GFTU BGCM Report 2017

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. (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. Resolution 11 Future of Local Newspapers

Implementation

Implementation

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 | Page 17