Donnacha DeLong’s last blog post..The UK media in crisis (Corporatism in crisis Part I)

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Believe me these arguments have been going on inside the NUJ for years – I’m editor of the maligned magazine and we give as much of our very limited space to them as we can. That’s the point of the union – everyone gets a say, and at the moment the demand on us from huge numbers of our 37,000-odd membership is to so something about the devastation of their jobs.

What you expect us to say? – sorry pals, you may pay us £13-20 a month to safeguard your livelihoods but you’re just dinosaurs, go off and drown in the swamp. This is the hardest time for work that journalists have ever had, and we can barely keep up with that demand. Our officials are run off their feet. That might be why your emails weren’t replied to, I don’t know, but obviously I’m sorry about that.

We can all see where the industry is going, and no-one is pretending that the newspaper print publishing model will survive. We are putting a lot of work into helping members adapt, with research projects, training programmes and joining the industry debate.

Enjoyed your rant at the Daily Mail. Here’s a thing about the Mail: it’s a non-union paper. No collective voice for journalists to check its loaded and ludicrous kind of reporting. If you think the FT, Guardian or Independent are better (if you can bear to read newspapers at all) – well they’re very strong union offices. Spot the difference.

Scott Roberts’s last blog post..Westcountry Live (1993-2009)

Of course, there are still people within the union who think we have no business ‘engaging’, so those of us who disagree need to be inside to argue the point and maintain the right approach. I think journalists, like all working people, need to be more involved in the process of how the work they do is carried out. The problem is, most employers don’t. Which is why we need a union to argue the case, and to ensure that – for example – emerging technologies are used not to cut jobs and lower wages, but to enable us to work in better ways and to develop the craft.

The union has two key roles – one, to fight collectively for jobs and conditions for all staff (members and non-members alike. So you get to feel “safer” for free).

In fact, if you are currently being paid UPA then you have at least £2k a year to thank the NUJ for, as the BBC was determined to scrap it last year.

Two, to look after and help protect individuals who find themselves threatened with losing their job, or conditions, or otherwise maltreated in the work place.

I’m guessing there are very few people who would agree with all NUJ policies and decisions (even union officials), but you still have that individual protection by being a member. And if you disagree with the policies strongly enough, you can make your voice heard.

I don’t share your feeling of safety – but that comes of 10 years of battle scars I suppose

At the same time, it’d be nice to know how I could become more involved, more aware of what they do, and do my bit.

Anyone got any ideas how I could do that?

I realise the BBC isn’t safe, but it is certainly safer. My own contract is up fairly soon — before the summer — so I’m more than aware of the realities in the workplace.

I think my main point is that the NUJ should be a union for ALL journalists. By having a pompous attitude, they are failing to do that.