MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | APRIL-MAY 2020 Global Coronavirus energy glutton Pages 3, 4, 5, 7, Media must practise what it preaches 19, 22 Contents Main feature 12 The media climate News groups must cut carbon footprint News he world of work is unrecognisable 03 The impact of coronavirus from just a short time ago. The coronavirus has closed vast areas of Jobs fall-out and how the NUJ can help employment and made many people 06 Local Democracy Reporters financially insecure despite the Journalists share their experiences Tsupport packages offered by the Government. In journalism, freelances have been 07 Call for 25% subs increase particularly hard hit but staff who have been laid off or have NUJ executive to seek rise suffered pay cuts are also facing hardship. 08 TUC conference hears Samira’s story These are very challenging times for the future of the media Women delegates celebrate pay victory and some print titles are ceasing for the duration of the pandemic. But right now we need professional journalism and “a great amount of news more than ever . TV news audiences Features have rocketed, and the BBC has put on hold its plans for 450 job 10 Reporting poverty losses so it can maintain top quality, plentiful news coverage. How best to cover hardship This is also a challenging time for the NUJ as more members turn to it for help and advice. The union has closed its offices 11 Emergency emergency but is very much open for business from our various remote First aid courses can be invaluable locations. In this edition you’ll find details of where to go 14 Eyes on the town hall for help, reports of the specific impact on publications and Local Democracy Reporters in action comment on the crisis, along with other news and features from our industry. Here’s hoping for an early end to the this dreadful situation Regulars and wishing everyone stays safe. 09 Viewpoint 22 And finally... Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley Media Anniversary Pages 16 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 Letters Page 21 Melanie Richards Manchester office Raymond Tel: 07494975239 [email protected] Snoddy [email protected] Glasgow office Print [email protected] Page 19 Warners Cover picture www.warners.co.uk Dublin office [email protected] Gary Neill Distribution ” GB Mail ISSN: 0022-5541 www.gb-mail.co.uk The Journalist’s polyfilm wrapping is recyclable at carrier bag recycling points in supermarkets. 02 | theJournalist coronavirus Newsquest and JPI Media put inbrief... BIG ISSUE PLEADS FOR SUBSCRIBERS some journalists on furlough The Big Issue could be closed permanently unless it can secure NEWSQUEST and JPI Media have laid off a coordinator, said: “Clearly, there are massive enough subscribers, its founder has significant number of staff and are using the changes around us brought on as a result of said. Vendors, who are homeless or government’s coronavirus job retention Covid-19. But Newsquest’s harsh and knee-jerk vulnerably housed, stopped selling scheme, which funds 80 per cent of the pay response came without warning to staff on the streets in March to obey social of employees on enforced leave. Newsquest struggling with their important work in At a time when we distancing rules. The magazine’s has not ruled out laying off more staff at a incredibly difficult circumstances.” founder Baron Bird said it needed later date. Fed Bedendo, Newsquest NUJ group mother are working harder 60,000 subscribers to survive. Newsquest has also cut pay for all workers. of chapel, said: “At a time when we are than ever to keep the From the start of April, it implemented a 15 working harder than ever to keep the public per cent wage cut on informed and public informed and JPI SUSPENDS SEVEN those earning more demonstrating how vital “ PRINT ISSUES than £18,000, local journalism is, this demonstrating how JPI Media suspended 12 local print including those comes as a real kick in vital local journalism titles following a big drop in working part time or the teeth. advertising and concerns over pro rata. “Staff are working from is, this comes as a real home deliveries because of social JPI Media, which home, facing extra kick in the teeth distancing rules. Seven paid-for publishes the Yorkshire Post and Scotsman expenses for electricity and heating bills, and newspapers, one magazine and among other titles, is putting about 60 some of us already face hardship due to other four free papers in Bedfordshire, journalists on furlough and is cutting the household members losing trade. Fed Bedendo Sussex and the North-East stopped salaries of those who continue working by up “Newsquest is taking part in the Newsquest NUJ group printing at the end of March. The to 15 per cent. The impact on sales staff is #ThereForYou campaign urging communities chapel mother of chapel related websites are continuing. greater with 250 posts affected because of the to pull together, yet this is the support downturn in advertising. their staff are receiving – an attempt to cut Chris Morley, Newsquest NUJ national their wages.” HOME DELIVERY FOR EVENING STANDARD London’s Evening Standard began delivering to some homes as Lay-offs and job threats at Irish titles footfall in the capital slumped because of coronavirus. The Evening JOURNALISTS have been laid off at Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary, said there had been no consultation. Standard usually distributes Iconic Newspapers, which publishes 20 said: “Given that the announcement Celtic Media had planned to lay off 800,000 copies a day, with more regional papers in Ireland. Iconic, led by had been signalled in advance, and journalists before the wage aid plan than half of those handed out at Malcolm Denmark, is taking up the Irish against the backdrop of Malcolm was announced, triggering a call from railway and tube stations. It aimed government’s wage subsidy scheme for Denmark’s circular, this move came as the NUJ for a crisis forum involving the to distribute 500,000 copies to companies affected by coronavirus. a devastating bolt from the blue.” He government and other groups. homes in 26 areas in travel zones two and three in London. NUJ still operating but City AM hiatus as commuters vanish delegate event deferred Most staff at City AM have been put on paid leave and the digital THE NUJ’S biennial delegate council and other bodies will edition of the financial free meeting, which is attended by remain in place until the end newspaper has been halted. City AM, hundreds of representatives of the rescheduled meeting. which is distributed in central from NUJ branches, has been All NUJ offices – London, London and at stations, stopped its postponed because of the Manchester, Glasgow and printed edition in March. Staff coronavirus. Dublin – were closed when who are still working on the The event, which was due the government advised to take place in Southport in people to work from home website will be paid 80 per cent of April, was postponed by the where possible and meetings their salary, the same as union’s emergency have been held by video or the Government scheme for committee. conference call. furloughed workers. In the absence of a However, the union’s work delegate meeting, the continues by email, phone current national executive and video. theJournalist | 03 coronavirus Unions take a lead in securing financial support for workers THE NUJ, other unions and the TUC were quick to lobby for along with NHS staff, supermarket and food distribution employees protection for workers as the coronavirus pandemic unfolded and others in key activities. Key workers benefit from receiving and have been instrumental in influencing the Government’s childcare and schooling amid the current school shutdown. Oliver response to the health crisis. Dowden, secretary of state for digital, Unions successfully argued that culture, media and sport, tweeted Public service news the British and Irish governments about the key worker classification: should provide money to keep “Public service news across TV, radio across TV, radio and workers in jobs amid a massive and print has never been more print has never been decline in business. While whole important than it is right now.” industries have shut down The union is updating information “more important than overnight such as hospitality, the frequently as the Government it is right now’ arts and sports, journalism has announces new measures. Visit the been particularly hard hit by the website – www.nuj.org.uk – to find decline in advertising as much of out the latest; for help in how to Oliver Dowden, digital, normal life has closed down. access assistance; and for health and culture, media and Newspapers have halted their print 2020 GETTY IMAGES safety guidance as well as other sport secretary editions, especially those that relied support: If members have further on free distribution at train stations and in central city questions they can email the relevant NUJ departments or the locations. Journalists covering sport and the arts have also ‘contact us’ section of the website. seen their work disappear. The NUJ has also been vocal in getting help for freelance and Other useful points of contact are: self-employed workers and a similar help package to the job The TUC – www.tuc.org.uk retention scheme was set up in the UK and Ireland a little time The Health Service – www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus- after the job retention programme was established.