copies with benefit in which ‘God’ was proprietor of The and more refined edition of 10 years of hindsight, Mark Boxer wrote:“I rhymed with ‘sod’, Sunday Times, then of Rex Harrison. He lived found them curiously disappointing, safe he had a mock found Boxer exactly the on the front edge of life.” funeral procession man to get the ball – and mostly.” And he had been the launch editor. The Boxer’s second funeral escorting him to the presses – rolling. magazine lost a million pounds in its first year. – the real one – came the station. Boxer was an ideas when he was only 57. On the bright side, the readers who had cancelled were more than replaced by the

12 | theJournalist

Looking back to: 1962

JEFF MORGAN 02 / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

the colour mag to operate with virtual autonomy.” There may have been complaints about the magazine’s generous spending policy but Lacey retorts: “I’d be defensive about expenses. The essence of finding material was to be out and about.” The most extreme example of out-and-about was when Godders took the staff on an outing to the former Yugoslavia for a feature on A Day in the Life of Sarajevo. Not a word was published. When Godfrey Smith took over from Boxer, he “I was supposed to be sorting out all those “The pictures weren’t very good,” explains art instituted a strict regime of enormous lunches. ‘pansies’ but they were such a brilliant, brilliant director Michael Rand and, if the art director “Sumptuous game pies and ideas would flow, lot of people doing brilliant things. The didn’t like it, it didn’t go in. What did go in was sometimes 50 or 60,” reminisces Perry. Ideas, accusation against me was that I went native.” the work of brilliant photographers. Lord that is, not pies. “Within a week,” agrees Norman. Snowdon would drop in with his classic “I never really wanted to go on holiday,” says The task of Hunter Davies, who followed portraits. Also in the stable of sensational Suzanne Hodgart, a long-time staff member who Linklater, was to lay down the law. After he had snappers was Don McCullin, whose early photo kept the show on the road. “It was so much fun.” left, he said, “I didn’t enjoy my spell as editor,” feature on the Vietnam war had a tremendous There was particular fun when Godders read so he probably succeeded. Let’s hope the lady impact. out Evans’s memos, generally about useful downstairs was now happy. Photographs could be used with jocular effect, subjects such as teeth cleaning, in a Northern Full disclosure. The copy I dropped in was a as in Boxer’s crime issue, his last. “There was an accent, then dismiss them with ‘f*** off’. Which?-style guide to prisons. In Everyone’s extraordinary cover of the Duke of Bedford in a These editorial skirmishes ceased when, Gone to the Moon, the commissioning of a stocking mask and a caption inside asking after seven years, Godfrey was hauled off to the Good Nick Guide is one of the dodgy ideas that readers if they could recognise who it was,” steam section. Magnus Linklater, who was leads to the sacking of the magazine editor. In marvels former deputy editor Peter Crookston. later to edit The Scotsman, replaced him. real life, my feature was killed off by the Home Inside was a handy, step-by-step guide for Linklater soon discovered £80,000-worth of Office. However, it was nice to have played my readers on how to blow a safe. unpublished articles. part in the £80,000 overmatter bill.

theJournalist | 13 radical press history Paste-up politics

Phil Chamberlain is helping to map Notting Hill would not have happened without the local Crest Press printing collective. the heyday of the alternative press Bruce Wilkinson, who had reported for Reuters from Algeria, worked on the Swindon Free Press: “Because I had a t was September 1975 and a young Tony flat and because I had previous experience, I effectively took Harcup had arrived in Leeds. “I picked up a it over. There was no editorial policy – every meeting was copy of Leeds Other Paper in a newsagent. Its open to everyone but preferably if they could bring us I 18 scrappily designed A4 pages contained an something and do something.” alternative selection of stories and attitudes. I Steve Poole, now a history professor at UWE, worked on the knew I wanted to be involved.” Bath Spark. “Spark had no professional journalists – I was Harcup, an NUJ life member and journalism lecturer at the probably the nearest we came to that with my NCTJ certificate University of Sheffield, was just one of thousands of people Below: Pat Tookey from Portsmouth Tech.” involved in a relatively short but intense burst of Many, like Leeds Other Paper, had a written manifesto, radical media activity that started around the time of while Billy Ridge from Ned Gate said the editorial the Grosvenor Square demonstrations against the strategy was simply ‘provoking anger’. This might not Vietnam war in London in 1968 and continued until have been a slick approach but it quickly found a wealth the fall of Thatcher in 1990. of stories. A project from the University of the West of England Hedley Bashforth from Bristol Voice said that, as with (UWE) is mapping the regional radical newspapers in many others, housing was a regular feature. “Stories that period and interviewing participants. It has about squats, campaigns and challenges to the market, identified more than 220 publications, some of which such as the Self-Help Community Housing have not been archived and many not analysed. Association,” he said. “For example, in 1981, the Voice The major cities had a dozen each over the period, was handed a list of the first 15 houses in Bristol to be often covering specific districts, with London boasting PHIL CHAMBERLAIN close to 40. No part of the country was untouched. From the Waveney Clarion in East Anglia to Mother’s Grumble in the north-east, Yorkshire’s Cleck Hooter, the Pack-O-Lies in Experience of Self-managed Liverpool, the Smoke and Whispers in Somerset, the Read and write Communication are more Cwmbran Checkpoint, Belfast’s Resource, the Fapto in academic approaches but very readable. Margate and the Torry Citizen in Aberdeen. about radical press Contemporary accounts Some burned brightly but only for a few, infrequently THE UNIVERSITY of the @RegionalHistory, from the can be found in the Minority produced issues. Others ran for years, were published West of England’s research University of the West of Press Group pamphlets regularly and seriously challenged the established media. project into the regional England, and Dr Jess Baines including Here is the Other Leeds Other Paper and the Rochdale Alternative Paper are radical press has a blog site at from the London College of News by Crispin Aubrey and among the best known, breaking major stories and piloting https://radpresshistory. Communication. News Limited: Why You Can’t the use of listings and arts coverage to draw in readers. wordpress.com/. They are always Read All About It by Brian Earlier this year, contributors from a dozen of these You can read posts from interested in hearing from Whitaker. publications met in Bristol as part of the UWE project. Copies people involved and there is people who were involved Other histories include were pored over and a tin of Cow Gum reverentially passed a map of the newspapers and have them contribute Robert Dickinson’s around. uncovered so far. posts. Imprinting the Sticks; John Pat Tookey from Bush News in west London was involved. Archives are held in Spiers’ The Underground and “We recognised the local press was hopeless and we didn’t various places including A look back Alternative Press, and Nigel want the SWP [Socialist Workers Party] press,” she said. “There the MayDay Rooms in The literature on this period Fountain’s Underground: the London Alternative Press were lots of local issues like strikes and we realised we had the London, the Working Class is relatively small. Tony 1966-74. ability to do it. A lot of us were squatting and had just left Movement Library in Harcup’s Alternative Manchester and the Journalism, Alternative For a critique on how university or were working part time or fallen in with a crowd University of Brighton. Voices is a good start by the alternative papers were run, with people we had met. None of us had children and we You can follow the project former Leeds Other Paper try What a Way to Run a could afford to it.” on twitter @RegionRadPress journalist. Railroad by Charles Landry, The growth of the alternative press related to activity and its authors are myself Chris Atton’s Alternative David Morley, Russell around squatting, community associations, print shops and @philchamberlain, from the Media and John Downing’s Southwood and Patrick book shops. Oxford’s Back Street Bugle began life at the University of Bath, and Radical Media: the Political Wright. Uhuru Cafe on the Cowley Road. Ned Gate in London’s

14 | theJournalist radical press history

Left: John Walker

Special Branch and preparations for nuclear war were all covered, generating interest by the state in return. There were suspicions of phone tapping and that union members in the Post Office would refuse to do that sort of work. Alex Bird from Cardiff said: “The phone would go tinkle tinkle and then it would go dead. Most of the Post Office union members refused Paste-up politics to work on particular telephones so we always had the same engineer come to fix it.” Radical publications have been around since the sold under the Tories’ right to buy legislation. The STEVE POOLE advent of printing and have flourished at different Voice article showed that the houses most likely to be times. Publications such as Oz and Private Eye and sold off were the better-quality, higher-value ones, leaving their US counterparts showed what could be achieved. Other the council with a smaller stock of lower-quality dwellings.” national title included Spare Rib, The Leveller and numerous The Metro News in Bury had an astonishing run of stories music zines. picked up by the national media. One was a scandal caused Then, around the end of the Cold War, most of the regional by skin-whitening soap produced by a local factory. Co-editor radical press folded. Some morphed into other publications Sue Ashby said: “Women working in the factory were having The alternative or, eventually, migrated online. miscarriages caused by mercury poisoning.” The News was press was one Julie Thorpe from Leeds Other Paper says: “I’m not sure it alerted by a community medicine group that they were in was exhaustion – people just found other ways of doing contact with. The story was picked up by Newsnight and the “ things.” influence that factory was eventually closed down. John Walker from the Rochdale Alternative Press says there Famously, the Rochdale Alternative Paper exposed Cyril led to the is much to celebrate from that period: “The alternative press Smith many years before the rest of Fleet Street (and the was one of the many influences that have led to pressures on political establishment) caught up. The Cardiff People’s Paper mainstream the mainstream media to take marginal issues much more got a huge city-centre redevelopment stopped. media taking seriously – gay rights, feminism, antiracism.” Other successes were more idiosyncratic. Oxford’s Kevin Since then, a lot of activity has moved online with Eady said: “The Bugle’s greatest coup was to get the now- marginal issues hyperlocal journalism making a return. It appears that new renowned graphic novelist Alan Moore to contribute. He generations have had to relearn the lessons of those who turned up one Saturday morning with the first edition of much more worked in the 1970s and 1980s. Perhaps it is time for a St Pancras Panda, loosely inspired by Paddington Bear, which rediscovery. became an irregular comic strip in the paper.” seriously Many of the papers were especially keen to tackle racism *In the ABC Trial in 1977-78 the Labour Government employed and promote feminism. There was also a general suspicion of the Official Secrets Act to try to stop the press investigating the the state being secretive. The ABC trial*, the activities of the ” State’s surveillance activities.’

theJournalist | 15 starting out Cracking the ‘class ceiling’ Holly Powell-Jones looks at how some journalists, the social enterprise has a broader aim of trying to level the playing field within the industry itself. barriers to journalism are being broken down “At the end of the day, that’s not a charitable mission – it’s a business imperative and it’s also a demographic imperative,” Crellin explains. While it is satisfying to help individuals, she an you remember the most invaluable advice says, PressPad is also trying to change the culture of the you were given back when you started out in journalism community: “We have some really high-profile journalism? Was it to keep a little black book hosts – some of the top editors and senior journalists in our C of all your contacts? Maybe it was always to industry. Where else would they meet a 19-year-old, working- pitch to a named individual. Or perhaps class, white girl who has been on free school meals? They something as basic as ‘wear comfy shoes’ (a lifesaver when I wouldn’t! The real thing is – it’s a two-way street.” was running across London as a young TV reporter). There’s a It is easy to become disillusioned when a steady stream of proud history of insider knowledge among journalism data shows the persistence of inequalities in our industry. I professionals, which, most of the time, most of us are very wonder if schemes like this could be viewed as threatening by happy to share. those who benefit from structural privilege. Crellin is careful Given the speed and ease of access afforded by social not to point the finger, saying that, if we want change, we media, plus the fact that media technologies are becoming have to get everyone on board: “There can be a bit of backlash more accessible, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s easier than from white, middle-class men, feeling the whole kind of ‘pale, ever for the next generation of broadcasters to get a foot in stale, male’ thing. It is a problem, but I think the solution isn’t the door. But this isn’t always the case. to demonise them, to isolate them… We’re trying to say, ‘You BBC Two’s How to Break Into the Elite with Amol Rajan don’t have to be labelled as part of the problem: you can revealed how hard work, qualifications and talent are not become part of the solution.’ ” enough to secure graduates a top job these days, including in Mentoring is a huge part of the process, too. She explains it the media. Similarly, Ofcom’s Diversity and Equal is important to place interns with hosts who do not work in Opportunities in Radio report highlights the continuing the same organisations as their placement. This allows under-representation of people from ethnic minorities (seven per cent, compared with 12 per cent UK working average), people with disabilities (six per cent, compared with 18 per cent UK working average), and women in senior positions. Then there is the thorny issue of the British class system. friend to remind you of the When researching their book The Class Ceiling: Why it Pays Seeing a world you skills and experience that you already possess, to be Privileged, sociologists Sam Friedman and Daniel especially from a Laurison conducted 175 in-depth interviews with people in couldn’t see before professional who is well four elite occupations, including television broadcasting. Deborah Shorindè, an about you or care about your established in their career.” They investigated not only opportunities to gain access to audio producer: “When vision do really well and these professions but also career progression within them. done properly and genuinely, want to support you, you Eshan Puri, a graduate: They identify four key factors that contribute to inequalities, mentoring is extremely start to believe things that “Having someone who is a the first of which is the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad. transformational and you never imagined were part of the industry I am Essentially, this is the financial security that allows new necessary… possible. ” aiming to enter immediately journalists to take on unpaid or unpredictable work at media “To invite you into captured my interest – it employers. Without this, the chances of breaking into the conversations that you’re Zahrah Ali, 17, a sixth makes everything we talk industry are massively hindered. left out of because you don’t former: “Being mentored about relevant, and their This is where organisations such as PressPad can come in usually have access to these, holds so much sentimental experience genuinely useful. handy. They match journalism interns with London-based because you are young, and practical value for me. “One thing I found as a The thought of attending an ‘host mentors’ who have a spare room, effectively allowing because you are black, or student was that finding because you’re a woman, audition or applying to a top people you are able to them to live rent free in the capital during a placement. It was and just elevating you, so university felt beyond me. connect with and who have set up in 2018, after founder Olivia Crellin reflected on her that you can see a world that But now I finally feel capable had a similar experience or own experiences and early career. Despite her (acknowledged) maybe you couldn’t see of achieving whatever I journey as you is difficult. privilege, the cost of getting started in London was so high before – I think that’s what’s want to. Being matched with that she decided instead to move to South America to gain really amazing about it. “It is really reassuring to someone who has faced reporting experience. PressPad boasts 100 hosts on its books, “When you see people like hear from someone who is those challenges before is and is developing an Airbnb-style web platform. As well as you do really well, who care not a family member or a invaluable.” offering obvious practical and financial benefits to young

16 | theJournalist starting out

ILLUSTRATION: SIMON SPILSBURY

Neil Griffiths, co-founder of mentoring charity Arts Emergency, says mentoring should be focused towards helping people achieve specific outcomes: “You have to have an end point, otherwise you’re not mentoring – you’re just hanging out. It also has to be really personal.” The charity prides itself on arranging personalised Cracking the ‘class ceiling’ mentoring experiences. Teenagers are interviewed and carefully matched with a mentor in industry, who attends a meaningful social conversations to unfold at home, without brief training session before supporting a young person for fear of being judged in a professional context. up to eight years. Griffiths started Arts Emergency with the The definition of mentoring is quite elusive, as it is often comedian Josie Long in 2011, when it helped eight students in used interchangeably with terms such as coaching, advising Hackney. Today, it supports more than 500 people across or sponsoring. Chances are that if you work in news, then you the UK. will have benefited at some point from a mentor – even if the He tells the story of a 15-year-old boy who lived in the relationship was not defined in that way. north east and was matched with someone in Leeds. His mentor was the first person he had ever met who had been to university, and the contact helped to demystify journalism. After deciding that higher education was not for him, he applied for an apprenticeship with Sky, and was put in touch with another mentor in London when he achieved that position. Now he has a career as a digital producer, which is testimony to his focus and talent. However, these attributes are rarely enough; the various steps to success can seem overwhelming with no support from industry insiders. Potentially professionals have the power to counter another key factor affecting inequalities, which is self- elimination. The real magic of mentoring comes not from some do-good mentality but from passion for the job. In other words, it is from people who care about journalism and feel lucky to do it for a living. Griffiths says: “It isn’t forced as corporate responsibility, or built on the foundations of a fragile, ethical obligation, or the bottom-line desire to diversify in order to reach new markets. It’s just people sharing the joy for what they do.” Ultimately, you’re in TV because you love TV, or radio because you love radio. Above all, a journalistic natural curiosity makes mentoring extremely rewarding, as it involves meeting people and sharing new experiences. Crellin argues that good journalists should always be open to challenging themselves. Her message to those who are curious about hosting an intern? Give it a try. Griffiths adds that spending time with young people can be immensely restorative: their hope and optimism is life affirming. “Not in a patronising sense,” he quickly adds. “It just washes away all of the rubbish.” For journalists feeling world weary of the news media right now, it might be just the antidote.

To find out how to get involved, visit: PressPad.co.uk Arts-emergency.org

theJournalist | 17 on media

Three women making changes in the media

Sex equality case may show value of news, says Raymond Snoddy

his is a tale of three On the same day, Tracy De Groose, that, as a long-experienced and more strong women of the executive chair of Newsworks, was famous broadcaster, she was worth media – two appealing to the newspaper industry – more than this mere newspaper T journalists and one publishers of news brands as she has it reporter. Perhaps – but that only takes advertising executive – to start reclaiming some of the us so far. – and what their different stories say £1 billion in ad revenue they have The heart of the matter is that about how far we have reached in the allowed to leach away to rivals over the Ahmed was paid £440 for a 15-minute battle for sex equality. past decade. programme while Jeremy Vine was By coincidence, all three were For De Groose, they have been selling paid nearly seven times as much for making headlines of differing size and the wrong product – advertising space many years for presenting Points of volume at around the same time. instead of their journalism and the View, a programme of equal length. The most eye-catching news was the trust it attracts. Ahmed is claiming nearly £700,000 announcement by Financial Times The former adland boss emphasised in compensation. editor Lionel Barber on Twitter that he at the Society of Editors’ conference She can claim, with considerable would be handing over to the first how people’s trust in news brands has justice, that Newswatch can be a woman editor in the paper’s 131-year risen from 48 per cent in 2017 to 60 difficult and challenging programme history in the new year. per cent this year, according to while Vine, also a serious professional Lebanese-born Roula Khalaf is at Edelman, which regularly monitors journalist, was presenting a light- the moment deputy editor of the such matters. hearted programme that was classified FT and a former Middle East and However, trust in the social media is as entertainment. foreign editor. around 29 per cent while trust in Rather laughably, the BBC is relying A few old hands could be heard advertising, according to the Advertising on the very fact that Points of View was spluttering into their bitter that “she Association, has fallen from 50 per cent light entertainment to justify the huge knows nothing about the City”. to 25 per cent – an all-time low. disparity and that Vine had the But what was remarkable was that De Groose has just begun her remarkable skill of being able to roll his the appointment was seen as, if not campaign to persuade news brands to eyes in a convincing way. inevitable, certainly nothing unusual. start reclaiming some of the revenue Samira Ahmed deserves If Khalaf had been deemed that should rightfully be theirs by compensation. The gap is too large to unsuitable because of perceived gaps emphasising their reach across both justify. How much that should be is in her journalist armoury, it would still print and digital – no fewer than 44 difficult to assess. not have changed the gender balance million people a week in the UK. A lot of other cases could depend on or the historic moment. Expect to hear a lot more from Tracy Newswatch can the outcome and the very pursuit of Many people’s favourite for the top De Groose next year. be a difficult the case, whatever the decision, could FT job was another women, award- The most problematical of the help change attitudes and encourage a winning journalist Gillian Tett, who three stories about prominent women programme while better pay balance between the sexes famously warned of the dangers to the is the long and complicated sex Vine was presenting in future in broadcasting. world economy of increasingly obscure discrimination case taken by Samira “ But perhaps the biggest story of all is financial derivatives. Ahmed, with the support of the NUJ, to a programme that the Samira Ahmed case could lead There is still some way to go. Khalaf an equal pay employment tribunal. to something that goes beyond sex will join a small, still outnumbered On the most simplistic level, Ahmed classified as equality or even the achievements of group of female national editors – Kath has a small problem. As presenter of entertainment Khalaf and De Groose. Viner of the Guardian, Alison Phillips Newswatch, the BBC’s accountability It could help to rebalance the relative of the Daily Mirror and Victoria programme, Ahmed was paid the same value put on serious news compared to Newton of the Sun on Sunday. But £440 fee as her predecessor – me. light entertainment. That really would progress at least. There was a subsidiary argument be worth fighting for. 18 | theJournalist ” Q&A

What made you become a Who is your biggest hero? journalist? Charles Dickens. The epitome of a I wasn’t good enough to be an journalist and campaigner who actor. Journalism naturally became a novelist. followed as a way of telling stories. Foreign correspondents get to tell the most exciting stories. My late sister had Down’s syndrome: in retrospect, journalism was a way of standing up for people like her.

What other job might you have done/have you done? My first proper job was looking after waxworks at the Windsor branch of Madame Tussauds. I’ve been grateful for colleagues who can converse ever since. After university, I made tea for John Simpson, Jeremy Bowen and David Shukman at the BBC.

When did you join the NUJ And villain? and why? Any world leader taking their I joined while I was a BBC news country backwards. I can think of trainee in the 1980s and made NUJ & Me far too many at the moment. friends on a picket line soon afterwards. I left once, but my Jonathan Rugman is a Which six people would you belief in collective bargaining at invite to a dinner party? ITN brought me back. BAFTA-winning foreign affairs Diane Keaton, Atatürk, Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Frankie Are many of your friends in correspondent for Channel 4 News Howerd and Rosamund Pike. the union? Many of my friends at Channel 4 What was your earliest News are. I’m also a proud member in 2011. Being an eyewitness to The people are charming and political thought? of the West London Trades Union history is of course an enormous infuriating in equal measure and That if you don’t speak up for the Club. I went to the bar once and privilege. the food is good. vulnerable, nobody else will. there was a man in a military beret mourning the death of What is the worst place What advice would you What are your hopes for Hugo Chavez. I love encounters you’ve ever worked in? give someone starting in journalism over the next like that. I saw a lot of dead people after the journalism? five years? Haiti earthquake – so Haiti. Ask yourself if you really want That local news survives and that to tell stories. If you are not many people who claim to be And the best? prepared to be persistent, don’t journalists get some training. I love working in France and Turkey. do it. And fears? That it becomes a desert inhabited by a few centres of excellence, allowing the powerful to get away with it.

How would you like to be remembered? As a father who loved his family and knew how to tell a story.

The Killing in the Consulate: What’s been the best Investigating the Life and Death of moment in your career? Jamal Khashoggi by Jonathan Witnessing the Arab Spring Rugman is published by Simon &

HISTORIC COLLECTION / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, HI-STORY / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO, PICTURELUX / THE HOLLYWOOD ARCHIVE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO STOCK / ALAMY ARCHIVE / THE HOLLYWOOD PICTURELUX PHOTO, STOCK / ALAMY HI-STORY PHOTO, STOCK / ALAMY COLLECTION HISTORIC revolutions in Tunis and Cairo Schuster

theJournalist | 19

arts

Some of the best things to with see and do with a bit of political bite For listings email: artsattitude [email protected]

Film by Tim Lezard

Two-tone meets Combat Frock who controls all platforms in all Xmas book special available media.” The Killing In the Consulate https://selfmadehero.com/books/ Jonathan Rugman the-dance-of-death Channel 4’s BAFTA award-winning foreign affairs correspondent and NUJ Our Mary member pieces together the last John Callow moments of Washington Post Telling the extraordinary story of Mary journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Turner (1938-2017), the Brent dinner Khashoggi was filmed going in to lady and trade union activist who rose the Saudi consulate in Turkey and was to become president of the GMB never seen alive again. In this union and chair of the Labour Party, Singer-songwriter Emily Capell because you don’t want to ram it brilliantly written book, Rugman this lavish coffee table book is a fitting doesn’t mind being ‘Billy down people’s throats,” she says. reveals the context behind the murder memorial to a brilliant woman. Bragged’. “And if you do, you get Billy and attempted cover-up. www.lwbooks.co.uk/book/ The 23-year-old Londoner has Bragged straight away – which is http://tinyurl.com/y5twy657 our-mary been busy recently, releasing her great for me – but it’s not what debut album – the wittily titled everyone wants.” Motherwell Sammy Clash-inspired Combat Frock – She started young, playing her Deborah Orr Vince Gledhill touring with two-tone legends first gig aged 14, and has worked This childhood memoir NUJ life member Vince Gledhill The Selecter and announcing a hard for her success. by former Independent delves into his cuttings book to headline solo tour. “I was quite happy supporting, and Guardian inform The album follows three singing other people’s stuff, going columnist Deborah Orr his novel of northern England provocatively titled EPs, Who Killed out whenever,” she says, “but an is to be published in 1910. Smiley Culture?, Who Framed album’s a bit scary because what if posthumously in You can reminisce about Winston Silcott? and Who Stands no one buys it? What if my nan buys January. She tragically typewriters that go ‘thuck, thuck’ with Latasha Harlins? every copy?” died of cancer in October. because they have three layers of “I have no idea how to describe She looks back: “I had a million Well-known for being fearless and copy paper separated by two sheets my music,” she tells Arts with jobs when I left school. I’ve worked outspoken, she writes about her of carbon in them, and the hooks, Attitude. “I start off country, then I as a teacher, as a customer care Scottish working-class upbringing in ticks and swirls of classic Pitman’s go ska, I really like doo wop and assistant, a baker. council flats and, interestingly, what shorthand. Kirsty MacColl. People say it’s like “I had a residency at the Dublin the decision to leave cost her. And – if you want proof it’s fictional London, very multicultural, and I Castle in Camden Town while http://tinyurl.com/y2nqpas3 – Gledhill also refers to newspaper agree with that because there’s a working as a baker, so I’d play a branch offices, staffed by reporters born bit of everything in it. I know that’s gig, drive home for 1.30am, my The Dance of Death on the patch who know it inside out. the naffest answer ever, but you alarm would go at five, I’d have to Martin Rowson www.books2read.com/Sammy really can’t put my music in a box.” put a hairnet on and when you NUJ member and Guardian cartoonist You can put her politics in a box, have a beehive it’s an absolute Martin Rowson updates Holbein’s Corbynism from Below though, because it runs in her nightmare. It was horrendous. classic series of woodcuts to bring a Edited by Mark family: her mother works for a And I was a rubbish baker, contemporary corrupt and callous Perryman union, her uncle was a blacklisted burning everything. elite crashing down to earth with The co-founder of builder and her parents were active “I wouldn’t say I was exploited thoughts of their own mortality. Philosophy Football in the miners’ strike, the printers’ because it gave me a lot of We are treated to vicious brings together a strike and the poll tax opportunities, but it was very, very ‘engravings’ of Paul Dacre, Richard diverse range of demonstrations. hard work.” Desmond, Robin Day and, my thinkers, writers “There’s definitely room for favourite, Rupert Murdoch – “Death and activists – Neal politics in music today but it’s hard www.emilycapell.co.uk knows why the rat swarms, but Lawson, Lindsey worms! You know who’ll feed ya? He German, James

20 | theJournalist arts

Meadway and Hilary Wainwright Book among them – to explore how a bottom-up Labour campaign can beat the rising tide of right-wing A tribute to young lives lost in the Troubles populism. www.lwbooks.co.uk/book/ In Children of the Troubles, NUJ West Germany — and the lives that corbynism-from-below members Joe Duffy and Freya might have been. McClements reach across the Based on original interviews with Film Irish border and beyond to almost 100 families as well as arts A Beautiful Day in the acknowledge and pay tribute to extensive archival research, the Neighbourhood young lives lost. book includes the stories of many In cinemas nationwide From the teenage striker who children who have never been Based (loosely) on an encounter scored two goals in a Belfast schools publicly acknowledged as victims of between award-winning US cup final, to the aspiring architect the Troubles, and draws a magazine writer Tom Junod and TV who promised to build his mother a compelling social and cultural icon Fred Rogers, this film looks at house, to the five-year-old girl who picture of the era. how the cynical journalist’s wrote in her copy book on the day These children were much loved, perspective on life changes after she died, “I am a good girl. I talk to and are deeply mourned and will begrudgingly accepting a commission God”, Children of the Troubles never be forgotten. Children of to write an Esquire profile of the recounts the previously untold the Troubles describes itself as both eternally positive Rogers. An stories of Northern Ireland’s lost an acknowledgement of and a Children of the Troubles is published example, perhaps, of how journalists’ children and those who died in the tribute to young people who lost by Hatchette. http://tinyurl.com/ work can change their own lives as Republic, the UK and as far afield as their lives. y6ccpes4 well as those of others. www.abeautifulday. movie London. Four exciting Whaling Expedition in 1892. discover if he actually likes himself. Bombshell contemporary artists are www.mcmanus.co.uk/content/news/ https://darrenharriott.com In cinemas shortlisted to win the prize, based among-polar-ice nationwide from on an outstanding exhibition from Theatre January 24 the previous year. This year’s Comedy Be More Chill A-listers Charlize finalists are Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Arabella Weir – Does My Mum Loom The Other Palace Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Helen Cammock, Oscar Murillo and Big in This? From February 12 Robbie star in this hard-hitting look at Tai Shani. On tour until April This musical splashes into London after sexual allegations made against Fox turnercontemporary.org/whats-on/ Described as “the mother of all making waves in Broadway. An atypical News founder and CEO Roger Ailes, turner-prize-2019/ confessional shows” from author, love story about a guy, a girl and the and how the company reacted to the Independent and Guardian columnist supercomputer in the guy’s head, it scandal. Ailes resigned from Fox in Among The Polar Ice and TV star, this show is for everyone claims to be full of addictive earworms. 2016, receiving a £40m pay-off. He The McManus, Dundee who’s had a mother or been a mother. www.bemorechillmusical.com continued to advise Rupert Murdoch Until March 8 And, yes, the name is a reference to her until his death the following year. The most fragile landscapes on earth book Does My Bum Look Big In This? Drama at Inish https://bombshell.movie are the subject of this new exhibition, www.berksnest.com/arabella-weir Abbey Theatre, Dublin bringing together contemporary and Until January 24 Exhibitions historic works by artists who have Darren Harriott – Good Heart Yute Director Cal McCrystal brings this Turner Prize.19 experienced life on the ice. It features On tour until February 1933 comedy to the Abbey Theatre. A Rendezvous, Margate lantern slides, drawings and Darren Harriott is 30 years old, has small seaside town in Ireland hits the Until January 12 watercolour sketches by William Burn never been in love and wants to know headlines after the De La Mare Every other year, the Turner Prize Murdoch, who accompanied William why. He’s embarking on a tour to Repertory Theatre Company arrives. leaves Tate Britain for a venue outside Spiers Bruce on the Dundee Antarctic learn more about himself – and to http://tinyurl.com/y2d7rtep

Spotlight

Strong words meet ferocious energy Fresh from a sold-out tour, they’ve released their first Bristol-based band Idles leads to pain, pain leads to haunting tune about a live album, which captures wear their politics and anger, anger leads to hate”), stillborn child (“Baby shoes their ferocious energy. their emotions on their feminist anthem Mother for sale, never worn”) or “That tour was nothing sleeves. (“Men are scared women will Samaritans about toxic short of catharsis,” says Whether it’s Danny laugh in their face, whereas masculinity (“This is why singer Joe Talbot. Nedelko, about immigration women are scared it’s their you never see your father (“Fear leads to panic, panic lives men will take”), a cry”), they don’t hold back. www.idlesband.com

theJournalist | 21 inbox

Email to: [email protected] ç Post to: Please keep The Journalist YourSay... 72 Acton Street, comments to London WC1X 9NB 200 words Tweet to: inviting letters, comments, tweets maximum @mschrisbuckley

£30 H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H organisers haven’t been nurtured. prize I guess our Irish members know the letter weekly but I urge the suits at Reach, Too much information! Archant and Newsquest to jump on a plane and find out just what the Having cast my vote for the editorship of The Journalist, I successful Star is doing right. have to tell you – the new or current editor – how Jeff Wright dismayed I am by the process. Hampshire I refer to the list of candidates – my biggest gripe being the length of candidates’ statements. I mean, who cares Pub beats press releases that Joanna Bloggs passed geography O-level in 1983? We I can sympathise with my friend and were subjected to screeds of rambling, irrelevant waffle former colleague Gary Baker (How far is – and this from professionals who surely know how to too far away to work on a local paper? sub-edit! Letters, October/November)), but he It’s a clear case of too much information amounting to should at least take some comfort from disinformation, just like those ‘terms and conditions’ that the fact that he has an editor who still no one bothers to read. As I waded my way through, I had recognises the importance of picking succumbed to fatigue by the time I reached those up stories in the local pub, not from unfortunate enough to be listed last. council press releases. And that’s another thing: listing candidates in Graham Snowdon alphabetical order confers an unconscious advantage on Life Member those listed first. The same applies to those with photo Sheffield headshots versus those without. My suggestion? Insist on headshots for either all or none Cuttings are invaluable of the candidates. List them all on one page to reduce records of local history alphabetical order bias. And do like the letters pages: Conrad Landin’s piece on the ‘dying art restrict statements to a maximum 200 words. of clipping newspaper articles’ was Paul Gould timely, (Death of a thousand cuttings, (October/November 2019).

HARRY MALT HARRY Brighton (in less than 200 words) Like Conrad, I am an inveterate H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H H clipper of press stories, not least to have easy retrieval of cuttings in one Live where you work to I’d drink to a community I have become a fan of Skibbereen’s place relating to the same story. Also get decent local stories paper, not a content farm Southern Star. This week it was a house like Conrad, I end up with envelope Gary Baker’s comparison of local In response to Gary Baker’s letter ad that struck me, the simple message: after envelope loaded with cuttings newspaper reporters and people (‘How far is too far away to work on ‘West Cork’s Social Media For 130 that have become obsolescent. The key who commute to work in London a local paper?’, Letters, October/ Years’. That tag should be echoed in all task is to be ruthless in disposing of is interesting (Letters, October/ November), I must admit it’s pleasing proud locals. such envelopes to make room for the November). to hear of a publication still evidently at As a crusty old life member I no doubt next story. Being a reporter is not like working in the heart of its community, rather than display ‘they ain’t like what they used There is another key aspect to the an office in London after a commute being produced from a ‘content farm’ to be’ syndrome. importance of cuttings: the rescuing from the home counties. miles away. The Southern Star is a paper like what and availability of historic cuttings files. Of course, you can do the job after As for visiting the pub to pick up stories, they used to be. Forty four broadsheet With the demise of so many local and an hour’s commute, setting aside I’m not sure they attract the wide section pages stuffed with local news. It’s regional newspapers, their libraries are the fatigue that such commuting of society they once did, but perhaps if strength I would guess is from a often thrown out, together with their would entail. Gary wants to make the effort, his editor nurtured army of local correspondents cuttings files painstakingly assembled But, to be frank, as a local reporter could buy him a few pints? who are the backbone to local over many decades. These are vital with 30 years’ experience, you are Owen Ralph journalism. God bless ‘em and preserve records of local history and are much more likely to get a steady flow Manchester ‘em. It’s the same for the sports invaluable to journalists and other of decent off-diary stories by living on coverage. A 16-page tabloid writers needing to research the the patch ‘so you can go to the pub All hail Skibbereen’s supplement covers the county’s many background to a story. and get nuggets of stories’. Southern Star newspaper sports. I weep at my local’s patchy and The Yorkshire Post cuttings files go Andrew Napier I can’t be the only journalist who on thin sports coverage where it’s obvious back to around 1910 and are virtually Southampton branch holiday always picks up the local paper. the club honorary secretaries and intact. They are safeguarded by the

22 | theJournalist inbox

paper’s photo editor who is well aware to 85 Fleet Street to start a new day. of their importance. The problem will Graham Snowdon come when he retires or leaves the Life member paper. Sheffield twitter feed A few years ago, NUJ members in Tweet us your feedback: @mschrisbuckley Leeds began a project to safeguard the Too many on Tunis trip abandoned newspaper cuttings files Regarding ‘How Could the NUJ afford more urgently, to do this before to send seven on Tunis trip?’ (Letters, Dale’s Journalism (@dalesjournalism) 12:36 PM – Oct 16, 2019 newspapers closed – but it became October/November), I find the response Thank you @NUJofficial magazine for mentioning my graduate of too difficult. from our general secretary vague to say the year award from #UniversityofStirling for Stolen Vision: Perhaps it would be possible to the least. One good delegate from the Counterfeit Medicine in #Iraqi #Kurdistan gather a wider group of members to NUJ should have been sufficient… develop an early warning system to Eddie Johnson Christy Lawrance (@NorthviewN7) 12:39 PM – Oct 16, 2019 prevent future journalistic vandalism. Life member Great cover and sharp, illustrated report on what a ‘free press’ is from Michael Meadowcroft Middlesbrough @SaHreports in The Journalist Leeds Branch Journalism fails public Scene & Heard reports/David Ziggy Greene (@SaHreports) A day in court then a duties over Brexit 4:26 PM – Oct 14, 2019 night on the town, sort of I hope no member of the general public What’s happened is the nice people at @NUJofficial asked me to do I was naturally sorry to read Lionel read Chris Proctor’s column about Brexit a little interview about drawing the news. It went from 2 pages to Barlow’s obituary (October/ (Great Brexit buffet proves to be a feast, 3 pages to the cover story!!! Thanks. #reportage #news #illustration November), but delighted that he had July/August). They might imagine that lived to the good age of 101, still with a all journalists are facetious and cynical. glass in his hand. He is right that Brexit has been good would be hurt in the making of policy. Politically correct humour Lionel, along with a handful of for journalism but fails to extend this to Journalism during Brexit has been – as funny as a phone book colleagues from the PA Law Service, the next, dangerous thought. reduced to wrangles between So, Josie Long’s baby ‘absolutely hates’ had another string to his bow, which Journalists are not innocent, objective columnists and commentators with the her comedy, Tim Lezard tells us (Arts the writer of his obituary didn’t bystanders in the political system same few thoughts and experiences. with Attitude, October/November). mention. whose function is to mock politicians Their witterings have filled newspapers, Frankly, I’m not surprised. I had the In the 1960s, I worked in the RAC and relay every little Twitter rumour. websites and airtime for three years but misfortune to see her in Ireland. She press office in Pall Mall. After a day’s The media is an interactive done nothing to further understanding. was about as funny as haemorrhoids. work at the law courts, instead of participant in the life of the nation and Most notably, the media has avoided Some silly, eager-to-please members catching a train home to Kent, Lionel its purpose is to inform without grappling with the vital issues of of the audience did laugh like drains at would do a night shift as duty press falsehoods and orchestrate debate sovereignty, democracy, truth and how her every utterance. But then they officer. We probably paid a pittance, about contentious matters. This duty we know what people actually voted for would probably have giggled if she’d but the perks of the job included a requires the exposition of the biggest in 2016. read out the Dublin telephone directory. slap-up meal next door in the variety of ideas. In Brexit, instead, we If it is all a joke and job creation Of course, Josie was very politically members’ dining room, a good night’s got an obsession with personalities scheme for Chris, he hasn’t considered correct. But Bernard Manning she sleep (if the phone didn’t ring) on a and mechanisms; the subject was the impact of Brexit on people’s lives. certainly wasn’t. hideaway bed in the office and a full reduced to a discussion about Nick Inman Malcolm Tattersall English breakfast before heading back macroeconomics, as if no real people Occitanie,France London Freelance branch STEVE BELL THE OWNERS

theJournalist | 23 ethics

Ethics council chair Chris Frost explains the union’s code of conduct Not just holier than thou

letter-writer to The 12-point code that all members now as the BBC, Ofcom, IPSO or Impress. Journalist once sign up to on joining the union. However, if members follow the NUJ wondered if the union’s This code is overseen and policed by code, they are unlikely to be in breach A code of conduct had the ethics council. This comprises of other organisations’ codes. ever been enforced or if elected members from all industrial The ethics council still polices the its principles were merely “virtue sections of the union and code, taking complaints from members signalling”– an attempt to display the representatives from diversity councils. about those who may have breached it. NUJ’s moral superiority. It’s an These bodies were set up in the late It meets to discuss ethical issues and important question. 1980s when the union left the Press does its best to advise members, union Professional ethical conduct has been Council, of which it had been a founding councils and the national executive part of the NUJ’s work since it was member, over its inability to limit the committee. It also campaigns, founded in 1907. Most of us believe a excesses of some of the UK media. involving the government, select responsible media that aims to give its The ethics council was set up to committees and international bodies, public accurate, balanced information assess complaints from the public on journalism ethics and standards. The to help them make decisions is crucial about alleged breaches of the code and council keeps up to date; new guidance to a free, democratic society. This makes recommend penalties to the national on social media ethics will shortly be the professional performance of executive committee. It dealt with a added to the website, for example. members a concern for the whole union. rising number of complaints, Council members are involved in Professional conduct concerns the approaching 200 a year. journalism training, working with defence and promotion of the Thatcher’s attacks on unions meant colleges to emphasise the importance principles and practice of journalism, that public complaints became of journalistic standards and the role as outlined in the union’s code, severely damaging to the union. This the union plays in upholding them. alongside the defence and promotion was partly because of the high cost of As chair, I am always happy to speak of freedom of the press, broadcasting, running the council as a public at branch meetings and offer advice, as speech and information. complaints body at a time of serious are other members of the council. The union introduced its first code of financial pressure, and partly because We also run the ethics hotline – a conduct in 1936. That early code was a union solidarity was being damaged as The ethics phone and email service that allows mixed document covering working members had started to see the ethics members to discuss ethical issues. practices and moral concerns such as council as a hostile star chamber. The “council’s work Students regularly contact the hotline behaviour to other union members, NUJ delegate meeting in 1991 decided is important seeking help with their work. colleagues and employers, as well as the ethics council should instead I believe the ethics council’s work is professional standards. Members concentrate on education and the in assisting important in assisting members should “do nothing that would bring promotion of good practice. produce responsible journalism. discredit on himself, his Union, his The ethics council is the same today, members produce Delegate meetings regularly call on the newspaper, or his profession”. although the code has been through a ethics council and the national The clauses concerning colleagues rewrite and several clauses added. The responsible executive committee to remind are now included in a rule about code is for journalists rather than members of the code. membership responsibilities, leaving publishers or broadcasters, so many journalism the code of conduct governing members need to use the NUJ’s code Chris Frost is chair of the NUJ’s professional behaviour. It became the alongside those of organisations such ethics council 24 | theJournalist ” obituaries

RTÉ ARCHIVES decades, he worked in the UK and, about RTÉ head honchos in the briefly, in America – but it was in administration block (which he Ireland that he made an enormous referred to as The Hilton) who contribution. seemed to feel everything, would Gay was in many ways the father be all right if only they didn’t have of public service broadcasting in to deal with programme makers Ireland. A broadcaster of courage, and the like. vision and boundless energy, he He was also a strong advocate helped shape modern Ireland and of public funding for public used his talents to help create a service broadcasting while also more caring, compassionate and admiring commercial television inclusive society. and radio. He turned down many He was often infuriating, opportunities both at home and annoying and provocative but abroad to leave RTÉ for the never dull. In his career he brought commercial sector. light, laughter and humanity to TV We in the NUJ were proud of his and radio debates. membership of the union – he was It would be impossible to agree a member throughout his life. with everything he said or did – However, he encountered Gay Byrne he was innately conservative and opposition when he first set about rode a few hobby horses – but you joining the union and there were Louis Armstrong once said: long career, Gay did all that and so could never doubt the sincerity of those who viewed him as an “If you have to ask what much more. his convictions. entertainer rather than a jazz is, you’ll never know.” His death at the age of 85 on Gay believed in the precepts of serious journalist. Gay Byrne loved jazz and he held November 4, after a long illness, public service broadcasting and his Gaybo was a man for all seasons a special place in his heart for really does mark the end of an era passion for RTÉ was reflected in who made a fine contribution to Satchmo. They shared a sunny and comes at a difficult time for every aspect of his career, from his print journalism as a newspaper disposition, a wonderful ability to RTÉ, which he served so faithfully early days in radio to the Late Late columnist. look on the bright side of life, even but never uncritically. Show, his pioneering morning The best way to salute Gay’s in dark days, and an ability to bring Gay began his television career in radio programme to his wonderful legacy is to protect and promote joy to large audiences. England and worked with Granada. Sunday music and musings on public service broadcasting. He When I think of public service He also worked in radio in England. Lyric FM. was, above all else, a public service broadcasting, I think of Gaybo. He was the first person to He especially enjoyed Lyric FM broadcaster to the core. When we think of the very best of introduce The Beatles on screen, and the opportunity that this gave He is survived by his wife public service broadcasting, we while working for Granada him to share his appreciation and Kathleen and children Suzy think of programmes that Television in Britain in the knowledge of his beloved jazz. and Crona. challenge, provoke, entertain and early 1960s. In his biography, The Time of My frequently make a difference. In his During a career spanning five Life, he wrote tongue in cheek Séamus Dooley

John Haylett, former 1995 and, from 2008, served as the because the ‘dossier’ was ‘the John Haylett Morning Star editor, died paper’s political editor until his private property’ of the on 28 September at the age retirement due to ill health earlier management committee”. of 74. this year. These breaches of the paper’s He joined the Morning Star in His appointment as editor was own disciplinary procedure fuelled 1983 as a journalist, having not universally popular among the NUJ chapel’s anger to take previously worked as an operator in the senior management and there action. NUJ members felt that if the international telecoms. He was were troubled times at the paper. editor could be treated in this way, active in the Union of Post Office In 1998, he was sacked for what then so could any member. Workers and led a strike at the were later to be shown to be Deputy father of chapel Chris International Exchange. trumped-up charges. Kasrils recalls: “The strike lasted six John’s political shrewdness and John was unable to defend weeks but, under the command of attention to detail meant he rose himself as the charges were not put our sacked editor, the journalists quickly at the Morning Star. His to him. And it soon became clear to launched their own weekly – The first major job was joining and the NUJ’s mother of chapel Workers’ Morning Star – which reporting on the People’s March for Amanda Kendal “that the Star’s appeared for five issues until Jobs. Then came the miners’ strike then management had no interest victory was secured with John’s of 1984-85, in which his skills as a in compromise or negotiation. reinstatement. The strike office, journalist and incisive analysis of They told the union they couldn’t above shops on the Kingsland the class struggle were noticed. show us the ‘dossier’ of allegations Road in Hackney was rented by In 1985, he became assistant against John because they ‘didn’t the NUJ.” editor, then appointed deputy know’ that the union represented editor in 1989. He became editor in him”. Then they said “it was Anita Halpin

theJournalist | 25 and finally...

Beware the bias that undermines news

We could learn from the Commons speaker, says Chris Proctor

he taxi driver in the summer, we’ll take to discussing Rafa, ITN’s Alastair Stewart suggests this is front of my cab the Djoker and ReRe as if we’d heard of not what we’re doing. He said recently, other day had a deep them before. And, of course, everyone “I grow increasingly concerned about T well of knowledge is an expert on general elections. the bias of some of my TV news about speakers of the But are the days of ‘the media’ setting ‘competitors’.” He quotes, not the NUJ House of Commons. the agenda coming to an end? Social which he could have, but similar He was thrilled that he’d had Betty media might be ensuring that they are. Ofcom guidelines, saying the media’s Boothroyd in my seat once, which Reporters looking for a story used to job is to “ensure that news, in whatever astonished me. I wasn’t amazed that go to the wires, the locals or the form, is reported with due accuracy she’d been in my seat but that he, business press to see if a story could be and presented with due impartiality”. a man in his 40s, should have amplified; they’d ring a few people to Now this is a long way from the recognised her. It seems a strange job see if anything was happening; or garbage on social media: the fake to attract attention. maybe follow up a story they’d heard pictures of Jeremy Corbyn with an ‘I love He said she had pig’s bladder in her the previous evening; or simply go to the IRA’ slogan superimposed on his heart. I tensed, awaiting some anti- the pub and see if anything turned up. jumper; the bizarre posts saying, ‘Give Labour diatribe. But no, he says she had Our hugely lamented former colleague pensioners enough money to live on. undergone open heart surgery and this Roy Rogers, who worked for the Immigrants get more money than we was the method used by the doctors to Glasgow Herald, would frequently call do,’ (how on earth did he become a restore her to health. contacts to ask: “Have you got a story Facebook ‘friend’?); or calls to scrap the Then he added that he supposed with a kilt on it?” generous overseas aid we give to Johnny she’d ‘gone private’. For a second time, Now, as often as not, a reporter’s day Foreigner. Someone – us – needs to put I braced myself, anticipating a tirade begins with a survey of Facebook, the balance right. We need to say the first about hypocrisy and privilege; but no, Instagram, Twitter, Linkedin, Snapchat one’s a scam, the second’s a lie and the he was entirely sympathetic. “If you’ve or Reddit. That way, you find out what third is 0.7 per cent of our income. got a job like that, you deserve the people are talking about so, if you talk We need someone who, professionally, best,” he said. about it as well, you’re in the swim. is politically neutral, as Stewart says, and “What exactly is the job?” I asked. You’re the man with his finger on who makes sure the facts are available “Speaker,” he told me. “They do the pulse. Now, a reporter’s so that there can be informed debates, fairness.” This sounds quite exciting. The aka democracy. We need to make sure This reminded me how last year – people are leading the news, choosing day begins with all views are presented objectively and… overnight – the media transformed the the subject and reasserting their right a survey of social Hang on! This is what my mate the job of speaker from a saddish figure to their eyeballs. They are empowered. taxi driver says the speaker does. slumped in a green armchair like Billy They choose the agenda rather than “media. You find out Impartial. Tick. Fair to all views. Tick. No-Mates into a flamboyant political some apparatchik of Rupert Murdoch what people are No personal interference in what’s titan. I thought of that character in John or toady of Downing Street. going on. Tick. DeLillo’s Underworld who said: “Whoever And, yes, it is a start. But only that. talking. You’re the Dammit. We should have all applied controls your eyeballs runs the world.” Social media is excellent for before that new chap was elected to It’s not just the speaker, of course. expounding prejudices but not man with his finger Hoyle the wheels of Commons debate. In November, we were all reporting news. Usually, it’s somewhere on the pulse Yes, I know most of us are already on metamorphosed into rugby experts. between rant and lunacy. So our job as £156,676 a year and live in rent-free, The most unlikely people developed journalists is to take the subject, rather four-bedroom flats in Westminster – strong views about rucking tactics, than the content, and present a but it would be worth pitching for it speedy backs and forward passes. Come reasoned assessment. just for the private chaplain. 26 | theJournalist ” Training Moved house or changed your Advertise in email address?Advertiseclassified in The Journalist The rate for a classified ad is £25 scc (£25The x height (cm)Journalist x columns). To advertise contact Melanie Richards 10% discount fo 2 or 3 issues. 4 or more issuesTo advertise will be 20%contact discount. Melanie Richards 01795 542417To advertise or pleaseemail: contact [email protected] Joe Brooks020 3026 on: 9239 or email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7657 1801 or email: [email protected]

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