Student members reporting at the National Union of Journalists’ annual delegate meeting (ADM) in Southport did a professional job.

I give them my heartfelt thanks and my congratulations on proving themselves worthy of being called journalists – forget the student bit. They also get thanks from delegates and from the hundreds of members not at ADM who used the website.

Elinor and Kat hard at work

Dynamic duo

But the biggest thanks of all go to managing editors Kat Lay and Elinor Zuke. They spent the entire ADM in our windowless HQ, the “nuclear bunker”. Their fingers were literally on the button, authorising publication challenging, chasing deadlines and cajoling copy to come forward.

Kat and Elinor took the order papers and fringe meeting timetables and organised

• which reporters would be twittering
• who would record the motions for each order paper
• which person would live blog
• who would be doing follow-up interviews, for print, audio and video.

They also authorised publication, checking with me when necessary. They were in at 8.30am and never left before 7pm. They remained calm, and polite (but firm) throughout. They were outstanding.

New media, new NUJ

My best guess is that more than half the delegates to ADM started conference believing blogging, Twitter, putting photos on Flickr and videos on Youtube was not proper journalism. Even as student Lizzie Houghton spoke, early Saturday, a sizeable majority sniggered at the mention of social media.

But by the end of ADM, in just two and half days, I believe the students proved that the media does not dictate the quality. Thorough, thoughtful journalism is as at home on the net as on paper. I hope all at ADM and in the wider NUJ now see that.

The fact that the new editor of The Journalist and the leadership of the NUJ asked to reproduce the student’s material – and rightfully pay the students for their work – is testament to this. The NUJ is the union for those working online as much as it for those broadcasting or in print.

Student stats:

• We had 24 students, half men – half women, three black (12.5%), several others of non-UK or Irish nationality, aged between 20 and 48.
• 6 photographers, 1 TV specialist, 1 radio, several print or multimedia students. Three not studying journalism but working on student media.
• Google Analytics tells us we had more than 1,100 unique visitors during ADM and just after.
• Our Twitter feed alone, which limits reports to 140 characters, produced more than 10,000 words.

Work Experience guidelines

Each student had their full expenses reimbursed and was given a small amount of cash for incidentals. Each is to receive some payment for their work appearing in The Journalist. And each will receive an individual written report on their work experience.

The NUJ has demonstrated that work experience can be professionally managed and prove a valuable learning experience for student journalists.

We have shown that abiding by the NUJ’s work experience guidelines (link opens new window) gives the best experience to students and gets the most out of them.

Having spent the past two years studying a journalism degree, and painfully aware that the not-so-free ride is coming to an end, it was a great opportunity to talk to the people who are not only part of the industry, but also suffering from it’s apparently drawn out murder.

There were inspirations – James Doherty leaving every student still left in the bar at three in the morning on Friday night (that was most, then) open-mouthed and inspired by his shocking tales from Gaza; Foster Dongozi from the Zimbabwe Union of Journalists making me realise just how vital ethical journalism is in a country where a brutal death at the hands of the government is your punishment for telling the truth; and the shared attitude of resilience that clearly holds the union together in a time where the only people who really care about journalism are the journalists themselves.

But with the moments of inspiration came snatches of self-doubt, of intense worry and the kind of feeling a novice mountaineer would get in his gut upon facing Everest.

I once heard journalism described as ‘a rich person’s hobby’. Indeed, a few days after getting back from the surprisingly delightful Southport, I attended the Guardian Student Media Conference, where the ‘Make It In Media’ panel consisted of the winner of last year’s Broadcast Journalist of the Year award and two Oxford graduates now working for the Guardian.

Perhaps not realising who the audience was, Aditya Chakrabortty explained how he got into the industry when the interview for his first job was chaired by another member of that ‘old boys club’. Despite knowing little in the role he was applying for, the only question in that interview that seemed to matter was ‘what college did you study at?’ He laughed it off whilst all the students listening audibly let out a resigned sigh of despair.

But there was one conversation I had towards the end of the weekend at ADM that has spurred me on. Ken Smith, chair of the NUJ Wales Council, told me all about his ambitious plans to organise a sort of local co-op of newspapers in Wales. He plans to work out a solution to the problems local news is facing, rather than whinging about it. What’s more he told me that there is a place for students in his scheme, and those students will be paid fairly for their work. Whilst his enthusiasm was encouraging, it was his attitude to students that made me realise that not everyone in this industry is looking for some cheap labour to abuse.

It’s hard to believe in yourself in journalism. Every time I tell someone what I’m studying, I get incredulous looks and jokes about taking photos up some poor starlet’s skirt as she tumbles out of her car. But I feel I took one of the greatest things from the ADM over the weekend – inspiration to not only make it in this career, but make the industry better than it has ever been before. Ambitious, yes, but there can be no success without ambition.

It’s either that or I invent a time machine and go study at Oxford.

The world of IT is not known for embracing  a union mentality or culture.  In fact, there are…erm…none.  Presumably because – let’s face it – the pay and conditions are pretty damn good already! Or, maybe due to the fact there is a widely shared opinion that the more they reward employees, the harder they work and the harder they work, the ‘luckier’ they get?  Or they are an oppressed and silenced bunch, forced to drive around in BMWs and holiday in Dubai. Who knows?

Passion

So, hard as it is to believe, this was my first contact with any form of union outpouring during my 44 years on the planet; having been asked to be part of the student team reporting the conference ‘live and kicking’.

And, KICKING it was.  The passion displayed by the members, delegates, speakers, students and execs was all-consuming and hedonistically intoxicating.  I can’t remember seeing anyone in IT speaking so animatedly about ‘disaster recovery software’ or ‘enterprise software systems’ at a conference.

Another thing that struck me was the camaraderie and the willingness of the members to help out us [relatively] journalistic virgins.  People came to our bunker and sought out individuals to give a word of praise, encouragement or constructive feedback as well as being on hand to be commandeered themselves for interviews and/or advice.

Militancy

Although it is tempting to look down on anyone even marginally right of centre as a waste of space, there are some aspects I experience in corporateland that could be welcomed.  Like the ability to take the piss out of ourselves without it turning into an international incident.

Loud and sweary - (C) damianjozwik.com

Uproar occurred when one of the students twittered that an impassioned speech by the wonderful Eamonn McCann was ‘loud’ (it was) and that he was expecting him to say “Feck” and “Gin” next – an obvious reference to the much-missed and fondly remembered Father Ted comedy show.  This was FUNNY and, obviously, a personal opinion!! (see blogged criticism – opens new window)

By adopting an outraged approach to the tweet, which is, by its very nature, off the cuff, are we not trying to censorship free speech; the very thing we spend most of an ADM trying fiercely to protect?  Could we not just loosen up sometimes and remember just how short life is (watching my father die made me realise this) or am I being exceptionally naive? NEC member Niall Hunt blogged on this too – link opens new window.

Friends

All that said, I have definitely made new friends and will relish future debates we will undoubtedly have whilst knowing that we share a mutual respect for each other, regardless of our differing views and divided opinions.

I have also resolved to become a more active member of the NUJ in my college – we need to recruit, recruit, recruit; especially the new, young blood.

My desire for a bit more light-heartedness may be simplistic but forgive me; I have been in IT….although please don’t tell my Mother I was in IT – she thought I played the piano in a French whorehouse.

It’s not only those people who are already journalists who should be concerned about what the future holds.  If journalism was already a tough nut to crack, then surely for budding journalists that nut is getting even more impregnable.

Even from brief chats with people who are already in the industry it is hard to feel anything other than slightly depressed and drained of enthusiasm for a future in the industry.  Perhaps I was unfortunate enough to stumble across some pessimistic journalists or I have been made aware of the reality of the business.

Bleak Future

BBC World Service’s Ali Tussi said: “I believe that the near term future is bleak, very bleak.” He went on to say, “this grave situation will really become a nightmare once [David] Cameron comes in next year.”

“There are going to be massive job cuts and more worryingly there will be no concept of fair, unbiased, objective broadcasting…other media will be under as much threat as broadcasters.”

Fellow BBC World Service member Howard Zan echoed the thoughts of Tussi saying: “I’m a pessimist for the future of the entire industry.”

Zan feels that people looking to get into the industry should make sure they have another profession to work in and hope jobs increase. “At this uncertain time go for a more certain profession for now and if you see a change of wind then change. There is no glamour in it.”

Change Is Good

Despite the rather negative and in some ways depressing comments from Tussi and Zan there are some people within journalism who have positive feelings about what the future holds.

John Coghlan from the Northern Ireland Broadcast Branch of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) felt that there were exciting times ahead for journalism.

“I think it’s very very exciting for young people coming into the industry because you have green field site of new technology… we just don’t know where it’ll go.”

Unlike his colleagues Coghlan doesn’t feel pessimistic about journalism as a profession.

“I wouldn’t be pessimistic about the possibilities of journalism as a profession; it’ll just change and maybe more exciting.”

Uncertainty

Even though Coghlan is upbeat about the future, as somebody hopeful of forcing their way into the industry it is difficult to look past the negativity which was present in many journalists’ opinions.

On the other hand that negativity will simply act as a form of motivation to break into the increasingly difficult industry and journalists don’t always get things correct.

People will always need journalists no matter how much technology comes along or how greedy the fat cats become. As students of journalism it is our job to not become too downbeat by what we hear and read, we will simply have to work harder and hope to have a little luck in order to crack that nut.

The ADM is not the only thing coming to an end today.

James Doherty, who has been NUJ President for the past 19 ½ months, followed tradition and stepped down from his role during the closing ceremony of the ADM.

But he told us he is not intending to rest on his laurels.

“In a lot of ways I’ll be sad to give up the presidency but I’m still relatively young. I’m not going anywhere in terms of working for members of this union,” he said.

“I’ll still be taking the fight in every direction, and I’ll still be very heavily involved in building on the policies which ADM have directed us to follow.”

“Proud”

James entered the role at a turbulent time. The recession was looming ominously on the horizon, and confidence in journalism was depleting with worrying haste.

“I knew what was coming, and I knew it would be difficult,” he explains. “But I knew that I could negotiate all of the arguments and find common ground.”

“To be able to hold the union together at a time that it could easily have fractured I believe is something that I am very proud of,” he admits.

However, James is quick to deflect any praise straight to the members of the NUJ: “I’m proud of the members who have faced real difficulty, the members who have not known how they were going to survive after losing their work, and the members who also said: ‘we will not take this lying down. We will fight for journalists and we will fight for journalism’.”

A positive outlook

James, despite stepping down from his role as president, will still be at the forefront of that fight, defending journalists’ rights and jobs in the face of a media industry that continues to try to shut them out.

Despite moments of this year’s ADM hanging heavy with doubts and fears of the future, James remains typically positive about the NUJ’s next few years.

“Journalism is not changing. The medium is changing, the outlets are changing, but the same values are not changing, whether you blog or work for traditional media,” he said.

“With that, I know the NUJ will move forward and embrace new technology. But at the same time there will always be a home for journalists in the UK, Ireland and Europe, and that home will always be the NUJ.”

They say home is where the heart is, and there’s no doubting where James Doherty’s heart lies.

Christine Buckley interview.mp3 (3558 KB)

Posted via email from Kat’s posterous

Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), said yesterday that the union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) would rethink the Training department’s funding in light of new proposals.

A motion brought forward to the union’s Annual Delegate Conference (ADM), suggested that the NEC should look into the profit-making possibilities of the training courses.

Although the motion had to be withdrawn due to an inaccuracy, Dear said the NEC would have backed it had it gone ahead.

He said: “Had the motion been in order we [the NEC] would have supported it. We would have investigated whether or not this was a possibility.

“NUJ training has a good reputation. It’s successful, and if we can make it more successful and available to more people then we’ll certainly look at it.”

Motion

Dear added: “Costs are a massive issue for us. Therefore we have to look at all the costs. But if this is something that could not be a cost but a benefit then we would not only keep it, we would expand it.”

The union was looking to cut one member of staff from the department as a cost saving measure.

Motion 132 instructed that the NEC should instead “investigate NUJ training operating as a profit centre, marketing its commercial course more aggressively and using its profits to continue providing cheap courses for members”.

The motion was withdrawn by the London Magazine branch over a mix-up about how the department’s salaries are funded. However, the principles of the motion will be taken on board.

Training

Last year the Training department ran 87 courses. 60 were in professional journalist training. The department also organises training for commercial companies and trade union training.

The Training department was also responsible for organising the students who have been reporting on ADM.

At the moment the union’s commercial training programmes are only advertised in The Journalist and on the NUJ website. One option would be to expand this marketing to bring in more commercial clients.

Over the last year commercial clients have included the Magazine company Informa, the Open University, Lexus Nexus and the Cabinet Office.

Linda King, the union’s Education and Training Officer, said: “We are getting more and more demand [for our courses] as members are losing jobs. In the current economic climate a way of retaining that membership is through retraining the individuals who have lost their jobs.”

We will watch the NEC’s progress with interest.

Links (open in new window)

NUJ Training

London Magazine Branch

End of Sat vox pops.MP3 (1434 KB)

Posted via email from Kat’s posterous