NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE Informedissue 33 Nov 2020 journalism at its heart: tax credits for Jobs An unprecedented for Journalists, for local businesses taking out advertising, and for people taking out print or digital news subscriptions. year for the NUJ The Scottish government set up a short-term working party to examine the future of public interest journalism and the Welsh culture and communications committee took evidence from the NUJ on supporting the media. The Welsh Executive Council is holding a town hall event on Wednesday 9 December to discuss a recovery plan for Wales with Michelle and actor and activist Michael Sheen. The general secretary and Seamus Dooley, assistant general secretary, made a presentation of the Northern Ireland Recovery Plan to junior ministers at the Office of the First Minister and Deputy Minister. In the Republic of Ireland, after much lobbying, a working journalist and, as it happens an NUJ It was the last meeting of the year furlough scheme to March (reviewable member, was appointed to the Media for the union’s national executive in January) and announcement of a third Commission (page 6). committee (NEC) – and what a year it self-employed income support grant John Barsby, honorary treasury, told has been for the industry, the union came too late for many. Rishi Sunak the NEC that finances were stable and everyone’s lives. also failed to use this opportunity to albeit with constrained underlying As the coronavirus’ second wave remedy his lack of support for the many circumstances. The combination of battered the globe, England went into a freelances who had fallen through the robust recruitment in workplaces second lockdown, following the greater cracks of the financial aid schemes. undergoing consultations over job restrictions imposed by the rest of the That is why the union is launching its losses, savings from having to move the UK, Ireland and Europe. Newspaper #FairDeal4Freelances campaign for union’s work and business online and industry leaders said they were braced better rights and protection for the self- distributing The Journalist digitally had for another freefall in advertising, just employed, calling on the government helped offset increases to the union’s as fortunes appeared to be on the turn and companies to stop giving freelances pension deficit programme and reduced following the depredations caused by the such a shabby deal. rent from tenants in Headland House. first lockdown. Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary, Another important piece of the The NEC praised the work of union told the NEC the union’s News Recovery union’s work has been taking part in officials who had spent recent months Plan to help the industry out of the the government’s National Committee dealing with redundancies across all crisis was gaining traction. Ministers for the Safety of Journalists; a survey of sectors. More than 2,000 job losses are and officials at the Department for members showed the startling levels at risk at the BBC, a further 1,000 across Digital, Culture, Media & Sport have of violence and abuse experienced by local and national newspapers, and held discussions over the NUJ’s three- members (page 4). This, together with a thousands of freelances have had work pronged tax credit proposal to undo the set of recommendations, formed a hard- cancelled and seen commissions dry up. damage caused by Covid-19 and to reboot hitting report which will feed into the The Chancellor’s extensions to the the media industry with public interest committee’s action plan. Also Michelle’s Safety Freelance in this Message Report Charter issue: Page 2 Page 4 Page 9 02 Informed Michelle Says pay, hours and conditions from now on We’ve reminded all newsgatherers to in. Our members and reps deserve praise carry their press card, and print off the for their doggedness and determination, NPCC guidelines from the NUJ’s website ploughing on in the face of the usual to serve as a reminder to any officers shenanigans from the company, to who claim not to have seen the memo. achieve this victory. All those newsgatherers who have Something positive to focus on is the kept the show on the road throughout launch this month of our new campaign lockdown and ongoing government for a Fair Deal for Freelances – with its ten restrictions across the NUJ’s nations and point Charter, this is the NUJ’s response regions deserve our collective thanks, to the unvarnished failures of the not least for reinforcing the role of government to cast its safety net across journalists in the suite of essential public all workers during this crisis. Never has sector workers. it been clearer that reforms are needed for freelances. This campaign will be a vital one, and something that all NUJ “Something positive members, whatever their employment status, should support. to focus on is the The need for freelances to have launch this month of the best chance of getting work and Despite being commissions back up and running our new campaign a union of is something we’ve highlighted in for a Fair Deal for the course of our discussions with communicators, government, over the need to grant Freelances – with its it would be quarantine exemptions for journalists ten-point Charter, the having to cross borders in the course of fair to say that their work. Despite support from DCMS NUJ’s response to the sometimes we’re it’s been a slog getting traction with unvarnished failures the Cabinet office but we’re hopefully of the government not fulsome enough heading in the right direction. We’ve in trumpeting our proposed using the UK Press card and to cast its safety net the IFJ press card as a key mechanism in across all workers many successes identifying appropriate newsgatherers during this crisis. ” and wins. who could qualify for such an exemption. The important role of the press card – and with that, the need for journalists After lots of hard work and organisation to use it appropriately – has been That’s why we’re continuing to on the part of Local Democracy reaffirmed during this crisis. When lobby hard around all of the measures Reporters across Newsquest, the Central officers at the recent lockdown protest contained within the NUJ’s News Arbitration Committee decided this in London wrongly told reporters and Recovery Plan. week to grant NUJ recognition without photographers that if they didn’t have We’ve been brilliantly supported the need for a ballot of members. authority from the Met press office, in that by the new chair of the NUJ’s It’s a great result, and means that they would be treated as members of Parliamentary Group, Grahame Morris Chris Morley, the NUJ’s Northern and the public at an illegal gathering – the MP, who has been working hard to raise Midlands Senior Organiser who has NUJ sprang into action. Within hours we awareness of our plan, and seeking led the effort along with our reps, can held a meeting with the Met, and liaised meetings to build support for the focus on populating and agreeing with the National Police Chiefs Council – changes we’re seeking. A meeting of the recognition agreement over the receiving assurances that fresh guidance the group is planned later this month coming weeks – a house agreement that would be issued to all police officers to set out our key priorities. As well as acknowledges that LDRs across the to remind them of the vital role of the our work on safety and the Freelance business are a distinct bargaining unit media, and to ensure that our members Charter, a significant focus will be on that will have rights to negotiate over can go about their work unimpeded. protecting public service broadcasting. Informed 03 A recent financial presentation from BBC management made for gloomy Delegate Meeting listening, not least the widening Covid-19 funding gap which means As the virus increased its grip it soon the already massive £800million cuts became clear that April’s DM would programme has grown to £1billion. News have to be postponed. As this week that take up of TV licences time has gone on, it is clear that the for the over-75s is also slow will be no only way to hold a meeting – which Herrmann Paul doubt be inducing panic that income draws delegates from all parts of the will be further compromised. Already union, across multiple jurisdictions, the way in which the cuts are happening with differing restrictions and Delegates at Southport DM 2018 risk undermining quality news and quarantine regulations in place – is to journalism – particularly across BBC hold it virtually. in ways that reach out to the wider England where cuts are taking place The union’s Standing Orders membership more effectively, including across frontline newsgathering roles. Committee, with help from a report by fringe meetings on a range of topics, our A global pandemic has underscored chair of Finance Chris Frost, has been celebration of Members of Honour and just how important trustworthy news exploring the practicalities of a virtual union sectoral meetings. and information is – our public service DM. Rather than simply recreate the We aim to programme a range of broadcaster has shown how critical core business of the conference, we events and initiatives, ideally over its role has been, and yet we are have decided to see it as an opportunity the course of a week, building on work witnessing cuts that risk compromising to do something different and more done for previous Local News Matters what it does best. A well-resourced BBC, innovative. Rather than a death-by-Zoom weeks, and before that Standing up free from political interference and event, we are hoping to hold a series of for Journalism events.