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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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