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Implementation

Implementation

Resolution 10 (continued)

investigations found that many other police forces have also exploited RIPA

to spy on journalists and identify their sources – breaching a key tenet of

journalistic freedom and the NUJ’s Code of Conduct, the responsibility to

protect one’s sources.

(3) Such methods have also been used against trade unionists and activists as a

tool to criminalise dissent and prevent scrutiny of the powerful.

(4) It is in that context that increasing numbers of journalists and activists have

been secretly placed on a police database of so-called “domestic extremists”.

Six NUJ members are currently involved in collective legal action to challenge

their inclusion on the database, which details intimate details about their

lives, including their work, medical history and even their sexuality.

(5) This conference condemns the lack of action on the part of government

to tackle these outrages, and calls on the GFTU to campaign against such

outrageous use of surveillance, to call for the restrictions of RIPA and similar

pieces of legislation; and as part of that campaign to encourage activists

in the movement to carry out subject access requests under the Data

Protection Act to expose the extent of state surveillance and support union’s

taking legal challenges.

Resolution 11

Future of Local Newspapers

(1) This conference notes the ongoing crisis in the regional newspaper industry

that has seen over 140 newspapers close since 2011.

(2) In that time further waves of redundancies and budget cuts have hit

journalists working in local and regional newspapers, with photographers

being particularly badly hit in recent months as companies increasingly

turn to free so-called “user generated” images and content to fill their

pages. Companies have also created “regional subbing hubs”, in the process

transferring work from local communities these newspapers are supposed

to serve and reflect, losing jobs and longstanding local knowledge and

expertise.

(3) Conference notes that a quarter of local government areas are not covered

by a local newspaper and 35 per cent of local government areas are covered

by only a single news outlet. In 55 per cent of local government areas the

same four companies have majority ownership of the local market.

(4) Reduced staffing levels have not been accompanied by a reduction in

work, and unacceptable workloads and stress for those remaining has

reached disturbing levels. The lack of resources also means readers are being

shortchanged and once bread-and-butter functions of local newspapers –

such as covering council meetings and courts – are being jettisoned because

reporters are so thin on the ground.

(5) Conference notes the efforts of the NUJ in defending jobs and standing up

for quality journalism – a vital part of local democracy, holding politicians

and businesses to account and providing vital information as well as

entertainment.

(6) Conference therefore calls on the GFTU to campaign vigorously to protect

local and regional journalism, and for changes that will allow greater plurality

of ownership and better standards of journalism.

(7) Conference further supports calls for a government-commissioned inquiry

into the crisis, which will look at new models of ownership and allow

newspapers to be protected with community asset status, which will limit

owners’ ability to close publications overnight and allow more time for

consultation on their future.

Support was given to the attempt by the NUJ at

the Rotheram Advertiser to remove a redundancy

notice against their FoC Bro. Phil Turner.

Representations were made to management.

Implementing 2015 Resolutions

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