Why join the NUJ? That’s what I asked, months ago, in response to my alienation at the union which should have helped me in an hour of need.
The NUJ is stuffy, out-dated and, for journalists like me (i.e. non-print, non-ancient), largely irrelevant.
That’s my opinion and I’m sticking to it. Many disagree – good – but many don’t. Problem is, while the disagreers are frowned upon as being poor team players, I doubt any of us don’t want the NUJ to be a roaring success.
A crucial part of resurrecting the NUJ lies with communication. On the social networks, they’re doing OK. Good not great. Every now and then they’ll pop up in my Facebook inbox and ask me to send a message of support, or to sign a petition and so on – the usual union-y type things.
But that’s where it ends. I don’t know how they got on (badly, usually, but the Union has to publicise this as well).
More importantly, I don’t feel, in any way, part of a community of journalists. Or at least, I didn’t when I was a member – I cancelled my subs when I left university.
That’s why the upcoming vote for the new editor of the NUJ’s magazine, ‘The Journalist’, is so very important. A good magazine can go a long way to solving all the problems I spoke of above. With a strong website, it’ll grab in people like me – the future of journalism and the NUJ – and re-ignite debate among the journo masses.
If you want this to happen, you should vote for Michael Cross.
I’ve known Michael for a few years now. I met him through the brilliant networking site Journobiz (a site which, incidentally, feels more like a union to me than the NUJ ever has). As a very successful freelance journalist, his advice has always been extremely valuable in steering me along the right path. Not to mention his encouragement which is always genuine and sincere.
But that’s not why you should vote for him. After all, he’s not going to spend his time giving everyone advice. But what he will do is put tons of creative energy into the Journalist, drawing on years of knowledge that has made him wise and experienced – but not old-fashioned or in denial about journalism’s future. He’s a man that loves the print press, but isn’t in love with it. He knows that good journalism is good journalism – and, above all else, he knows what makes journalists tick. He knows what we need to know. And he knows how to tell us.
If you’re a member of the NUJ, I urge you to vote for Michael Cross.
