Monday November 5 is Stand Up for Journalism day, the NUJ day of action across the UK and Ireland.
Further, Journalists across Europe are expected to take part.
Here in Nottingham, the main theme of the event in Market square this afternoon, was the closure of the Central ITV News. In future, news will be broadcast from Birmingham.
The demo was attended by National Union of Journaists, BECTU and Unite. Support for the campaign was additionally offered by jon Collins, leader Nottingham City Council, and John Heppell MP Nttm North.
The main objective, as with any union campaign, is to draw attention to job cuts, wage issues, devaluing staff conditions etc ….. For me though, I think additionally, there is a concern for journalistic standards and ethics. I think these are worth standing up for.
The event has been billed as the biggest demonstration by UK journalists since Wapping and is being held to protest “round after round of cuts in newsrooms”.
According to the NUJ, the European Federation of Journalists decided to support the action and events are now planned in 20 countries across the continent.
The union said that there will be a two-minute work stoppage by media workers in Serbia, a demonstration outside the National Assembly in Paris, and a petition to the government in Romania.
Journalists from all sectors of the media – broadcasting, newspapers, magazines, PR, and online – will be protesting against savage cuts which are hampering their ability to keep the public informed.
Most media companies make big money – but they engage in round after round of cuts to increase their profit margins.
Journalists are reduced to a cross between call-centre workers and data processors. Stuck at their desks re-jigging press releases. Who knows what corruption, lies, and law-breaking is going on in the corridors of power – no-one has the time to look.
Photographers, reporters, sub-editors, producers, and news readers are saying enough is enough.
Please support the National Union of Journalists’ campaign by organising an event in your workplace or town.
More pictures on Indymedia at: Stand up for Journalism : Market Sq, Nottingham Event
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/nottinghamshire/2007/11/385178.html
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Stand Up For Journalism
http://www.standupforjournalism.org.uk
National Union of Journalists
http://www.nuj.org.uk/inner.php?docid=1774
Indymedia – NHS whistleblower Stands Up for Journalism
http://indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/10/384442.html
European day of action ‘Stand Up For Journalism’ Netherlands branch of the NUJ
http://indymedia.nl/nl/2007/11/48093.shtml
Bristol Indymedia – Stand Up For Journalism – 5 November
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=27009
Bristol Indymedia – Press Realease
http://bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=27010
Pictures from various events around the country, collected on the NUJ – Stand Up For Journalism Flickr Pages at:
