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Home , Daily Mirror, Florian Zeller, Luisa Omielan, Paul Routledge, Peter Jukes, Raymond Snoddy

MAGAZINE OF UNION OF

WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | OCTOBER-NOVEMBER 2018 Contents

Main feature 14 150 not out Paul Routledge celebrates the TUC ince the last edition of The 03 Job losses at Mirror and Express we’ve had the TUC conference. This year trade unionists were marking the 150th Merged titles pooling resources anniversary of the movement and as 04 FT dispute over boss’s pay ever there was plenty to discuss about Chief executive keeps part of rise Swhy unions are still as relevant as they have ever been. 05 Clash over photographing gardai In our cover feature veteran industrial and political journalist Union resists blanket ban Paul Routledge looks back on the key events in the TUC’s history 06 TUC conference and the labour movement. We also have full news coverage of News reports the TUC conference including the NUJ’s contribution. Also looking back, though over a shorter timespan, is former “Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger. In an interview for The Features Journalist he discusses the changing nature of news triggered 10 Reading Rusbridger by the rise of online reporting. Raymond Snoddy, meanwhile, Interview with ex Guardian editor warns of the dangers of migration online following new research showing that readers spend minimal time perusing 12 Allure of the ‘dark side’ the online-only Independent. More journalists choosing to go into PR Looking forward, and closer to home, is Kevin Palmer who 16 Lady Chatterley’s lawyer writes this edition’s Viewpoint column. He discusses what Looking back to 1960 options are open for a structural overhaul of the NUJ to enable the union to function more efficiently in a changed media landscape. Regulars hope you find something of interest. 09 Viewpoint 24 Obituaries 26 And finally...

Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley

Arts with Attitude Pages 20-21 Editor NUJ [email protected] 72 Acton Street Design WC1X 9NB Surgerycreations.com [email protected] [email protected] www.nuj.org.uk Advertising Tel: 020 7843 3700 Raymond Letters Melanie Richards office and Steve Bell Tel: 07494975239 [email protected] Snoddy [email protected] Glasgow office Page 22-23 Print [email protected] Page 19 Warners Dublin office Cover picture www.warners.co.uk ”Steve Bell [email protected] Distribution GB Mail www.gb-mail.co.uk

02 | theJournalist news Job losses at Mirror and inbrief... REPORTER KILLED IN BULGARIA Express after merger Victoria Marinova, a 30-year-old Bulgarian journalist working for Reach, the owner of the Mirror and spectrum, will remain editorially independent. regional TV channel TVN was Express is cutting 70 jobs at A number of long-term casual editorial roles brutally murdered. She is the fourth its national titles and closing the weekly will also be converted into staff positions. journalist killed in the EU since celebrity magazin`e Star that could result in The company also plans to introduce more 2017 after Kim Wall in Denmark, further job losses. collaborative working between Express and There is a sense of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta Reach, which was renamed from Trinity Star’s daily and Sunday ediions. and Jan Kuciak in Slovakia. Mirror after the group bought Express It said: “We will be making every effort to unfairness at the cuts newspapers, said its eight national titles had achieve as much of the required savings as we given the meagre started to pool staff and resources. can through voluntary means.” resources journalists COSTELLO’S CHARITY The move to pool In July Reach posted “ TRIP TO TIMBUKTU resources includes a pre-tax loss of more have been labouring Journalists Eugene Costello and establishing a general than £100 million for Nick Redmayne are to embark on a content feed for all the first half of 2018. under for so long road trip to Timbuktu to raise funds titles of non-exclusive This came after the for charities including NUJ Extra. news and other items business wrote down Eugene decided to raise funds after Laura Davison, such as arts reviews. the value of its regional receiving help from NUJ Extra NUJ national organiser The company said that it expects to make business by £150 million because following his attack. https:// £20 million in savings by 2020, with £12 of a challenging trading climate. www.gofundme.com/uk-to- million coming from cuts to editorial staff and Laura Davison, NUJ national newspapers timbuktu-by-road-challenge/ the sharing of content and resources. But it organiser, said: “There is a sense of unfairness has also said that it will retain the distinctions at the cuts given the meagre resources between the titles in politics, exclusive stories, journalists have been labouring under for so BBC EXTENDS FUND investigations and columnists because there is long under the Desmond era. Members still FOR DISABILITIES little crossover readership between the titles. remain to be convinced about Reach’s future BBC is to invest another £1 million Simon Fox, the chief executive of Reach, has strategy for investing in and sustaining the into recruiting journalists with pledged that the national newspaper titles, titles and fear this is a simply a cost-cutting disabilities to tackle under- which are at opposite ends of the political exercise, with more to follow.” representation in the corporation. The Extend in News scheme, which received £1 million last year, is open to those with a hidden or visible Fresh cuts at many titles disability who are interested in journalism or production. More job cuts have News, Bromsgrove the net staff redundancies to sports editor. In Oxford the been announced at Advertiser, Redditch/Alcester four. At the same time, three publisher intends to cut one Newsquest titles. The cuts Advertiser and Droitwich senior , out of a staff member from the INDY PUTS UP A will affect Swindon, Oxford Advertiser. total of eight, have already features department and PARTIAL PAYWALL and the Stourbridge centre In Stourbridge up to six given their notice to leave the another from sport. Independent is offering that produces the editorial jobs will be cut but company. assistant editor’s position exclusive editorial content, an Kidderminster Shuttle, two new audience and In Wiltshire, Newsquest is would also be cut, to be ad-free live website and closer Stourbridge News, content editor roles are being cutting two members of the replaced by a new audience interaction with journalists in a Halesowen News, Dudley created so this may reduce features department and the and content editor. new partial paywall. Readers will pay £55 a year. The part paywall is similar to the one operated by The Telegraph. News, page 5, Raymond Snoddy, Page 19 Recognition win at Springer Nature IAN BELL PRIZE OPEN The NUJ has won recognition at wonderful union committee, particularly the FOR YOUNG WRITERS Springer Nature, the academic publishing joint Mother and Father of Chapel. The next Aspiring young writers in Scotland group. The move came after the union secured stage in the process is to negotiate a collective can enter the Ian Bell award membership density of 51.5 per cent in a bargaining agreement with management, run by the NUJ in in bargaining unit of 375 staff. and we look forward to developing our memory of the radical journalist Fiona Swarbrick, NUJ senior national relationship with the company in a positive and author. Entrants should be organiser, said: “We’re delighted by this and collaborative atmosphere.” aged 30 or under and live, work outcome, which reflects the will of the majority or study in Scotland. For more of employees to have collective bargaining details email hilaryhorrocks@ and is testament to the hard work of our btinternet.com

theJournalist | 03 news inbrief... FT boss holds on to chunk of TIME OUT MARKS HALF A CENTURY Time Out magazine is celebrating its pay rise as dispute escalates 50th anniversary with an exhibition of its most iconic covers. Since its John Ridding, the James Lamont, hoping to 2010 BLOOMBERG launch, it has covered arts, ’ chief persuade them that it was ‘in entertainment and food and drink in executive, has returned the best interests of the London. It expanded overseas and just £280,000 of a £510,000 company that there is an covers 108 cities. The exhibition pay increase. urgent response to the runs at London’s Museum of Brands FT PR managers said widespread anger over high until 3 March. ‘global operating profits’ of executive pay at the FT’. £20 million justified his high Bird said: “John Ridding’s salary of £2.6 million in 2017. obscenely high pay and 25 per GLOBAL ROLE FOR These figures – which are not cent pay rise have infuriated FT BLAKE AT BUZZFEED pre-tax profits – have not journalists at all levels. This has Heidi Blake, Buzzfeed UK been part of any accounts acted as a focus for growing investigations editor, has become seen by chapel reps. discontent over a gender pay global investigations editor for the Since a well-attended trainee journalist at the FT. gap of 18 per cent and rising website. She succeeds Mark Schoofs, meeting of the FT NUJ chapel As a result of the chapel workload at the company. who started the global Buzzfeed voted unanimously to vote, reps have been “We call for full transparency John Ridding’s investigations unit five years ago. condemn the ‘extraordinarily instructed to ‘place this over company accounts and He will teach at the USC Annenberg high’ salary, members have matter into dispute and take executive remuneration, we obscenely high pay School for Communication and learnt that £280,000 of this such steps as may be condemn absurdly high and and 25 per cent pay Journalism in the US. salary will be ‘returned to the necessary, up to and including unsustainable executive pay, company’ this year to be part balloting for industrial action’ and we call for a redistributive “rise have infuriated of a women’s development should there not be a timely pay deal that rewards all staff FT journalists at all GUARDIAN POISED fund. response to members’ and makes up for years of FOR DAILY PODCAST The NUJ chapel said his questions and demands. below-inflation rises.” levels is to launch a daily remuneration made a Joint father of chapel Steve The chapel has called for news and current affairs podcast ‘mockery of any concept of Bird wrote to three FT Group an agreement to tie pay rises that aims to take listeners behind fairness’. It noted his pay was board members and met for senior executives to those Steve Bird the news headlines. It has hired six 100 times the salary of a with FT managing editor awarded to staff in general. Joint FoC, FT Chapel audio journalists for the podcast, which will run each weekday by of the year. Joint political editor Hall admits BBC ‘overdid’ Sir Cliff coverage Anushka Asthana will be the host. Alan Rusbridger interview, page 10 Tony Hall, director general of the BBC, has told MPs that the broadcaster’s coverage of a police raid on the home of Sir was excessive. Lord Hall told the digital, culture, media and sport committee that his PA PLANS MOVE view of the BBC’s coverage, which included a helicopter flying over Sir Cliff’s AND REBRANDING Berkshire home to film a police raid, was ‘we overdid it’. The Press Association will be “I think the helicopter was overdoing it … it was something to report but down rebranded as PA Media next year the bulletin,” he said. when it moves into new London He said that the case had so far cost the corporation more than £1.5 million in offices. It is moving to Paddington costs and damages.

Basin from its long-term base in Officers from South Yorkshire Police were investigating a historical sexual assault PHOTO STOCK / ALAMY LORRIMAN JAMIE Victoria. Some staff are understood allegation made against the singer. to be concerned because they will Sir Cliff, who has always denied any wrongdoing, was not arrested and not no longer be close to Westminster. charged with any offence. He later sued the BBC and won. The BBC decided not to appeal against the ruling. Letters, page 22 ROCHDALE ONLINE MARKS 20 YEARS A former ITV News executive is leading Kent’s first dedicated TV Orders halted at Headland House’s bar channel. Robin Britton, a former head of ITV News in the south of The Chapel Bar, the August when the hospitality union. Talks to reopen the The pub is run by the England, has joined KMTV. The restaurant and bar company operating it went bar are now under way Workers Beer Company, channel is run by KM Media Group, created in the refurbishment into administration. with the operators of the which in turn is owned which publishes titles including the of the NUJ’s head office The bar had been run on a Bread & Roses pub in by Battersea and Kent Messenger, in partnership Headland House, closed in turnover lease from the Clapham, south London. Wandsworth TUC. with the University of Kent.

04 | theJournalist news Minister supports ban on inbrief... END OF THE ROAD FOR PRESS CAMPAIGN photographing gardaí The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom has closed Ireland’s minister for justice has said “The NUJ condemns online abuse of any after nearly 40 years of he would be in favour of legislation individual or group of workers. I would support campaigning for a ‘more diverse, that would ban the photographing of the the call by John Jacob, general secretary of AGSI democratic and accountable media’. country’s police – the gardaí – in the course of [Association of Garda Sergeants and It began in 1979 after the winter of their duties. Inspectors] for greater vigilance by An outright ban on discontent to work with unions In an interview for RTE’s Radio 1, Charlie multinational companies in monitoring and who were unhappy about their Flanagan condemned online threats made tackling online abuse. Gardaí and their photographing gardaí treatment in the media. The CPBF, against a garda and said that such abuse was families are entitled to protection from such at work would be to which the NUJ was affiliated, becoming more of a feature of online activity. abuse but an outright ban on photographing closed due to lack of funds. The Garda Representative Association has gardaí at work, as favoured by some “an infringement on proposed legislation representative bodies, the fundamental that would make it an would be an ’S DAVIS offence to photograph infringement on the rights exercised by GOES TO RADIO 4’S PM gardaí while they fundamental rights Evan Davis will leave Newsnight by are working. exercised by the media, the media the end of October to present When asked by as enshrined by the Radio 4’s current affairs programme presenter Sean O’Rourke whether he was constitution and specifically protected under PM. Davis, who has been the lead Séamus Dooley well disposed towards this proposal and if article 10 of the European Convention on presenter on Newsnight since 2014, NUJ Irish secretary it was something he was prepared to bring Human Rights. replaces Eddie Mair, who left to to government, Flanagan said: “Yes, I think “The European Court of Human Rights has host a drivetime show on LBC. it’s something that can be favourably been accorded the broadest scope of looked at.” protection in the court’s case law. In the Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish secretary, said: landmark Goodwin case taken by the NUJ [in OWEN MOVES UP AT “The National Union of Journalists would be 1996], the court recognised what it called ‘ strongly opposed to the proposed restrictions. watchdog role of the media’ and stated very Mail on Sunday deputy political I was surprised and disappointed by the clearly that restrictions on media freedom can editor Glen Owen has been support for such a proposal by minister for only be justified by ‘an overriding requirement promoted to political editor. He justice and equality Charles Flanagan. in the public interest’.” replaces Simon Walters, who has moved to the as assistant editor (politics) after nearly 20 No single solution, union tells Cairncross years with the Sunday title.

There is no one-size- The union pointed out that is in the public interest. credits, tax breaks and a NEW DEGREE UNITES fits-all solution to the both journalists and the The NUJ is calling for an combination of funding such JOURNALISM AND PR current media crisis, the NUJ communities they serve have economic stimulus plan for as grants, loans and The University of Salford has begun has said in its submission to been hit hard by the cuts. the media, including community share schemes. a new degree course combining the Cairncross review into The NUJ has highlighted a arms-length government journalism with public relations, the sustainability of range of measures that subsidies, the strategic use https://www.nuj.org.uk/ saying it will ‘produce graduates high-quality journalism in could bolster ethical, diverse, of central and local news/nuj-submission- who are skilled in a wide range of the UK. high-quality journalism that government advertising, tax cairncross/ areas’. The BA (Hons) Journalism with Public Relations course is based at Manchester’s Media City. Positively PR, page 14. Online-only Indy trails print newspaper rivals SARAH CORP , which went online only in 2016, is struggling to retain FELLOWSHIP SET UP British readers, and the total time spent by readers with the title has tumbled. A study News has established a has found that its British readership has declined by about one per cent since it went fellowship in memory of senior online only. This contrasts with an average 25 per cent rise for 12 national newspapers foreign affairs producer Sarah Corp that publish print editions. The total time spent with The Independent by its British who died from cancer in 2016 after audience is down by more than 70 per cent since the switch. 17 years with the programme. The Lead author Dr Neil Thurman, of City, University of London and LMU Munich, fellowship will be awarded to one said: “The reason for the decline in time spent seems to be to do with how person each year, who will spend differently content is consumed in print and online. The Independent’s print six months on the foreign desk in readers were much more frequent consumers than its online visitors are.” London and the second half of the Raymond Snoddy, page 19 year at the Washington DC bureau. PICTOKRAFT / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

theJournalist | 05 tuc news in brief... Labour pledges major boost AIMING FOR WINS IN AUTOMATION RACE Unions must play a vital role in to workers’ and union rights negotiating over workplace changes JESS HURD resulting from automation, according Shadow chancellor John to delegates Congress called on the McDonnell received a TUC’s general council to bring standing ovation when he together unions whose members are told delegates the anti trade most affected, advise on retraining union era would end if Labour and redeployment, and explore were elected to power. opportunities that may be created, In his speech, he promised such as a shorter working week. to transform the workplace and working lives and said the Trade Union Act would be repealed NATIONALISE RAIL in the first 100 days and basic AND FUND IT FULLY trade union rights would be In a year of rail chaos and failures, written into law again. the TUC reiterated its support for rail All workers would have equal nationalisation and agreed to trade union rights whether employment tribunal fees that flexibility must come at campaign for properly funded, they were part time, full time, abolished. McDonnell also the price of insecurity. integrated, publicly owned rail and temporary or permanent. pledged online and workplace “This is just plain wrong,” he This is just plain tube networks. It sent a message Zero hours contracts would be balloting for industrial action. said. “Just because you don’t wrong. Just because of solidarity to workers taking banned, with every worker There were cheers when he work regular hours doesn’t action over safety and keeping getting a guaranteed number said: “We will tackle the mean you should work when you have several guards on trains. of hours each week, and gender pay gap once and for you are sick, just because you jobs doesn’t mean there would be a return to all. We will prioritise have several jobs doesn’t “ collective bargaining. protections for women mean you can afford to lose you can afford to lose CAMPAIGN TO BACK “Trade unions will have the against unfair redundancy. one of them without warning, LOW-PAID WORKERS right of access to workplaces No-one should be penalised just because you value the one of them without The TUC will campaign for a better and we will introduce a real for having children.” freedom of independence warning deal for low-paid workers. The living wage of £10 an hour,” The answers to problems in or the convenience of number of workers in poverty has he added. the gig economy would not flexibility, it doesn’t mean you risen by over 60 per cent. The Access to workplace justice be found in the Taylor Report have to forego basic trade John McDonnell campaign will call for young workers would be restored with because its starting point was union rights.” Shadow chancellor to be paid the full adult rate of a £10 an hour minimum wage and a minimum contract of 16 hours a week. Archbishop urges new unionisation STANDING UP TO THE Justin Welby was the third and speaking for the poor, the “There must be unions in POLITICS OF HATE archbishop of Canterbury to marginalised and the oppressed. the gig economy. There must The trade union movement must be speak to congress in the TUC’s The archbishop urged delegates be unions in industries being at the forefront of challenging the 150-year history. to focus on their founding vision automated, wherever workers are ‘politics of hate’ in the workplace and He said the TUC had been that for every oppressed worker vulnerable. There must be a new society amid the rise of the far right instrumental in reducing there should be an organisation unionisation or there will only be in the UK and Europe. TUC general inequality, challenging injustice to speak truth to power. a new victimisation,” he said. secretary Frances O’Grady said that when neo-fascists threaten public order and peace, trade unionists would not retreat or be intimidated. Bad Brexit deal? Call an election JESS HURD The TUC has said if the government cannot negotiate the right 2019 TO BE THE YEAR Brexit deal for workers, it should call a general election. OF YOUNG WORKERS General secretary Frances O’Grady told congress that, if the government Next year will be the Year of the failed, the TUC would back a people’s vote on the deal. Young Worker for the TUC. Delegates ”It isn’t about delaying Brexit – it’s about leaving the EU on the right terms agreed that increasing union where jobs and rights come first. We’ve had 10 long years of wage freezes, cuts membership of young workers is a and austerity – and the stakes are high,” she said. priority. Making the case for a She also pointed to the a hard Brexit would have on Ireland. collective voice is vital as many O’Grady was backed by most union leaders including Unite’s Len McCluskey young workers have not who said a no deal Brexit would be a disaster for workers. However, Mick Cash of experienced collective bargaining. the RMT said a people’s vote was a Trojan horse for a second referendum.

6 | theJournalist tuc news TUC joins support for journalists who exposed police-paramilitary collusion JOHN HARRIS REPORT DIGITAL The TUC agreed ago. It seemed the police Court of Human Rights has unanimously to back two hoped to find names of instructed the government to Belfast-based journalists confidential sources during ensure journalists are not arrested after they exposed the raid. He called for the obliged by the courts to collusion between the British immediate lifting of the reveal them. The arrest of two Army, the RUC and Loyalist threat of legal action and The TUC backed the NUJ’s paramilitary groups in the asked delegates to condemn campaign for union branches union members unsolved Loughinisland the targeting of to show No Stone Unturned, carrying out an massacre investigation. whistleblowers and the which is available on investigation is On August 31, Trevor Birney criminalisation of journalists. YouTube. “ and Barry McCaffrey, who Chris, who chairs the NUJ’s The motion, carried nothing short of used information based on a ethics council, reminded unanimously, was seconded leaked Police Ombudsman delegates that foreign by Tony Kearns of the an outrage report to help make their secretary had Communication critically acclaimed film No recently criticised the jailing Workers’ Union. Stone Unturned, had their of journalists who had written investigation involving police Prospect’s Claire Mullaly Chris Frost homes raided and were about Myanmar. However, he collusion with paramilitary said her union stood in NUJ ethics committee arrested on suspicion of theft had remained silent about groups in the murder of UK solidarity with the NUJ. “The of confidential documents. the journalists arrested in citizens is nothing short of media has a responsibility to Proposing the motion, NUJ Northern Ireland. an outrage.” seek the truth on public delegate Chris Frost (pictured) Chris added: “The arrest of Safeguarding sources is interest issues and must be said the film had been two union members carrying enshrined in the NUJ’s Code allowed to undertake this role completed more than a year out an important of Conduct, and the European unhindered,” she said. JESS HURD Shine a light on night workers’ conditions

NUJ president Sian Jones spoke working standards they encounter,” NUJ members often have to work for the 3.2 million who work while she said. nights without reasonable safeguards others sleep when she proposed Sian suggested the TUC develop a and allowances. The health risks of this the union’s motion calling for better best practice model, focusing on health, are established, and media workers have protection for night workers. safety and welfare of night workers. The reported being so tired they are almost “We need to shine a light on the motion was carried. falling asleep at the wheel driving home.

NUJ praised for work to address gender pay gap

Delegates applauded the BBC and the NUJ has the NUJ for its work on supported 200 equal pay

JESS HURD exposing the pay gap in the claims with many women media industry – with 91 per securing an increase in When the BBC was cent of companies paying salaries and backdated pay. men more than women. In April, all companies with forced to publish pay NUJ general secretary more than 250 employees had details of its higher Michelle Stanistreet said when to reveal pay discrepancies. the BBC was forced to publish The NUJ motion, carried earners, it soon pay details of its higher unanimously, called for this to “ earners, it soon became be extended to smaller became obvious what obvious what was happening. companies and for the was happening Two thirds on the list were introduction of penalties if men and there were hardly they failed to act. any black journalists. Michelle urged the TUC to Michelle Stanistreet The pay gap was not help trade unions lead the NUJ general secretary confined to higher earners at way on pay parity.

theJournalist | 7 recruitment

life membership to acclaimed US photojournalist Chuck Rapoport. In a piece about how we are trying to be more attractive to members and potential joiners, awarding honorary life membership to a US journalist might seem a strange thing to do. In part, it was a reaction to the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, when we decided to honour Rapoport for his work covering the aftermath of the disaster for Life Magazine. Chuck lived in Aberfan during the difficult months after the disaster at a time when there was suspicion of journalists because of the way some media had covered the disaster. He overcame hostility and suspicion to become accepted by the grieving community. The award ceremony was hosted by the school of journalism at Cardiff University and student journalists were invited to attend, as was the Welsh media. The branch press release contained details about joining the NUJ and was In search of part of a recruitment attempt as it hit journalists’ desks. The award ceremony itself for Chuck gained media coverage with television and radio interviews. The branch has also held events new blood specifically for student journalists to increase numbers joining and to get NUJ activists in Cardiff are making imaginative efforts aspiring journalists into the habit of being a union member. to attract members. David Nicholson reports Membership events have continued with a summer evening in Cardiff Bay hat does an event for industry, but that supply route has hosted by ITV Wales. Students, student journalists, an dwindled. That seems to have meant journalists and members, many of award ceremony for a more journalists declaring themselves whom had never attended a union W US photojournalist, a freelance, with PR in the public sector meeting, gathered to hear about salon for freelancers in particular being hit hard by years avenues into television production and and a membership survey about the of austerity. just enjoy a social gathering. NUJ have in common? “The world of freelance journalism is When I became a freelance after years They are all part of a masterplan by expanding as more companies shed of working for organisations, the thing I the Cardiff and South East Wales staff from newspapers,” explains missed was the social side and just branch of the union to find different Cardiff branch rep and NUJ Freelance talking and sharing ideas with colleagues. ways to engage members and meet Industrial Council member Jenny Sims. With more freelance salons, social changing needs. “Earlier this year, we surveyed gatherings and talks being planned for Just six years ago, our branch members to get an idea of what The world the autumn and winter, the branch membership numbered 404 and it has freelancers want from the union then of freelance hopes not just to staunch losses but dropped to our current 366. According held a workshop to talk about ideas in “ also to grow our membership. to head office records, the branch has more depth,” she says. journalism is • The branch’s next Freelancers’ Salon 310 lapsed members and 219 who have To make the union more relevant, the is on October 27 in the Radisson Blu resigned from the union. branch embarked on a series of events expanding as hotel in Cardiff city centre. The theme Looking behind these figures shows to mix up the traditional monthly is “Succeeding in – and monetising – that , which is part of the after-work gathering to hear reports more companies your online work”. Check the NUJ Trinity Mirror Group, has shed 64 jobs and conduct union business. The Training Wales website – www. in recent years. With redundancies at branch has organised Saturday morning shed staff from nujtrainingwales.org – for details. most Welsh titles, the industry is losing salons with invited speakers talking newspapers journalists wholesale. about how they have managed to make Freelance photojournalist David PR was a traditional route for a success of becoming sole traders. Nicholson is a member of the Cardiff journalists leaving the newspaper The branch also awarded honorary and South East Wales branch 8 | theJournalist ” viewpoint

Kevin Palmer is keen for members to help overhaul the union

workers’ rights. But it must be fit for purpose – efficient, relevant and able to After 45 years, can act quickly and be value for money. I don’t have the answers. But we need a full review for the union to run well, we declutter the NUJ? attract, retain and inspire new members and, in turn, work for them. Let’s use our skills, resources and rassroots members dealing with issues that the industry contacts with other unions to learn should be getting a say and its members face now? best practice. I hope branches and in how the NUJ is Take DM for instance. We reduced its members will be consulted and urged G organised. This is frequency from annually to every two to give positive views, so a blueprint thanks to a motion years, mainly to save money. We now can be presented to delegates in 2020. passed at April’s Delegate Meeting (DM), have reports stretching back 24 months. People should contact head office or which agreed to a review of the union’s Then, after two hours or more, the development committee chair Natasha structure based on a clean sheet. president asks members to approve Hirst with ideas ([email protected]). Our structure dates back to 1975, section X of a 175-page report leaving I am decluttering my office. I hope when the industry/profession was very some members, particularly first-time the NUJ can do the same for its future. different. Industrial councils were delegates, confused. created (although one, for provincial Some motions are pushed by activists Kevin Palmer is a member of Derby newspapers, which represented many with their own agendas. While the moral and Burton branch members, has merged with that for principal may be worthy, why wait six national newspapers). months to discuss a situation only to There have been many changes to refer it to the International Federation of the media world since, including some Journalists? Most members want to disillusion after the provincial papers’ discuss issues affecting us daily – the dispute in the – state of the media, wages and working although I wonder how poorly paid conditions, pensions, training, ethics, journalists would have been without the press freedom and even subscriptions. seven-week strike – and the legislation Do we need so many bodies? restricting unions that followed. Someone asked me at DM:“Why do we Newspapers and groups merged or have four equality bodies?” There is the were taken over. The closure of original equality council, the black newspapers or town centre offices members’ council, the disabled meant reporters had to work from I am not saying members’ council, and the over home and meet contacts in libraries, 60s’ council. Could one suffice? while employers, putting bean counters “the present Branches are the lifeblood of ahead of products, slashed jobs. This the union. But sometimes we has bled newsrooms of talent and structure is don’t get a quorum and even experience, forcing people to move or bigger branches have quit the industry altogether. woefully wrong problems. When I joined in Technology has created media and – but is it right the 1970s, branch meetings jobs but there has not been the were a must-do every month traditional union base to organise and for dealing with for younger members – recruit members. branch business, learning Since the last reorganisation, bodies issues that from older colleagues and have been created and bolted on to a socialising. Yet branches democratic but sometimes complicated the industry have merged or just died. structure. The Derby and Burton branch Do they or their of which I am chair and others query and its members responsibilities need to whether we should rely on a structure face now? change? based on situations nearly 45 years ago. The NUJ is necessary for a I am not saying the present structure healthy profession, press is woefully wrong – but is it right for freedom and to protect  8 For all the latest news from” the NUJ go to www.nuj.org.uk

theJournalist | 9 interview Reading Rusbridger

ince stepping down from his editorial team. Ethnicity, again is getting better 20-year editorship of The Lydia Wilkins talks in some places.” Guardian, Alan Rusbridger has He thinks that journalism as an industry has written a book, Breaking News: to the former Guardian woken up to what it could be doing better. A 2017 S the Remaking of Journalism and editor about changes report commissioned by the National Council Why it Matters Now. Rusbridger’s Guardian was for the Training of Journalists suggests that known for its focus on issues such as the in journalism and journalism students are more likely to be in environment as well as investigative scoops such work six months after graduation if they are as the Edward Snowden revelations, the phone their implications white, do not have a disability and belong to a hacking scandal and Wikileaks. higher or middle socioeconomic group. It also He explains his motivation for writing the suggests that journalism is less ethnically book: “I did 20 years of editing, and then [I] took Breaking News is not an autobiography. diverse than the UK workforce as a whole, with about a year to sort of recover and reflect, and Although there are personal anecdotes, it is around 94 per cent of journalists being white. then I thought, actually, what I really wanted to more of a reflection on being at the centre of Our conversation turns to ethics. Under do was to describe that period in journalism, news, and the effects of going online. Rusbridger’s editorship, Nick Davies broke the which saw a fantastically profound revolution.” One point it makes is that going digital has story of phone hacking at the , He adds that people outside the industry have meant a quicker pace of news consumption, so it which led to police investigations as well as part discussed the ‘digital revolution’ but no one has has the potential to make a newspaper more one of the . Revelations are still written about experiencing what it was like. fallible. “There’s something about the playing out in court, as well as with whistleblower Breaking News also deals with . “It unrelenting pace of news now. There’s a great John Ford coming forward to reveal what he seems to me that journalism at its best is a pressure to be first, to be quick, and that’s partly alleged took place at . Ford pretty good toolkit for determining accuracy. It’s because there’s a public appetite for it. If you’re also makes a brief appearance in Breaking News. imperfect – but then everything is,” he says. not updating minute by minute, then you will Rusbridger says he does not know the In a perfect world, journalism would be the lose a certain audience,” Rusbridger says. substance of Ford’s allegations, but says the press answer to fake news, he says, with journalists There should not be a tension between speed makes great use of whistleblowers so they should having learnt the basics of things such as and accuracy in newsgathering, he adds, as news be taken seriously and deserve to be heard. accuracy, fairness and multiple sources. “That’s agencies are already in place to fill that role. The book also touches upon newsroom what journalism should be, and it should be an A lot changed in journalism during Rusbridger’s culture. At the time of the phone hacking trial, answer to fake news. The problem we have today tenure, including the rise of the internet, an one conclusion of Byline Media chief executive is that the machine for pumping out fake news inquiry into press ethics and the largest stash of Peter Jukes, as documented in his book Beyond is so enormous that it’s almost impossible for state secrets being leaked to a newspaper. Contempt, was that the environment in the journalism to catch up. Well, it is impossible for However, Rusbridger does not think diversity News of the World’s newsroom might have journalism to catch up. in journalism is good enough, despite having encouraged the illegal activities. “So I think what the world is struggling with improved in recent years. “I think there is a problem, which is not unique today is the sheer volume of material that’s “I think it is getting better in some places, but I to the News of the World, which is that newsrooms being generated – not all of which is fake, some think journalism was not alone in being quite can be very harsh places, and can be dominated of it is really good – and how you apply the filter late to work out what it should be doing. Gender, by one or more people who can seem quite of journalism to try and distinguish between I think, is better. When I was at The Guardian we intimidating, and journalism as we know is not a what’s true, what’s half true and what isn’t true.” ended up with sort of 50-50 in the sort of senior great place to be looking for jobs at the moment.”

10 | theJournalist interview

He says that insecurity in newsrooms is a result, and the is to go along with the culture of the place and do as you are told is understandable. Those affected by press intrusion are campaigning for part 2 of the Leveson inquiry to go ahead (it was scrapped by former culture secretary ). Hacked Off has applied for a judicial review, which has been granted for 1 November. “In the end, I thought Leveson 2 should take place. If the prime minister stands up in the House of Commons, and promises something’s going to happen and Leveson himself came out and said ‘I think there should be a part 2’, I thought there was enough to go at.” Rusbridger recognises that no industry would want its business practices scrutinised. Breaking News also explores the possibility of independent and hyperlocal publications solving the problem of concentrated media ownership. One example is De Correspondent, a website in The Netherlands, known for raising money before to publishing stories. Referring to its business model, Rusbridger says: “There’s this new media mantra, ‘your readers know more than you do’.” Somebody who works in a school or hospital is likely to know more than a journalist – why could they therefore not be used as a resource? They could be a source as well a fact checker for the final copy before publication, he suggests.. When asked about advice for aspiring and existing journalists, Rusbridger ponders about the state of the industry today. “Well, I think there are some bits of journalism that never change,” he says, mentioning the principles of accuracy, fairness and multiple sources. He also notes that, while there is potential for mistakes to be shared widely, it is also likely that they will be found out within minutes. “To any young journalist, there is no hiding place, and you have to be really, really good,” he says, noting that once they are trained to be arbiters of truth, they need to fulfil that role. As I leave, one last photograph is being taken; he’s immersed in a Philip Roth book while classical music plays in the background. This epitomises the image of the Rusbridger Guardian that I have; aside from a hat trick of scoops and its legendary journalism, what remains is an introverted former editor, who has been caught in the eye of so many storms.

Breaking News is published by Canongate Books

theJournalist | 11 careers

Journalists are going into PR for more than money, reports Jenny Gibson

Bright allure of the ‘dark side’

efore Katie Lewis even donned her graduation “The changing boundaries mean the options open to gown to collect her first class journalism journalists are wider than ever – they can be videographers, degree from the University of Huddersfield strategists, planners, copywriters, script writers or advertising B this summer, she was settling in to her first brand executives.” professional job. She adds: “Roles outside traditional media are also exciting In the first few weeks of her marketing role with a medical because they have budgets! There are great jobs around for supplies company, she flew to Madrid to meet international journalists, just not in traditional media. health chiefs and got involved in a string of creative projects. A love of fashion magazines first prompted Lewis to study journalism – but this is no hard-luck story about hopes dashed. In the first year of university, her developing passion for PR overtook early aspirations to be a journalist and today she is just where she had hoped to be. Lewis is not alone. Increasing numbers of trained journalists are not just leaving the profession early but are bypassing it all together in favour of PR, marketing and the fast-growing arena of content creation. According to the Public Relations & Communications Association’s 2018 PR & Communications Census, the UK industry is now worth £13.8 billion and employs 86,000 people, following a decade of year-on-year growth. Three years ago, the NCTJ found that 18 per cent of journalists were working in PR and communications within a year of qualifying, compared with 1 per cent in 2012. That figure is likely to be higher still when its next survey is released in September. Attributing this trend to newspaper industry woes is a disservice to PR. The attraction is at least as much about the profession’s own merits – chiefly, the levels of both creativity and power now at play, thanks to technological advances. Practitioners are getting to flex their multimedia muscles in constantly evolving ways as PR enjoys increasing influence over the news agenda as well as connecting directly with audiences to effect tangible change. And PR recruiters are actively looking for journalists. Joely Carey, who has edited mass-market magazines including News UK’s Sunday supplement Fabulous and now works as a content director for brands, is one of them. “Before the digital massacre of publishing, landscapes outside newsstand titles tended to be shunned by creative journalists and editors who really wanted to make an impact. Not any

ILLUSTRATION: JAMES THEW / ALAMY STOCK VECTOR STOCK THEW / ALAMY JAMES ILLUSTRATION: more,” she explains.

12 | theJournalist careers

“Traditional fashion and music journalism is dead – just check out the fashion mags that have closed in the last few years. And show me a thriving music publication. But fashion How to impress PR recruiters and music content is very much alive, via different types Sell those skills come copywriting and editing. of outlets. Make sure your interviewer knows you have But Paul MacKenzie-Cummins of Clearly “More and more skilled journalists are turning to other a great nose for news or razor-sharp PR, also observes: “The last few years have content worlds. And they are doing fantastically well. Why? proofreading skills. seen an incredible rise in demand for content Because they understand storytelling and that’s what matters.” Jonathan Ludford of the Canal and River across all sectors. There is a range of tasks.” Evidence of the growing sector is supported by a recent Trust says: “We are very journalistic. We go Chartered Institute of Public Relations poll which said 59 per out and look for stories. Consider all skills cent of agencies and consultancies and 31 per cent of “Our people will say ‘we haven’t got much Offer more than words. in-house communications teams were expanding this year. to report’ then tell you amazing tales of Joely Carey, who has created content Trained journalists are often the ideal choice to fill new roles. divers, cranes and fish rescue that they don’t for Three Mobile, Vita Coco and Sainsbury’s, Paul MacKenzie-Cummins, managing director of Clearly PR think are newsworthy because it’s just part says: “There are loads of opportunities but you need a wide skill set. If you love in Wiltshire, said 63 per cent of his staff, past and present, of their daily work. “Great news gatherers are in high demand data, become a content analyst. If film is have some form of journalism degree. “As the PR and at organisations like ours.” your thing, create social video. Explore marketing industry has developed, the whole ‘dark side’ media and play with tech. Understand the argument has fallen away,” he says. Think broadly platforms. “People are starting to realise it’s a genuinely good career Media relations is the third most common “There is no golden formula but I look for opportunity – one that uses the exact same skills that activity in PR, according to Chartered people who take incredible pride in their work journalism graduates have trained for.” Institute of Public Relations. Before that and are fiercely ambitious.” Michael Murray-Fennell, head of PR for English Heritage, which has won awards for its creative communications, such as turning the nation onto jousting as a spectator sport, echoes these sentiments. Amy Daubney, marketing and communications officer at “People who’ve trained in journalism not only have an eye the National Day Nurseries Association, studied journalism at for a story – they know the elements required to make it work. the University of Sheffield, graduating in 2013. They know what journalists need on a practical level,” he says. She says: “I did work experience with a regional newspaper. “Our team members all have a passion for history. Whether This was an eye opener as I saw how staff were stretched, you are in to travel, art, business or politics, you can working long hours across several titles. pursue that passion in PR, in the same way that “I decided I was more suited to PR, having spent summer journalists can find their specialism.” breaks as a communications coordinator for a charity. I loved If PR and marketing once had a buttoned writing press releases and liaising with the local press in up and boring image compared with that capacity.” journalism, that too is changing. The For Viki Harris, senior communications officer at Kirklees award-winning communications Council, a graduate of print journalism at the University of team at the Canal & River Huddersfield, it was the idea of the death knock that changed Trust, riding high on interest her career aspirations. in water pollution sparked She says: “I originally wanted to be a feature writer for by BBC’s The Planet, is women’s magazines. At the time, the way to get there was well known for its quirky, through local reporting. The death knock just wasn’t light-hearted content. something that sat well with me – I’m too soft. Journalism National communications looked less appealing but pursuing a career in PR in the manager Jonathan Ludford not-for-profit sector meant I could use my skills to said: “We try to be friendly and Traditional help others. accessible and we have fun. The last fashion and “The best thing is seeing the difference our work makes, thing we want is for something to whether that is encouraging more people in abusive look like it was written by a committee. “music journalism relationships to get help or increasing recycling rates by People don’t communicate in that way.” 50 per cent.” Underpinning this creativity is the is dead. But The ability to make a difference cannot be underestimated. satisfaction of building a campaign, Niall Couper, head of media, PR and supporter attracting interest from journalists who have fashion and communications at Amnesty International, is a case in point. hundreds of PR-generated story ideas at their music content is He went into journalism to uncover truth and expose disposal on any given day, counting the media hits corruption. “I didn’t path in the end,” he says. and watching content take flight on social media. very much alive “I worked on the sports desk at the Independent, which was Lewis is discovering all this for herself. “I love my new great fun but didn’t really feed in to that original goal. job,” she says. “I’m working on several projects and no two via different Working for Amnesty does, however, give me the chance to days are the same. I have the opportunity to write and be feel like I am actually making a worthwhile difference.” creative and that’s what I always wanted.” types of outlets In some ways, nothing has changed. In others, everything Lewis’s route is not new or unusual. In comparing the two has. A good story is still king. But the possibilities of who will professions of PR and journalism, for many students and pay a skilled journalist to craft, package and present that trainees, PR comes out top. story are wide open. ” theJournalist | 13 unions

Paul Routledge celebrates the long history of the Trade Union Congress

could be sent straight to jail. Worse, they could be transported to the colonies, like the Tolpuddle Martyrs. Landmark disputes like the Match Girls’ Strike of 1888 and the Dockers’ Tanner dispute in the following year established hard-fought rights at work. The General Strike of 1926 was a failure but, in the Second World War, unions were harnessed in the war effort and TGWU leader Ernie Bevin became foreign secretary in the postwar Labour government. Unions became an estate of the realm and treated seriously as social partners. The English model was exported to Germany. When the TUC celebrated its centenary in 1968 – my first year covering it, coincidentally, 150 for the – congress was a mosaic of every trade and occupation under . And virtually every town and city. There were unions for plumbers, electricians, bank staff, water workers, dockers, train drivers, town hall staff, draughtsmen, seamen, not out steelworkers – and another for blastfurnacemen. century and a half! And we’re still for themselves, which gave these newfangled London had the Watermen, Lightermen and here, despite political hostility, organisations their organic strength. Tugboat men. Luton had the Felt Hat Trimmers. rogue employers and profound Trade unions were a natural human response Rossendale had the Boot, Shoe and Slipper Makers. A economic change. The Trades to exploitation in the workplace and in society You name the job, it had a union. There were Union Congress has just generally. If we’re all in this together – and we five civil service unions, three postal unions and celebrated its 150th anniversary in Manchester. are – the more important it is to stick together. a fistful of print unions, each with fiercely No other social institution can point to such long, It was never going to be easy. Scroll back to 1799, independent sections. I counted at least half a continuous activity against the odds and with a when the Combination Acts were passed, making dozen textile unions, including the mysterious real, if challenging, future ahead. it illegal for workmen to join others to demand a Beamers, Twisters and Drawers. And so it Back in Victorian times, nobody told working pay rise or better conditions. In ‘the English Age of burgeoned, until membership of TUC-affiliated people they needed to get together to look after Terror’, anyone attending a meeting to raise wages unions passed the 12 million mark. With its their mutual interests. Not priests, nor sheer size and impact on public life through poets, nor politicians. They worked it out collective bargaining and political activity, the

TUC LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AT LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY TUC LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AT TUC LIBRARY COLLECTIONS AT 1907, NUJ WAS FORMED LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

1868 1888 1907 1926 The first Trades Union Congress – The Match Girls’ Strike in London, The NUJ was formed. It is now one The General Strike, nine days that ‘the parliament of labour’ – was followed by the Dockers’ Tanner of the biggest journalists’ unions in shook Britain. It was called by the held in Manchester at the strike – fin de siecle of union the world with 38,000 members in TUC in an unsuccessful attempt to Mechanics’ Institute. It drew trade expansion into hitherto the UK and the . prevent wage cuts and worse unionists from all ove the UK. unorganised trades. conditions for miners.

14 | theJournalist unions

‘union question’ began to dominate from the imposed, and union funds were opened up to agency workers and the like. mid 1960s. legal assault. Theresa May has promised that, after Brexit, Union leaders like Joe Gormley of the The final chapter was written in 1984, with the there will be no rowing-back from those gains. National Union of Mineworkers, of crushing of ’s NUM in the strike for Rightly suspicious of the old enemy, the unions the shipbuilders and Jimmy Airlie of the jobs and the 1986 destruction of the print unions in look to Labour MPs to hold May to her word. The engineers’ union were household names. Polls the Wapping dispute. Dozens of journalists on The Manchester congress demanded a Brexit deal showed people thought Jack Jones of the TGWU Times, Sunday Times, The Sun and the News of the that meets union demands on jobs, rights at work was more powerful than the prime minister. World were sacked, along with 5,500 printworkers. and peace in Northern Ireland – and a people’s ’s Labour government set up a Some never worked on the nationals again. vote to decide if it does or not. Unions have royal commission on unions to decide whether It was the nadir of trade union fortunes. After taken Labour in a new direction, which has yet to union power was a good thing. Its verdict was like Wapping, the received wisdom was that you undergo its test, in a post-Brexit general election. that of a Scottish court: not proven, either way. could not win a strike. Like all conventional The mosaic of 1968 has disappeared. Most The Tories were under no illusions. After his wisdom, it was only partly true, as refuse smaller unions have gone, subsumed into one of victory in 1970, premier Edward Heath brought collectors in Leeds and social workers in the Big Three: Unite, Unison or the GMB. New in the ill-fated Industrial Relations Act, with a Doncaster proved with their successful dispute. growth has been largely in the professions, National Industrial Relations Court (NIRC) to It isn’t easy to win, but it’s not mission particularly public services like the NHS. enforce the law. A Trades Union Congress boycott impossible. After 12 strikes in one year, rail workers At the historic Manchester congress, issues such effectively stymied the legislation, but not before on Greater Anglia this summer declared victory in as sexual harassment dominated the workplace five striking dockers had been jailed for contempt their campaign to keep guards on trains. agenda. Some things just never go away, just like of the NIRC. The TUC’s threat of a general strike The number of days lost through disputes is at the unions themselves. The Musicians’ Union – the first since 1926 – got them released. an all-time low. Unions have had to adapt to the highlighted adverts for ‘attractive women The miners’ strike of 1974 triggered a general Tories’ legal straightjacket that was only slightly violinists’ , unbelievable in the 21st century. election that returned Wilson to Number 10, and loosened by ’s I joined the NUJ on my first day in the job as a pro-union employment secretary governments. reporter on the now-defunct Northern Despatch repealed the hated act. But, after the ‘winter of Legal paths to union recognition was the in Darlington in July 1965. It just seemed the discontent’ of 1978-79, Maggie Thatcher swept biggest change. The NUJ has been prominent in natural thing to do. Everybody was a member. into power on the back of hostility to the unions. using the new law, but many industrial employers It is harder now, not just because employers Everything changed. The years of social still stop at nothing to keep unions out. are hostile and quick to hire union-busting partnership, with union leaders sitting on the Europe has proved to be an unexpected lawyers, but also because workers are dispersed National Economic Development Council, ended. source of support. In the 1975, the TUC opposed in penny packets, locked into zero-hours and The days of union peers and knights of the realm UK entry to the Common Market.After the ‘Yes’ short-term contracts. Employment has grown at sitting on the TUC general council petered out. vote, British union leaders took their places on the expense of ‘proper’ jobs, making it much To Thatcher, we were ‘the enemy within’. EEC bodies alongside European unions. more difficult to organise. From 1981, laws curtailing union Thereafter, we benefited from But the spirit of the pioneers who met at the activity were passed virtually every some European Mechanics’ Institute in Manchester in 1868 to year, each more stringent than the reforms: the working form a parliament of the workers lives on, and last. The closed shop was banned, time directive, rights every new generation finds out for itself the pre-strike postal ballots were for part-time and wisdom of getting together for the common good.

AJAX NEWS DAVID HICKES / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO RICHARD MILDENHALL / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

JESS HURD 1968 1984-85 1986 2013 The Royal Commission on Trade A national strike over jobs by Print unions were crushed by NUJ member Frances O’Grady Unions, set up by Harold Wilson, Arthur Scargill’s National Union of Thatcher in the Wapping dispute in became the first woman general returned a ‘not proven’ verdict Mineworkers was defeated by the which 5,500 print workers were secretary of the TUC in succession on whether union power was ‘a Thatcher Government sacked by . to Brendan Barber. good thing’.

theJournalist | 15 step towards the freedom of the written word. It was the gate through which the Sixties swung.” The press certainly stampeded through that wide open door. The trial was the gift that went on giving, day after day of men in wigs reading out explicit passages – a fraction of the book but Lady a large portion of the trial – describing adulterous, alfresco love-making between a baronet’s wife and a gamekeeper possessed of a potent ‘John Thomas’. For , late October meant an early Christmas. The News of the World gagman depicted the Chatterley’s consternation in court at the entrance of an elderly rustic hobbling up to announce with a leer: “Oi were Lady Chatterley’s lover.” As the judge’s disapproval of the novel became increasingly apparent, the Daily Mail showed one worried penguin squawking to another: “I’ve been feeling terribly sub judice these last few days!” lawyer A Daily Herald cartoon showed a vicar’s wife, struggling over a crossword, who asks her shocked husband for help: “A four-letter word in The legal battle over DH Lawrence’s book was common use?” was one of only two papers (the other being, naturally, The Guardian) a crucial step in the freedom of writing. It also whose reports dared to spell out the actual gave the papers a field day, says Jonathan Sale four-letter words uttered in court; the red-tops hid them modestly under a shower of asterisks. More obliquely, a cartoon in Punch magazine he innocence of Lady Chatterley’’ would have been not Lane but the opponents of picked up on a point made by those who said was the Evening Standard’s the fledgling Permissive Society who would have that the book was, despite its enthusiastic sex splash on its West End Final that been dancing in the Strand. scenes, fundamentally pure at heart (a classics T both the literary and the Geoffrey Robertson QC has flagged up the teacher told the court it would be suitable for her unliterary world had been crucial importance of this trial. A contributor 50 pupils). A disappointed vendor of saucy waiting for. On 2 November 1960 came the years later to the commemorative edition of the periodicals grumbled that he would not bother triumphant conclusion (for defence QC Gerald novel, he declared the verdict to be “a crucial to stock the novel, as it was “so decent it’s even fit Gardiner) of what was later described as ‘the most important trial ever held at the Old Bailey’. There was no one in the dock of court no 1, neither the heroine of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Should one’s servant read this? who was fictitious, nor author DH Lawrence, who was dead. The man having his collar felt, In June 1928, two years Penguin for publishing ‘an obscene promiscuous tale. Witnesses for publisher Sir Allen Lane [pictured right leaving before DH Lawrence’s death, article’ begins at Old Bailey court defence include the bishop of no 1 and adjourns until 27 October Woolwich, two female Oxbridge the trial with Lady Lane] had been allowed to sit 1,000 copies of Lady Chatterley’s Lover are printed privately in so the jury can read the book. lecturers and three professors. with his solicitors during the proceedings. He Florence and, in 1929, another Day two The prosecuting (No literary figures appear for featured in the second lead on the Standard’s edition is published in . counsel asks the jury if members prosecution, whose only witness front page: ‘ “Now we can go ahead” says Penguin Copies are impounded by would like their wives or is a policeman who picked up chief.’ The third lead, devoted to the historic case, Customs at British ports. servants to be exposed to this copies from Penguin.) was ‘Fresh air blows though England’, a quote August 1959 The Obscene Day three. Witnesses include from Lawrence’s joyful stepdaughter. Publications Act allows a book to EM Forster, future home secretary On 20 October, Penguin Books had gone be judged as a whole, not just on Roy Jenkins, a headmaster and a waddling into the Old Bailey at the start of the individual passages. In January classics teacher. trial, possibly to have its flippers smacked for 1960, Penguin decides to publish Day four. Witnesses include publishing ‘an obscene article, the book “Lady Lady Chatterley’s Lover – the editor of The Guardian, future Chatterley’s Lover” ’. Had it been first published unexpurgated. In July, when Conservative minister Norman St today, the novel might at worst be nominated 200,000 copies are being printed, John-Stevas and future poet for a Bad Sex Award (“… strange thrills rippling the public prosecutor’s nephew, laureate Cecil Day-Lewis. Day five Closing speeches for inside her. Rippling, rippling, rippling…”). over dinner with Penguin’s printers, warns his uncle will defence and prosecution are given. On the result of the trial in 1960 rested the prosecute. Publication date (25 Day six. The jury retires for fate of 200,000 copies already printed and August) is cancelled. Penguin three hours. Declares Penguin locked in a warehouse, ready to be whisked into hands 12 copies to Scotland Yard not guilty. bookshops. Or pulped, in which case Lane, the to kick off legal proceedings. April 1961. Penguin shares chief Penguin who had put a lot of eggs into the 20 October The trial of are oversubscribed 150 times. Lawrence basket, would have been looking at a substantial loss instead of a substantial profit. It

16 | theJournalist Looking back to: for schoolgirls”. All this was 1960 very jolly but it was not the cartoonists who caused the most raucous laughter to echo down the decades. It was the prosecuting counsel, Mervyn Griffith-Jones, who accidentally bowled himself out in his opening speech on the first day of the trial. Under the impression that he was really on a roll, he put to the jury the most clunkingly inapposite question in legal history: “Is it a book that you would even wish your wife or your servants to read?” He got his answer: the amusement of the three women and nine men on the jury – and not in a good way. While the rest of the country was chortling, Penguin’s lawyers were making a serious point: the recent Obscene Publications Act meant that naughty bits alone should not cause a book to be banned. As a campaigner for that legislation and a witness for the defence, the late Norman St John-Stevas (Lord St John of Fawsley) explained to me much later: “The changes that had been introduced allowed for the first time the book’s literary value to be taken into account.” The most fervent witness was probably Richard Hoggart, lecturer and author of The Uses of Literacy. He was mocked in a headline as the ‘potty prof’ but was later played by in a BBC docu-drama about the trial. Accepting this was by no means Lawrence’s finest work, Hoggart aimed straight for the stumps to counter the prosecution’s references to pornography; he came up with another ‘p-word’, praising the novel as ‘puritanical’ in its call for honesty between consenting adults. Griffith-Jones appealed to the umpire, or judge, that this could hardly apply to a lady having an adulterous relationship, whereupon Hoggart bowled him a googly by bringing up the lovemaking scene featuring Adam and Eve in Paradise Lost. This was one of the bold strokes that won the match. When the judge asked the jury on the sixth day if they believed the novel to be obscene and thus likely to deprave and corrupt its readers, after three hours of deliberations the answer turned out to be: Lady Chatterley is innocent. “Why was the prosecution so incompetent?” muses Steve Hare, Penguin’s historian. “It was partly down to arrogance. Had they put together a decent prosecution case, it is possible that the defence of Lady Chatterley’s Lover would have failed.” The test case had been won. Publishers had (mostly) got the director of public prosecutions off their backs. “It was the harbinger of a whole host of liberal measures,” notes Robertson. It was not just a new freedom for the written word but also part of the liberation of theatre, film, gay rights and divorce. And Lawrence’s novel was serialised on

Radio 4. In the Book at Bedtime slot, of course. GETTY IMAGES

theJournalist | 17 reporting

promise was simple. Get me to the minimum-funding mark and, when the trial starts on November 1, I will post a daily court report online, Trial by available to all, for free. By the time I woke up the next day, I had received more than £1,000 in pledges. Within four days, I had reached my target. Within two weeks, crowdfunding I was 200 per cent funded, meaning I would no longer make a loss on the Nick Wallis thought the treatment of subpostmasters project. I was astounded. Kickstarter advises compiling a list of was scandalous, but how could he cover the story? everyone who might be able to fund you, grouping them together and devising he Post Office’s I knew the best I could hope for from various strategies for targeting those treatment of its any broadcast news outlet was a groups. This is good advice, but the subpostmasters – the commission to report the trial’s start only strategy I used was to send a mass T people who run local and outcome. No one was going to pay email to everyone I knew as soon as the post offices – is a story me a month’s salary to sit through project was live. This was followed by the Daily Mail says “likely represents every day of the trial. But, if no other enthusiastic tweets and Facebook posts. one of the most widespread journalist went along, key evidence – the From my dashboard of Kickstarter- miscarriages of justice in the UK this sort of evidence that could make this a tracked site referrals, it seems the vast century”. In parliament, it has been bigger story – might go unreported. majority of early backers came from called a national scandal. I began to think about crowdfunding. No one was going that email or via people who forwarded I got involved eight years ago when a I knew Peter Jukes had raised enough that email. Contacts, in other words, man told me his pregnant wife had cash via Indiegogo to tweet from the “to pay me to sit and contacts of contacts. been thrown in prison for stealing phone-hacking trial, and I also looked Whatever the outcome of the trial, it £70,000 from her own Post Office. He at Byline. In the end, I decided to throw through every day will not be the end of the story. The was adamant she was innocent. It did my lot in with Kickstarter, largely of the trial. But, if Criminal Cases Review Commission has not take long to find out dozens of because of its all-or-nothing approach. been carrying out its own investigation subpostmasters were claiming that Backers would only have to fulfil their no other journalist to see if any subpostmasters’ convictions errors within the Post Office’s Horizon pledges if I reached my £3,000 target. should be referred to the Court of IT system had led to them losing their If I failed to reach that minimum, there went along, a Appeal, and there is the prospect of jobs and livelihoods. would be no mess to untangle and no another trial as part of the same class Since then, I’ve made several one would lose any money. bigger story might action happening next March. That one investigations for the BBC, including I recorded a video, commissioned go unreported could be even juicier – but, right now, one for Panorama. There have been two my brother-in-law to design a logo, I’m focused on making sure I fulfil my parliamentary debates, a select wrote up some rewards and launched obligations to my backers and to public committee investigation, two the bid late one Friday night. My interest journalism. independent investigations by forensic accountants and a mediation scheme that collapsed in acrimony. Throughout, the Post Office has ” maintained it has done nothing wrong and that its Horizon system is robust. Several hundred former postmasters, however, claim they have lost money, been wrongly sacked or even prosecuted for crimes they did not commit. When the prospect of a trial came up, I tried to stay on the story as much as possible. I went to a pre-trial hearing at which the Post Office admitted something it had told Panorama was, in fact, untrue. I was the only journalist in court and went on the One Show the same evening and reported this crucial detail, which had been let slip during hours of otherwise tedious legal horse-trading. Sadly, the One Show, for all its merits, is not geared up to cover the ins and outs of a 20-day trial.

18 | theJournalist on media

Going online hits reader time. Raymond Snoddy peruses a study

is more a set of beliefs than a newspaper – it would not necessarily From digital dream to work for newspapers in general. Beware the sirens singing of a digital- only future. They could lure you onto readership nightmare the rocks of 70 per cent less reading time, at least in the UK. y the time The average rise in readership of the other Eventually, even pragmatic Independent went 12 British national newspapers that advertisers will notice such a difference. online- only in 2016, have maintained print editions. B the decision seemed The reason behind the disparity Thurman N, Fletcher R (2018) Are inevitable. The internal appears to be a fundamental difference newspapers heading toward The stark reality of cannibalisation by the i newspaper had in behaviour between reading print post-print obscurity? A case study seen the latter’s cut-price sales shoot and online. of the Independent’s transition far ahead of the Indy. More than 50 per cent of The to online-only. Digital Journalism. the digital dream The £25 million sale of the i to Independent’s print readers read the http://doi.org/10.1080/21670811.2 was the equivalent of title nearly every day, and for between 018.1504625 sending the Independent’s print 37 and 50 minutes. edition to Dignitas. Last year, The Independent’s online It all looked like good business for the readers spent on average less than six long-suffering owners. Going online was minutes a month with the brand. The portrayed as the next great step forward drop in reading time in the UK is down for The Independent, which had always by more than 70 per cent. been a bit of a trailblazer. Now The Independent sees the US as Suddenly, the shackles of print its largest market. In its first post-print dropped away and, like alchemy, print year, online traffic from outside the UK losses were turned into gold and the grew by 50 per cent, followed by a world was The Independent’s new oyster. further 20 per cent rise last year. It was not so good for the nearly 100 At the very least, the research journalists who lost their jobs nor for suggests, British publishers should the ‘lucky’ survivors who faced pay cuts be wary about chasing digital-only to work online – but, come on, this was dreams and make far greater the future. efforts to shore up their print Amid the talk of modernisation were editions before declaring the a few warning voices. Doesn’t most move to online inevitable. newspaper advertising revenue come Many see The Guardian as from print and, surely, people spend the next online-only more time with a printed edition than candidate, and certainly its casually flicking online? US reach is impressive Wouldn’t there be a cost in terms of Beware the following the Pulitzer impact and influence even though sirens singing of a prize-winning Snowden metamorphosing into a digital “ coverage. butterfly produced a profit of more digital-only future. Under Alan Rusbridger’s than £2.5 million? editorship, the primacy given to We now know, thanks to research by They could lure digital, detailed lovingly in his Neil Thurman and Richard Fletcher, memoirs, Breaking News, suggests that the transition to digital does you onto the rocks digital-only is the direction of indeed bear a cost, certainly in travel. After all, other revenues – The Independent’s UK market. of 70 per cent less including digital and membership At first sight, a drop in The reading time – now outstrip print advertising. Independent’s UK readership of one It would be a mistake to pull per cent seems trivial, unimportant. It the plug on print and, even if it compares, however, with a 25 per cent worked for The Guardian – which

For the latest updates from Raymond Snoddy on 8follow @raymondsnoddy”

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 How Scottish factory workers singalongs with a previous general Festival secretary a decade ago – is touring took on the Pinochet regime Newport Rising her eighth studio album this autumn, 2-4 November Entitled Queer as Folk. The Leicester Newport singer uses the album’s lead This new festival track, Black Tie, to challenge what marks the last she describes as society’s ‘narrow large-scale armed view’ of gender. rebellion against “I wrote this song to my younger authority in Great self, to say the way you are – and Britain. to anyone else who ever felt like In 1839, an they were – is not wrong. There is estimated not just one way to be a woman. 10,000 Chartist sympathisers, many There is not one way to be a man. You of them miners, marched through don’t even have to be either.” A new the Welsh town to free imprisoned album, but already a classic. fellow Chartists. Troops opened fire, http://gracepetrie.com killing 22 protestors. The leaders were sentenced to death. Books To commemorate the event, Bumblebee Nation organisers plan to reclaim the David Crouch streets with a torch-lit march on the Karl-Adam Bonniers Stiftelse Westgate Hotel, street circus and “It has such a fat body and such Forty four years ago, a group of and fired rockets into the city drumming followed by a weekend of tiny wings, yet it flies.” So says Rolls Royce factory workers from centre, killing civilians during a live music, theatre and street food. David Crouch on how Sweden – East Kilbride grounded Augusto brutal military coup. www.newportrising.co.uk with high wages, strong unions, Pinochet’s murderous regime … and They recognised the jets because generous welfare and regulated only now is their story being told. they had worked on their Rolls Music markets – defies the laws of Scotland-based filmmaker Felipe Royce engines. So, when the Wexford Festival Opera economic gravity. Bustos Sierra, the son of a Chilean engines were returned from Chile 19 October-4 November The former Financial exile, grew up hearing tales of the following year, the workers Wexford Times journalist and NUJ remarkable international solidarity refused to repair them. One night, in Wexford Festival Opera is activist moved to Scandinavia and set out to find the truth. It took 1978, they mysteriously renowned for discovering five years ago to become him five years. disappeared. and presenting hidden a lecturer, and this lavishly “Over time the story became a bit Bustos Sierra tracked down the gems, not only in its designed and beautifully of a myth, with lots of workers who, 40 years on, had never operas on stage but also in the illustrated book is the fruit of embellishments and exaggerations,” realised the impact of their actions. outstanding cast of singers it presents. his labours. he told Creative Scotland, which He says: “If international solidarity This year, its 67th, is no exception http://tinyurl.com/y8dp78c2 part-funded the project. means anything to you, if you believe with a dynamic directory of divas from “I was hoping to find the workers – like we do – we are all connected 11 countries singing such classics as The Other Side of the Ribbon and set the record straight. I never trying to make a life for ourselves Mala vita, L’oracolo, Il bravo and the Brian Thomas imagined I’d find so much about while treating each other like human somewhat less Italian Dinner at Eight. Brian Thomas, a 71-year-old how much of an impact they’d had.” beings before politics, class, language www.wexfordopera.com journalist, looks back at his career In 1973, engine inspector Bob or borders muddle it up, this story is as a reporter in the rural South West Fulton and his horrified colleagues for you and it has a painstakingly Grace Petrie in this scrapbook of local newspaper watched on television as Hawker documented happy ending.” On tour throughout October office eccentricities. The Hunter jets flew low over Santiago https://naepasaran.com/ Grace Petrie – a favourite of this book is Illustrated throughout column since Glastonbury campfire with cartoons.

20 | theJournalist arts

Brian tells Arts with Attitude: “I Music thought it would be nice to record some of the silly, off-beat things said and done in the newsroom.” It strikes Bragg in Hope not Hate benefit a chord with this former reporter. www.bookdepository.com/ Billy Bragg has announced a Hate have played a significant role in book/9781530466733 one-off fundraising gig for Hope the conviction of British neo-Nazis not Hate. at the Old Bailey. Television The Bard of Barking is joining “They’ve been working on this for arts Sharp Objects forces with Scottish rabble-rousers over a year and, now they’ve been Hot on the heels of the BBC’s Press, The Wakes in London on 25 January successful, they want to build on the the media again takes the spotlight to help replenish the charity’s important work they do in in HBO’s Sharp Objects. coffers after its work foiled a plot to challenging, confronting and, as Alcoholic crime reporter Camille murder a Labour MP. we’ve seen, ultimately defeating the Preaker (Amy Adams) returns to her Billy Bragg has a long history far right.” Missouri hometown to cover the of fighting fascism – who can forget Matthew Collins from Hope Solicitors have given us murders of two girls. him confronting BNP London not Hate told Arts with Attitude: extraordinary support. Based on the debut novel by assembly member Richard “We’re very grateful for the “Billy Bragg has also been Gone Girl author , this Barnbrook on the street in 2010? support of the trade union and tremendous and we aim to make psychological gothic thriller, featuring – and is happy to donate his fee to labour movement – ASLEF and sure this night is one to remember.” a heroic editor will keep you gripped the charity. the GMB are supporting the gig until the end. He said: “Our friends at Hope not – and people like Thompsons http://tinyurl.com/yb3kg3f7 And I mean the very end. Keep watching until after the credits of the last episode. http://tinyurl.com/ Comedy their generation, and prints poems, y9fkq8m7 Politics for Bitches , as a couple who jokes and Luisa Omielan have been in love for more than 50 essays about Film Touring the UK until December years. Then one weekend, when their life in the The Wild Pear Luisa Omielan does not shy daughters visit, a bunch of flowers trenches, a Tree away from the hard issues – her shows up … but who sent them? precursor to Released in first show was entitled What http://theheightofthestorm.com Private Eye the UK on Would Beyonce Do? In her new and Charlie 30 November offering, she addresses topics The Wipers Times Hebdo. Ahlat Ağacı (to from public spending to housing, Arts Theatre, London www.wiperstimesplay.co.uk give it its Turkish and from cannabis to cancer. Until December 1 title) premiered at this year’s “Politics is so dry and Private Eye editor Performance Poetry Cannes Festival and was selected as inaccessible,” she says, warning the Ian Hislop and John Cooper Clarke the Turkish entry for Best Foreign show also includes dick jokes. /sketch Touring the UK this autumn Language Film at the Oscars. http://www.iloveluisa.com writer Nick For a writer with a tight word Stunningly filmed, it tells the Newman’s story count, describing John Cooper story of writer Sinan, Theatre about a Clarke is a challenge, but I’ll give it who returns to the village of his The Height of The Storm newspaper in the trenches returns to a go: he’s a poet, movie star, rock star, birth to raise the money required to Wyndhams Theatre, London the stage following a well-received BBC TV & radio presenter, and a publish his novel only to find Until 1 December adaptation and a sell-out run last year. social and cultural commentator. I’m his father’s debts holding him back. This new play by Olivier award-winning The true tale of a group of soldiers out of words now, but go and see him. www..com/title/ Florian Zeller brings together for the who discovered a printing press in He’s funny. And entertaining. tt6628102/ first time two of the greatest actors of 1916 Belgium, the Wipers Times http://johncooperclarke.com/gigs/

Spotlight: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists

Magic money tricks in an Edwardian show the UK with what he describes as an Edwardian “Money is the cause of the centrepiece of a new money under capitalism show, promising poverty because it is the stage adaptation of Robert exploits the working class. political conjuring tricks, live device by which those who Tressell’s 1914 classic novel, Owen and other characters music and song. are too lazy to work are the manuscript of which is from the book – hypocritical The TUC’s copy of the enabled to rob the workers of held by the TUC. Christians, exploitative manuscript can be seen at the fruits of their labour.” The money trick, as it is employers and corrupt www.unionhistory.info/ That line, delivered by called, is used by the socialist councillors – come to life at ragged/ragged.php Frank Owen in the Ragged house-painter to explain to the hands of actor Neil Gore, Trousered Philanthropists, is colleagues how the use of who is this autumn touring http://tinyurl.com/y8ktuhy2

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

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 For now, editors and news editors are unsure where they stand although maybe caution and restraint in such Cliff Richard was right matters is no bad thing. TIM ELLIS Neither was there any support for the to fight trial by media ‘BBC/police invasion’ of his home while Sir Cliff was abroad. Such reporting The Journalist devoted generous space to disapproving should never have happened, certainly commentary of the High Court’s refusal to legitimise the not in the form it did. BBC/police conspiracy to invade and film Cliff Richard’s home But it is a serious matter to move from in his absence. The BBC claims the decision to award Sir that to a blanket ban that would mean Cliff damages will have a ‘chilling effect’ on press freedom. another freedom is lost and one which is It will mean ‘more restrictions, more abuse of power’, impractical to impose anyway in the age says Raymond Snoddy. It may even – horror of horrors of the internet and the social media. – mean that people arrested but not charged (or, in Sir Raymond Snoddy Cliff’s case, not even arrested) have the right to privacy and natural justice. Mirror is hypocritical over Once upon a time, this was called presumption of workers’ rights and unions innocence. It is an ancient right, dating back to Magna The extraordinary level of double Carta and the bedrock of basic justice and a civilised society. standards shown by Mirror In recent years, this precious right has been traduced to management towards the trades union the point of destruction by much of the media. Shamefully, movement might be regarded as journalists have promoted, almost obsessively, vigilante laughable if it wasn’t so depressing. witch hunts and public pillorying as ‘news’ – even as fact – Its national titles claim to champion when the only evidence is gossip and hearsay. Trial by the right of workers to belong to a trades media rules. union. Indeed, the recently Thanks to his wealth and considerable courage, Cliff celebrated the TUC’s 150th anniversary Richard has called their bluff and we ought to be grateful with a series of double page spreads to him. The BBC/police invasion of his home about the history of the movement. was not a ‘scoop’ but an outrage that left Yet NUJ members on the same paper privacy and presumption of innocence and sister titles the and in shreds. At the very least, it ought to £30 Sunday People are denied a say in sound an alarm for those who still prize negotiations over pay, working pride themselves in being journalists. letter conditions and redundancies at their Canary Wharf HQ. This is because London Mirror bosses choose to recognise the British Association of Journalists, not 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 the TUC-affiliated NUJ. When will this hypocrisy end? beat accuracy On his way to his chosen conclusion, understand why they should restrain NUJ Mirror member in contradictory column Raymond Snoddy damns his own case themselves from spying on private The media is now divided into two twice. This makes it difficult for him to residences from helicopters. Simplicity of photo story classes: columnists, who get a page of see that what he is really saying is that Nick Inman gave it great power prominence to develop a pet subject; the bully should be given an Occitanie Thank you for Bill Batchelor’s and the rest of us, who are confined to unconditional licence to go on bullying. France extraordinary photograph and account comment in the small print. The media continually claims to be the of Leon Greenman, thought to be the A columnist for a respectable publication protector of free speech and the public Snoddy: freedom under only Englishman sent to Auschwitz has a duty to support his opinions with interest (or the sinister-sounding ‘greater threat if precedent set (August/September). evidence and logic – and certainly not good’). It must justify this self-belief. To be clear, there was no ‘disapproving I found the simplicity of the image contradict himself. But no, the object of The problem, I suspect, is that few commentary’ of the High Court and economy of the writing hugely columnism is the same as populism: to journalists have been on the receiving decision in the Sir Cliff Richard case but powerful. So often we over-elaborate to achieve emotional resonance with end of media abuse in which no public of the general implications of such a the detriment of impact. readers rather than deliver wisdom, interest is involved and free speech is ruling if it becomes a legal precedent David Brindle nuance and common sense. entirely one sided. They don’t without proper scrutiny or legislation. London

22 | theJournalist inbox

Copyright cases would end True equality is good for clearly see the crucial importance of infiltrated by the National Security if rights were respected kids, parents and society high quality journalism, even while Agency or else Google is keen to stay When digital photos leave the I read Jeremy Bowden’s feature they are having to make cuts. on the right side (pun intended) of the photographer, they should and usually ‘Gender equality lags behind in The work of New York Times US government. do include metadata identifying the parenting’, and I couldn’t agree more. journalists can be compared with the Dave Siddall copyright holder and rights granted so It’s my experience that fathers love the UK where newspapers have cut Cockermouth prospective users such as David their children just as much as mothers journalist numbers, year after year. Cumbria [Skentelbury] (letters, August/ do. But sexist expectations mean that That surely means that those in September], could quickly check if they fathers get stuck working long hours to power here are not being held to Forget literary agents – have the right to publish. How sensible. support their families, while missing account as they should be because crowdfunding is as good However, publishers and clients out on the fun of actually spending resources – journalists – have been cut. I read Ken Murray’s letter on getting routinely and quickly delete metadata, time with their kids. Meanwhile, I write as a retired local government books published with interest and can removing the ability to check and putting women’s careers stall because they reporter. offer some advice based on my own people in David’s position at considerable take time out to care for children. Quality journalism doesn’t come experience. Why not cut out a literary risk. If they kept it and abided by rights ‘Fairness’ works both ways. There will cheap but newspaper companies really agent altogether? agreements, there would be no claims. not be true equality until it is expected need to re-evaluate where they are I suggest that he contacts It’s the publishers/clients who cause that men get to spend as much time going and whether they are serving crowdfunding publisher Unbound. You these problems, not the photographers. with their kids as women do. readers well enough. don’t need an agent to submit your The Copyright, Designs and Patents I look forward to the day when that I dread to think what those in power proposal to them. Act 1988 says only the copyright holder happens. It will be good for the kids as are getting away with, with the cuts in The drawback is you have to raise the (having invested time, talent, money well as the parents, and thus for society journalist numbers on both regional cost of your book upfront, but once and personal risk) has the right to set as a whole. and national newspapers. that is achieved, your book is published licence conditions and fees. Judges at Helen Johnson Phillip Nifield and distributed in the usual way, both the Intellectual Property Enterprise Northallerton Life Member in bookshops and as an e-book online. Court and Court of Appeal have Cardiff I published my biography of Laurie repeatedly reminded publishers they Holding power to account Cunningham, the first black footballer must stop publishing unlawfully at The New York Times Google fact check is linked to play professionally for England as a (without prior permission). The excellent BBC 2 series Reporting to US state broadcaster hardback last year. The book has done To the publisher, using a photo without Trump’s First Year: the Fourth Estate Amid all the fake news discussions, I well and was shortlisted for an award. permission is just a one-off infringement, focused on the work of New York Times find it amazing that every time I check I had never written a book before and so what’s the big deal? For the typical journalists holding the Trump out Google News I see a column on the had a small online presence. But, freelance photographer like me, it’s administration to account. right headlined Fact Check. through a combination of email and cumulative. I have 21 active cases in six It also highlighted the newspaper’s And, invariably among the sources social media, I hit my funding target countries (having settled 140+). That’s tremendous commitment to Google quotes at me, are items from within months. I found the whole an extra day’s work each week, so I use journalism, particularly investigative, Polygraph.info. A simple check reveals process to be straightforward and a specialist company, adding to costs. despite the costs and the challenges that Polygraph.info is a source of US doubt if my book would have seen the Every Infringement reduces my income. caused by the loss of advertising to the propaganda run by the same light of day otherwise. John Walmsley internet. The owner of The New York organisation as the Voice of America. Dermot Kavanagh London Freelance branch Times and its senior editorial team Either the algorithms have been London

STEVE BELL THE OWNERS

theJournalist | 23 obituaries

Derek Ingram Alex Main

Derek Ingram, founder of the A Highland personality who was a life Commonwealth Journalists’ member of the NUJ has died at the age Association, was known to many as Nick Cole of 86. Mr Commonwealth. Alex Main was the doyen of the Highland Awarded an OBE for his services to journalism, Veteran Lincolnshire journalist Nick press world and won 15 trophies as manager of he will be remembered as one of the key British Cole – an NUJ branch and chapel official former Highland League side, Caledonian. media figures to help topple all-white rule in for many years – has died aged 72. Married to Ella, he had two sons, Alan and Rhodesia and apartheid in South Africa. Tributes were paid by local councillors, Richard and two grandchildren, Nicolas and Sonny Ramphal, the secretary general of the Scunthorpe’s MP and many former colleagues. Leah. Commonwealth during 1975-90, said: “I came to Nick’s newspaper, the Scunthorpe Telegraph, From Inverness, Alex began his career in regard him as a member of the extended family carried a two-page spread, noting his dedication journalism in 1947 with the Inverness Courier of the Commonwealth secretariat. I thought he and ability to track down front-page scoops. and went on to work for the Highland News, never lost his journalistic independence or his Most of these were obtained by talking to a huge Football Times, Press and Journal, Daily Mail, ability to question.” range of contacts in local pubs and clubs, , and before finally Ingram attended all the Commonwealth heads scribbling notes on scraps of paper or beer mats. returning to the Inverness Courier. He retired on of government meetings from the first in Nick started out in the 1960s on the Scunthorpe April 25, 1997. Singapore (1971) until problems with his back, leg Star. He also worked on papers in Lancashire and Along with being made a life member of the and breathing prevented him from attending the Midlands. He was best-known for his work NUJ, he also won the Barron Trophy, which the Malta meeting in 2015. on the Scunthorpe Telegraph, which he joined in recognises lifetime achievement in journalism. He was regarded by leading journalists in 1976. Up to the week before his death he was He was also a keen golfer and was a former Britain as a man with an almost encyclopaedic bringing in notable stories and a host of tip-offs. captain of Fortrose and Rosemarkie Golf Club. knowledge of the ‘club’ of nations. Many regret For decades, Nick penned popular columns on He was probably best known for his football that he never finished a long-awaited biography the local music scene and North Lincolnshire’s exploits. He was a member of the Caledonian FC charting his course from Daily Mail assistant pubs and clubs. He championed the cause of committee before emerging as manager of the editor in the 1950s and part of the 1960s to Scunthorpe’s main heavy industry – steelmaking club. He went on to win an impressive haul of when he founded Gemini News Service in 1967, – of which he had extensive knowledge. trophies, including four Highland League titles. which did so much to cement ties between Scunthorpe MP Nic Dakin said: “Nick was With his writing skills, he wrote a history of journalists and politicians in the UK and those in Scunthorpe through and through; he loved the Caledonian FC in 1986 – Caley All The Way – The countries freshly freed from colonialism. place and the people. He celebrated our area and First Hundred Years. Derek Ingram was born at Westcliffe–on–Sea was a talented journalist with a great nose for news.” John Ross, chairman of the Highlands and on June 20, 1925, the only son of a two Nick was NUJ father of the chapel for many Islands Press Ball and former Highlands and Londoners. His mother Amy Clara was a concert years, leading negotiations to better the lot of Islands correspondent with The Scotsman, said: singer and cabaret artiste and his father Stanley members. He was also branch chairman and area “Alex was one of the finest journalists in an era ran a small publishing company. He left school representative on the federated chapel. of fierce competitiveness in the newspaper at 16 to become a trainee reporter and, at the He supported young journalists, some of whom industry. He was hugely respected, not only by age of 18, was laying out the front page of the gained high-ranking positions. One of them, his colleagues but also those he wrote about. . After service with the Peter Barron MBE, former editor of the Northern “Such was his contribution to journalism in in Malta and Italy, he joined first the Daily Echo, called Nick his first journalistic hero. the Highlands and Islands that he was made an Express then the Daily Mail, leaving that paper He said: “Nick was a kind of Claude Greengrass honorary member of the Press Ball. There is also to found Gemini. of local newspapers, and certainly the heartbeat a trophy presented annually in his honour to For many young reporters in the developing of the Scunthorpe Evening Telegraph. Rough encourage and reward young journalists and world, an internship at Gemini in London round the edges, fiery at times but mostly kind promote the high standards of accuracy, fairness shaped their lives and careers. and gentle.” and balance for which Alex was known.” Well into his 70s, Ingram was still travelling Following Nick’s funeral in Scunthorpe, family, the world, monitoring developments in the friends and former colleagues gathered at a Gordon Fyfe Commonwealth for the Commonwealth hotel he often visited. On display were some of secretariat in London. his articles and pictures of him at work – several at licensed premises. Trevor Grundy More obituaries are on the NUJ Nigel Fisher website – www.nuj.org.uk

24 | theJournalist literature GRANGER HISTORICAL PICTURE ARCHIVE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO / ARTERRA PICTURE LIBRARY / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO On the Maigret trail Conrad Landin walks in the footsteps of reporter turned author Georges Simenon

here are four daily and signed a declaration that he was newspapers in Liège,” Aryan to collect film royalties. Georges Simenon I found a walking tour of Simenon’s T writes in Maigret and Liège on an antiquated fan site (www. the 100 Gibbets. trussel.com/maig/liege.htm). When I When I arrived in the city earlier this set out with a Belgium-based journalist year, I tried to find the Gazette de Liège, friend, we found glass plaques and the paper Simenon – best known as the subtle arrows pointing the way. creator of detective Jules Maigret but But it did not appear a well- the author of hundreds of novels trodden path. My hopes for a besides – started reporting for aged 15. selfie with the bench-dwelling It has now been incorporated into statue of Simenon at the Place national tabloid La Libre Belgique. du Commissaire Maigret were I had more luck finding La Meuse, dashed when I saw he had the other Liège regional that features company. Not a fellow reader, prominently in the novels Simenon set alas, but a incurious tourist in his home town. Its strapline, “Le munching on frites. Quotidien de Liège”, suggests it is the In the island neighbourhood of This novel is full of crushed last survivor of the four. Its front page Outre-Meuse we found several preconceptions. Maigret visits the four is dominated by the funeral of Cyril further childhood homes, but the newspapers of Liège to discover the Vangriecken, a 22-year-old man killed most evocative place was the truth of what happened 10 years the week before in a terror attack. Church of St Pholien. before. As well as accurate historical Had this tragic episode occurred On March 2 1922, Simenon’s friend record, their archives come to during the crime writer’s youth, it Joseph Kleine was found dead, hanging symbolise the ease with which history could well have ended up immortalised from the door handle of the church. can be amended. Another member of in fiction. Simenon, after all, would It’s a scene – a haunting memory, the Companions, Joseph Van Damme, often say he was “incapable of making sketched over and over again by is one step ahead of Maigret, removing anything up”. In his preface to unsuccessful artist turned newspaper 15 February’s paper from each archive. Pedigree, his autobiographical photo-engraver Jef Lombard – that He could never In another novel, At The Gai-Moulin, bildungsroman set in Liège, he Simenon recreates in Maigret and the Maigret works with the Liège police to observes that “everything is true while 100 Gibbets. “leave quite escape dupe a crime reporter who “always nothing is accurate”. Lombard’s occupation is not just prints what we tell him”. The journalist Naming 10 famous Belgiums is a spare detail. Simenon pitches the the world of is led to believe that Maigret, having legendary parlour game. Like Jacques workaday nature of the newspaper been arrested in an earlier part of his Brel, Hergé and the fictional Hercule trade in opposition to the extravagant rushed reporting, ploy, has shot himself. The fake news Poirot, Simenon is often assumed to artistry of the Companions of the sensational spreads across the local media, is be French. Apocalypse, whose secret past Maigret accepted as fact, and then helps Liège is full of the tiny bars and eventually uncovers in this novel. narratives Maigret solve the case. seedy alleys one associates with its “Just imagine if you’d told me then I Simenon’s genius is often attributed most famous son. But it marks him in a was to be a photo-engraver!” the and an uneasy to his youthful temptation to the rather half-hearted fashion. character, once a member of this criminal underworld. But, after leaving Perhaps this can be explained by the sordid fraternity, remarks. But relationship with his home city and journalism behind, controversy over Simenon’s activities Lombard’s transition – successful on the truth he could never leave quite escape the during the Second World War. Having paper, but never quite complete – world of rushed reporting, sensational moved to France in 1922, he remained suggests the worlds of hack and narratives and an uneasy relationship there under the German occupation hedonist are closer than meets the eye. with the truth. Perhaps it’s just as well. ” theJournalist | 25 and finally...

The truth about Corbyn, as reported

Nearer home, Corbyn and his cronies championed Chris Proctor goes forcing free bus passes onto the elderly. At a stroke – and I use that word advisedly – tens of thousands of behind the headlines pensioners stopped walking up hill to the shop and instead took the bus to the boozer. Obesity and eremy Corbyn’s been poking his nose cirrhosis took their toll and pensioners dropped like into my business again. He’s now flies. Corbyn’s face was behind those buses. suggesting he could raise money And why is he so closely linked to the Stand Up For J from tech companies to ‘fund Labour movement? Who finds it most difficult to top-quality investigative journalism’. stand up? The elderly, of course. And yet Corbyn Let me tell our little red chum that our proud insists that they hold themselves erect in support of profession has nothing to be taught on that score. himself and his policies. Some of our colleagues can investigate literally This SUFL movement – or secret faction or satanic anything, at lightning speed, producing balanced and sect, depending on the publisher – is a cabal of incisive outcomes entirely in conformity with the so-called . So tell me this: why is there no sponsor’s wishes. You don’t get more professional room for the likes of Jim Davidson (64) or Jimmy than that. Anything can be shown to be of public Tarbuck (78)? Too old, I suppose. concern, and everyone proved guilty. And let’s not forget that during the 1980s, What would you like? Sweden implicated in Salisbury Corbyn publicly demanded the forcible eviction nerve gas scandal? Mother Theresa’s hash habit? Or from this country of an 82-year-old Chilean what about ‘Corbyn the ageist’? ‘Pensioners vote Labour gentleman. He wanted this pensioner, Mr at their peril’? ‘Seniors to suffer under socialists’? Pinochet, a retired despot, Give me 10 minutes and I could ferret you out despatched to Spain where he damning photographic evidence of Corbyn smiling was wanted on charges of at a retirement party. An observer may think it shows human rights violations. a bloke having a good time with old mates; an Chilling, isn’t it? It’s a investigator will recoil in horror at the malignant smirk short step from calling for one 82-year- of an unrepentant ageist wallowing in his fetid loathing old to be thrown out of the country to insisting of those of more advanced years. There’s enough they all get the heave-ho. there for a spread in the Mail. But you’d like more? And how is it that he has fallen out with Dame In the early 1980s, Mr Corbyn blatantly wore Margaret Hodge now she’s in her 70s? He was bell-bottomed trousers to antagonise generations of distinctly chummy with her when she was the Oxford-bags-and-trilby-hat sporters. A contemptuous 28-year-old leader of ultra-left Islington Council. rejection of his seniors and, ergo, latent discrimination. Best of mates, they were. But suddenly he has no Only last month Corbyn publicly criticised time for her. What are we to make of this? who, through no fault of his A probe has also revealed that the so-called own, is now pushing 70. has never – repeat, never – sent a Evidence has emerged that in the 1960s he birthday card to the Duke of Edinburgh despite possessed Bob Dylan’s are a-Changin’, with having had 98 opportunities to do so. He also its damning lines, ‘Please get out of the old world/If appeared reluctant to allow the Duke’s wife (92) you can’t lend your hand.’ to attach a garter to his leg. Evidence of baldism This frightening revelation demonstrates a trio of is unconfirmed, but he may have been sighted Corbyn outrages. One: dubious grammatical phrases. near the final resting place of anti-tonsurist Two: given that only one hand is in evidence in the activist Ken Dodd. tract, prejudice against mono-brachiumists. Three – So think again, Corbyn. Bias, negligence and most revealingly – unambiguous age-related hostility. innuendo apart, investigative journalism has never These facts are enough to make any citizen of the been healthier. The idea of penalising assiduous UK over the age of 26 turn prematurely in their grave. news-disseminating networks like social media to And is this all? No! He has come out with some fund this unnecessary training is … well, ageist. disgraceful remarks about senior citizen Trump (72).

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theJournalist | 31

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