MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | FEBRUARY-MARCH 2021 The hidden face of bullying ...and how the union can help Contents Main feature 14 No place for abuse at work What can be done about bullying News t last there’s an end in sight to the 03 Fighting for Freedom of Information pandemic and while the return to normal life may take some time, Call to put pressure on the Government at least hope is definitely on the 04 HMRC failed freelances, say MPs horizon. Urgent explanations called for ACoronavirus has had a devastating impact on those who lost their lives, jobs and education and 05 Climbdown after photographer’s arrest who have suffered psychologically from the lockdowns. Police held journalist in a cell for hours The pandemic has swept through our industry as advertising 06 Irish media needs extra cash dried up and newspapers made cutbacks and closed titles. NUJ lobbies media commission To assess the fall-out on the ground, we start a new series looking at the state of the media throughout the regions of the “UK, Ireland and continental Europe. We start with Glasgow. Features The NUJ continues to push its news recovery plan – a 10 Spotlight on Glasgow programme of action, including a tax on the large tech How journalism is faring in the city companies – to help bolster the industry and strengthen it for the future. The plan has had a lot of good reaction in the 12 Climate changers? UK and Ireland and a recent NUJ Welsh meeting on the issue Should the media be doing more featured the actor and activist Michael Sheen. We have a report 16 Quick on the draw on that on Page 8. Looking back to 1895 We also look at the persistent problem of bullying in the workplace and how perpetrators can sometimes disguise their actions, and importantly what the union can do to help victims Regulars get justice. Our letters pages feature concern about The Journalist 21 Technology continuing to be digital only. Do let us know what you think 24 Obituaries about this and other issues. The magazine and the union 25 And finally... welcome members’ feedback. Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley Editor NUJ Arts [email protected] 72 Acton Street Page Design London WC1X 9NB Surgerycreations.com [email protected] 20 [email protected] www.nuj.org.uk Advertising Tel: 020 7843 3700 Ray Melanie Richards Manchester office Tel: 07494975239 [email protected] Snoddy [email protected] Glasgow office Page 19 Print [email protected] Warners Cover picture Letters and www.warners.co.uk Dublin office [email protected] John Devolle Distribution Steve Bell GB Mail ISSN: 0022-5541 Page 22-23 www.gb-mail.co.uk ” 02 | theJournalist news Join the fight for a genuine inbrief... BBC WORLD NEWS BANNED BY CHINA Freedom of Information service China has banned BBC World News from broadcasting in the country. THE NUJ is urging journalists letter was signed by the The move follows Ofcom’s decision NUJ in the UK to submit “Subject editors of The Times, the to revoke the broadcast licence of Access Requests”, in order to Telegraph, the Financial the China Global Television establish just how the Times, the Guardian, and the Network. China’s State Film TV and government is centrally Mirror among others. We want government Radio Administration, said BBC managing Freedom of Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ World News reports did not meet Information (FoI) applications general secretary, said:“At the to be less secretive, ‘the requirement that news should from the media. The union is core of all public interest not more be truthful and fair’ and not ‘harm also keen to find out what journalism is the urge to China’s national interests’. information Whitehall is search out information, shine holding on journalists and light in dark corners, “ Michelle Stanistreet their requests scrutinise and hold power to NUJ general secretary GOVERNMENT BACKS Media reports have account. The media industry DOWN ON EXIT PAY highlighted the existence of a is united in backing a The Government has revoked the clearing house based at the Access Requests to the same campaign to expand the right Restriction of Public Sector Exit Cabinet Office that is government departments as to information and secure Payments Regulations 2020, which managing and coordinating they have previously greater transparency in public imposed a cap of £95,000 on exit FoI requests from across submitted their FoI requests. life. We want government to payments including at the BBC. The government. The NUJ is The NUJ’s call comes after be less secretive, not more.” NUJ was part of a legal challenge concerned that this amounts an openDemocracy public Download the NUJ against the implementation of the to illegitimate monitoring letter, signed by the NUJ and template letter to submit a regulations, saying it compromised and risks journalists being put other media industry leaders, subject access request. equal pay settlements and on a ‘blacklist’. demanding MPs urgently Access guidance on a undermined collective terms. The union is asking investigate the government’s Subject Access Request from journalists to submit Subject current approach to FOI. The the Information NUJ LAUNCHES REVAMPED WEBSITE Delegate meeting is set for late May The NUJ has relaunched its website to make it more user friendly, THE POSTPONED NUJ delegate programme of work, was due to be aspect of facilitating voting as it isn’t informative and interactive. It has meeting will take place online in the held in Southport in April last year but yet clear when large in-person been redesigned and features new third week of May with decision had to be postponed because of the meetings will be allowed to go ahead. pages and an online joining facility. making concentrated on Friday 21st coronavirus pandemic. The delegate meeting will be The large database of members’ and Saturday 22nd. Most unions are currently grappling supplemented by other online events details has also been overhauled. The biennial delegate meeting, with the logistics of holding and training sessions staged in the www.nuj.org.uk which sets the union’s policies and conferences online including the crucial week starting May 17. Fresh threats in Confusion over Northern Ireland cross border work UK NUJ members living in continental THE UNION has renewed calls targeting journalists come to identify and punish those amid a dangerously hostile Europe are facing huge uncertainty about who threaten journalists in climate in Northern Ireland their ability to work across borders. No Northern Ireland. for the media, and they also provision was made for cross-border working The latest call comes in imply that previous police and individual countries are expected to make response to graffiti appearing action has been insufficient. their own rules but many members have across East Belfast which Seamus Dooley, Irish had no information. The union has threatened Sunday World secretary, said: “This been lobbying on the issue and the recent journalist Patricia Devlin. The menacing graffiti is the national executive council called for name of the reporter was behaviour of thugs who are an accelerated campaign for agreements sprayed onto the wall in at trying to intimidate a specific to allow UK and EU media workers to least two locations and was journalist, but they are also move freely for work.. accompanied by the image of trying to send a warning a crosshair of a gun. message to other media Repeated death threats workers.” theJournalist | 03 news HMRC should explain why it failed to support freelances, say MPs THE PUBLIC Accounts Committee has called on HM Revenue Pamela Morton, NUJ national freelance organiser, said: and Customs (HMRC) to urgently explain why some freelances “Throughout the pandemic, the trade union movement has – estimated to number three million – have had no access to had to keep pushing the UK government to provide the government support during the coronavirus pandemic. financial support the self-employed need and the government A report by the committee of MPs said that, while HMRC has consistently failed to address why millions of taxpayers Quirks in the tax had provided £80 billion to support businesses and workers have not received any support. since the first lockdown in March last year, some people had “There was no justification for these system have left not received anything even individuals to be purposely excluded whole groups of though they are unable to work. in the way they continue to be – It said: “Quirks in the tax many simply for the way they have “taxpayers without system have left whole groups of been taxed. the financial support taxpayers without the financial “There is also no justification for support offered to others through the delay in announcing what the offered to others the COVID-19 pandemic – some of fourth grant of the Self-Employment the workforce has ‘not had a Income Support Scheme will be. The third through the pandemic penny’ even though lockdowns and tier restrictions mean grant covers only up to the end of January and with the UK still some cannot work at all – while some large companies that in lockdown, the self-employed need proper support and the Public Accounts have taken taxpayer support have continued to pay out details announced urgently.” Committee dividends and high executive salaries.” The NUJ launched its Fair Deal 4 Freelances campaign last The committee said HMRC should, within six weeks of the year. It calls for a charter of freelance rights that includes: the report’s publication on January 20, provide an explanation of right to have a written contract with fair terms and conditions; why it cannot help those freelances and other groups that have prompt payment and equal treatment at work in terms of been excluded from receiving any support, and set out steps it health and safety; and the right to holiday pay, parental leave could take to overcome those obstacles.