MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | DECEMBER-JANUARY 2019 Putin the boot in! Using humour to defeat Russia’s new tsar Contents Main feature 14 Resisting Russian Repression Using humour against Putin News ussia can be a daunting place to be a 03 Fresh protests over arrested reporters journalist as the authorities tighten their grip and try to silence free- Anger after bail decision thinkers. But amid adversity there are 04 Local democracy problems always inspiring stories and people. Reporters complain of isolation RTeam 29 in St Petersburg is one such group and our cover feature, written by Barney Cullum, 05 NUJ launches recruitment campaign looks at how a sense of humour and a clear sense of purpose Drive to reach new members keeps them going and keeps their work being read. 06 Number of journalists on the increase And sometimes it can be challenging being a journalist if But fewer in traditional areas you’re a woman. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, Louise Tickle looks at sexual harassment in the media. “Steve Evans, the former BBC foreign correspondent, writes Features our Starting Out column on how he went from high-profile 10 Welsh politics’ toxic heart international broadcasting work to become a local reporter, The story of Carl Sargeant indeed the only reporter, on a newspaper in a small community in Australia. He says it is one of the best things he’s ever done. 12 #Metoo in the media We’re also looking back in time in this issue with our regular Tackling workplace harassment media anniversary feature and also a piece by Bob Doran on 16 Media anniversary how Herodotus, known as the father of history, could also be Looking back to 1927 called the father of journalism. And on that note, with time ticking away for 2018, Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year! Regulars 09 Viewpoint 18 Starting Out 26 And finally... Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley Arts with Attitude Pages 20-21 Editor NUJ [email protected] 72 Acton Street Design London WC1X 9NB Surgerycreations.com [email protected] [email protected] www.nuj.org.uk Advertising Tel: 020 7843 3700 Raymond Letters Melanie Richards Manchester 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 ”mikolajn / [email protected] Distribution Alamy Stock Photo GB Mail www.gb-mail.co.uk 02 | theJournalist news Anger over Newsquest pay inbrief... CHANNEL 4 TO HAVE NEW BASE IN LEEDS sparks strike in Cumbria Channel 4 will set up a new national HQ in Leeds in an attempt Journalists at Newsquest titles in are being made redundant three days before to boost the way it reflects life Carlisle, Whitehaven and Workington are to Christmas. This has led to very large workloads outside London.The broadcaster go out on strike on December 20th over pay. for the staff remaining. will keep another headquarters in Action will hit the Carlisle News & Star, the A spokesperson for the Carlisle chapel said: the capital, but will move about 200 Cumberland News, the Workington Times & “Newsquest appears to have a business Newsquest appears to of its 800 staff to Yorkshire. Leeds Star and The Whitehaven News. In Workington model based primarily on cost-cutting. Over have a business model was chosen above Birmingham and there was a 100 per cent vote for strike action the past year, the effect of this in our Greater Manchester. and action short of a strike (with an 80 per Cumbrian newsrooms has been dramatic. It based primarily on cent turnout) and in Whitehaven 80 per cent has driven away most of our most experienced cost-cutting. Over the voted for strike action and 100 per cent to take local journalists, whose professionalism and “ LETTS LEAVES THE action short of strike action (with a turnout of local standing has benefited the company – past year, the effect MAIL FOR THE TIMES 100 per cent) and our community – enormously. Quentin Letts, the Daily Mail’s Last month the chapel in Carlisle voted for Collectively, their departure represents a of this in our parliamentary sketch writer, has action over the failure of the company to offer catastrophic loss of experience and Cumbrian newsrooms left the paper after 18 years to join any pay rise. They have not had an increase knowledge. The NUJ in Cumbria believes the The Times, The Sunday Times and since 2015 and only two rises in the past 11 journalists, together with colleagues in the has been dramatic The Sun. He will write sketches, years. NUJ members in Carlisle had a 100 per commercial departments, are the primary reviews and features for The Times, cent vote in favour of strike action on a 87.5 asset of Newsquest’s Cumbrian business. It is also appearing on its Red Box per cent turnout. illogical for the company, while being prepared political podcast and at events for Newsquest has made more than a 100 to invest in technology, to freeze the pay of Times+ members. people redundant since it took over the its journalists indefinitely, as appears to be Cumbrian News Group in March and now staff the case.” MADELEY BECOMES AN AGONY UNCLE The Telegraph has appointed Outrage over bail extension broadcaster Richard Madeley as its new agony uncle. Madeley, who is The union’s Irish governing the journalists in the first place, best known for TV work with his body expressed outrage at let alone extended bail. Gerry wife as Richard and Judy, takes over the further bail imposed on Barry Carson, joint cathaoirleach from Graham Norton, who left in McCaffrey and Trevor Birney, (chairperson) of the council, said: October after 12 years of answering whose film investigated the UVF “The continued targeting of the readers’ questions. massacre of six civilians in two journalists by the police is Loughinisland in 1994. simply unacceptable. Members Their award winning film, No stress that the Police Service of LEITH LEAVES THE Stone Unturned, raised questions Northern Ireland should be EVENING STANDARD of collusion in the RUC concentrating on bringing the London’s Evening Standard has investigation into the murders. Musgrave police station last killers to justice, not arresting axed a long-running weekly Members of the Irish Executive month when the bail was journalists who bring to light vital columnist as part of cost cutting Council, some of whom travelled extended to March, were information that is in the public and an effort to refresh its comment long distances to protest at outraged that the police arrested interest.” pages. Sam Leith, also the Spectator’s literary editor, began his column nine years ago. CONDE NAST CHIEF Jim Acosta joins Brighton branch EXECUTIVE TO GO Bob Sauerberg, Conde Nast’s chief Jim Acosta, the CNN correspondent with such dignity, courtesy and professionalism executive, will leave his role to who had his White House pass removed after throughout. So we invited him to join our make way for a new global chief questioning President Donald Trump closely, branch as an honorary member. executive as part of a major has agreed to become an honorary member “As you can imagine, we were thrilled when restructure exercise. The of the NUJ’s Brighton and Sussex branch. Brian he accepted and we tweeted that we had just reorganisation of the publisher of Williams, branch secretary, said: “In Brighton recruited a distinguished new member. It went Vanity Fair, Vogue and New Yorker and Sussex we wanted to demonstrate our gangbusters! According to Twitter, 100,000 MEDIAPUNCH INC / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO STOCK MEDIAPUNCH INC / ALAMY will include the US business support for a fellow journalist who found people have seen that tweet. If they all turn up merging with Conde Nast himself at the centre of an issue that affects us at our next meeting we’re going to need a International. all – not least because Jim conducted himself bigger room.” theJournalist | 03 news inbrief... Isolation biggest issue for TRUST FALLS IN TV NEWSREADERS TV newsreaders have suffered the local democracy reporters sharpest fall in trust over the past year among UK professions, Local democracy reporters – individual news organisation they were according to a survey. The Ipsos journalists taking part in a BBC-funded contracted to. Mori Veracity Index, which lists the initiative to fill a gap in the reporting of They also voiced concerns about their most and least trusted professions, council and other public sector issues across stories not being published quickly enough; shows that trust in TV newsreaders the UK – are enjoying their work but also that certain publishers preferred lighter stories ‘to tell the truth’ has fallen by five experiencing some problems, an NUJ summit and trivia; that they were not getting per cent to 62 per cent in 2018. has found. attribution for their The BBC funds the stories and that they journalists as part of were being asked to JOLIE AND DIMBLEBY its latest charter undertake work beyond TAKE REINS AT TODAY commitments but the remit of their role – Angelina Jolie, actor and they are employed by including by the BBC campaigner, and David Dimbleby, regional news organisations. One LDR said she had to fight to be issued the outgoing Question Time host, The BBC has reported that 144 local with a mobile phone, while others said they will guest edit Radio 4’s Today democracy reporters (LDRs) have been struggled to be allowed to put taxis on Some relationships programme for a day each during allocated to 59 news organisations in expenses after attending late-night council the festive period.