After finding out I had the chance to be a part of the Student Delegation at this year’s Delegate Meeting, I was super-excited; however, all I knew was that this was the biggest date in the NUJ calender. I didn’t know what to expect, I didn’t know what would become of it and more innocently, I didn’t know what was going to happen. Yet to be asked to attend on behalf of the Birmingham and Coventry Branch and represent students, it wasn’t a case of being there to make up the numbers.
On approach to Southport, the topic of conversation in the car was not only what tune we should have on next, but what actually happens at DM. Come Sunday night, little did we know how much we wanted to do it all again. I don’t think any student realised the significance of DM until it actually started. To have guest speakers such as outgoing President Pete Murray and Irish Secretary Seamus Dooley take time out of their own busy schedules to come and address students was honourable.
When proceedings kicked off on Friday morning, the message was clear – the Union is behind the students. It was clear to every single delegate in the Floral Hall that the NUJ wouldn’t only support their students, it would fight tooth and nail for the justice we all deserve.
But for every little tweet sent, for ever article wrote, there was always that little jaw dropping moment that made us all realise just how tough being a journalist actually is. When Claudia Duque took to the rostrum, we knew of the severity of her story, but what we didn’t know was the ordeal that these brave woman went through for the bring the corruption that is rife throughout Columbia to life.
Having the opportunity to network with working journalists and photographers was incredible; it let to some potentially fantastic opportunities in the near future for us all.
For all the week’s hard work, there was the odd occasion when the bobbles were released and the head-banging began. When you think of a Gala Dinner, immediately plates with hardly any food on or a Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack tribute artist that is on his last round come to mind. Not with the NUJ though. Main course stacked high and a tribute to The Clash was not what anyone would have expected, but it was a fantastic and memorable evening.
Having the pleasure of listening to Jeremy Dear’s final address to the delegates, it didn’t just make me feel all weak at the knee, it made me feel proud to be a part of a Union that takes pride in it’s students. I won’t forget the experience I had at DM; met some great people and colleagues. Maybe one day, we will all return with green tags, and not yellow.