The NUJ London Independent Broadcasting and New Media Branch, which I currently chair, proposed two motions to the union’s delegate meeting – both were passed without opposition. LNM means Late Notice Motion (ie. they were proposed after the deadline for motions in response to specific events).
LNM 17
This DM congratulates Channel 4 for its brilliant coverage of the Paralympics (29 Aug – 9 Sept), in particular how presenters and journalists with disabilities were at the forefront of their coverage.DM hopes that Channel 4 will continue this practice, which has helped bring disabled people into the spotlight and show that many are capable of doing these jobs.
However, DM condemns the government’s attempts to use the success of paralympians to attack disabled people who depend on benefits and condemns the cuts being imposed on these benefits that are absolutely essential to their ability to live. DM further condemns the closure of the Remploy factories that gave so many disabled people a chance to work in an accessible environment as gross hypocrisy from a government that claims to be trying to help bring disabled people into the workplace. DM furthermore condemns the role of the private company ATOS in these political machinations.
DM instructs the NEC to support organisations fighting cuts to disability benefits, in particular Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC).
LNM 18
DM congratulates the Youth Media Agency (YMA) on the launch of their Youth Media Directory on 24 July and their successful meeting on getting age entered into the replacement
of the editor’s code as a topic of discrimination on 27 September.DM supports the work of the YMA to improve coverage of young people in the mainstream media and in supporting independent media by young journalists.
DM urges all branches to look at the Directory on the YMA website (http://www.youthmediaagency.org.uk/) and to recruit the young journalists involved in the projects to the NUJ.
DM instructs the NEC to work with the YMA to develop guidelines on how to improve the coverage of young people.
The Branch will be holding a Recruitment and Organising session this Saturday (3 November) from 11am to 4pm.
Starting at 11am, the plan is to have two hours of training – then lunch paid for by the Branch – and then back at 2pm for two more hours of strategy – defining targets and plans to approach workers in workplaces where we’re not yet organised.
If you’re a member of the Branch or work in Independent Broadcasting (ie. anywhere but the BBC) or New Media (websites, mobile phone content, bloggers, tweeters) and want to get involved, come along.
The session will be held in NUJ HQ, Headland House, 308-312 Gray’s Inn Road, London, WC1X 8DP.
The revolution will be streamed 