NEC NEWS

DECEMBER, 2006

Greetings! Welcome to the third edition of NEC News. I shall produce regular bulletins about the union’s work throughout the year, after our meetings.

SEEKING JUSTICE FOR TERRY

The NUJ is backing calls for the US soldiers, including their commanding officers, whom an inquest found unlawfully killed ITN journalist Terry Lloyd in Iraq, to be bought to justice.

The US authorities have shown contempt for the British legal process by failing to co-operate with the inquest, refusing to send witnesses and editing the video material.

The NEC agreed to put pressure on the US authorities to bring to trial the soldiers who killed Terry because the killing of journalists with impunity must never go unpunished.

PROTECTING MEMBERS AT ITV . . .

In the light of the uncertainty surrounding ITV, the NEC gave General Secretary Jeremy Dear the authority to call together a committee of experts to draw up the union’s response to the next round of consultations. We are very aware the ongoing battle for control of ITV carries a threat to jobs, services and media plurality.

. . . AND IN PARLIAMENT

The NEC agreed to support eleven researchers (all NUJ members) who work for MSPs in the Scottish Parliament because there is a risk they will be made redundant due to cut backs.

HELPING JOURNALISTS IN THE UK

The union has agreed to support the Bristol-based Press Freedom House Project. Inspired by Reporters San Frontieres and administered by Bristol Branch member Ibrahim Seaga Shaw on behalf of the Exiled Journalists’ Network*, the aim is to obtain a property in London that can be used for temporary accommodation for journalists forced to flee their homelands. Guests would be allowed to stay for six months while they found their feet in this country.

* The Exiled Journalists’ Network is an organisation set up to provide support for journalists who have settled in the UK after being targeted for their work. It is currently seeking charitable status, but in the meantime, if you would like to help your fellow journalists, either as an individual or as a branch, a donation would be very welcome. More details are available at: http://www.exiledjournalists.net/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=7

GUARDIAN JOY

Journalists at Guardian Unlimited, the newspaper’s website, are to be paid the same as their colleagues on the newspaper after an NUJ campaign. In some cases, this has seen pay increases of up to £12,000pa!

VIDEO KILLED THE NEWSPAPER STAFF?

A working group is to be set up to produce guidance notes for regional newspaper journalists asked to produce videos for their company’s websites. The union is concerned not only about quality issues, but also around health and safety. If nothing else, we shall be demanding more money for our members if they need to learn new skills. If your employer has asked – or is gearing up to ask – about video journalism, please let me know because I’m sure you will be able to contribute to the debate. You can remain anonymous.

THE RADIO STAR SHINES ON

Journalists at Minster FM, an independent radio station in York, are set to strike after NUJ members took up grievances over new working practices. The NEC agreed to support any such action once the legal requirements regarding the ballot had been met.

NEW WEBSITE IN SIGHT

The union is currently testing its new website, which has been designed to be more campaigning and user-friendly for activists. It will be officially launched at our annual conference in Birmingham next April.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

I’d like to finish this edition of NEC News by congratulating members of Bristol Branch for two highly-successful and high-profile events in the autumn: the Journalism Matters debate at the Watershed and the Tony Benn Lecture at the Arnolfini. Both events were a credit to the union and raised our profile beyond the usual suspects.

Also, I’d like to pay tribute to the chapel officials at the Western Daily Press and Evening Post. They have represented their members exceptionally well, in exceptionally difficult circumstances.

Finally, I’d like to wish you all a happy holiday, whatever you’re doing, wherever you’re going and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

WHAT IS THE NEC?

I sit on the union’s National Executive Council, representing members in the South West of England. We meet six times a year to discuss union policy between annual delegate meetings.

Thank you both to Gloucestershire and Bristol branches who nominated me for the seat next year. I was appointed unopposed and look forward to representing you again in 2007 – 8.

It is a lay position (ie not paid, although expenses are met) and I fit in my work as an NUJ activist around my job as a freelance journalist. If you have any questions about the NUJ, I can be contacted on 07810 641 459 or at lezard@elmtreecottages.co.uk.

Tim Lezard

NEC member for the South West

December 18, 2006