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Government acts on future of regional media
NUJ news reelease
DATELINE: 20/3/09
The government has agreed to call a summit on the future of the regional media – just one day after it was suggested by the NUJ. Junior culture minister Barbara Follett made the announcement during a debate in the House of Commons today (Thursday). The idea had been put forward to cabinet minister and culture secretary Andy Burnham by NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear and members of the union’s parliamentary group at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon .Jeremy said: “The meeting with Andy Burnham was very constructive and I am delighted that our suggestion has been picked up so quickly. Journalists on regional papers, TV, radio and websites are losing their jobs every day. Papers are closing, local offices are being boarded up. The government summit must involve journalists, media owners, and community and co-operative groups. It must actively consider all options for the future of local media.”
John McDonnell MP, secretary of the NUJ parliamentary group, said: "I am really glad that the government has emraced our idea and acted so quickly. We look forward to taking part in the summit."
Speaking after Wednesday’s meeting Jeremy said: “Mr Burnham clearly values the role his local papers - the Leigh Journal and the Leigh Reporter - play in holding the community together. We told the minister that any government assistance for the media should have conditions guaranteeing jobs and investment in local journalism. Without that it will become a handout for shareholders. We also asked him to look at ways of funding new start ups, co-operatives, and community media initiatives. Mr Burnham has been a supporter of the Football Supporters Trust and this could be looked at as a model for local media.”
The House of Commons debate yesterday was called by Greater Manchester MPs who are opposed to cut backs by Guardian Media in the county. More than 70 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion - a parliamentary petition - backing the union’s concerns about regional journalismNext Wednesday – 25 March – the NUJ is lobbying MPs about the job cuts in local media. The lobbying is part of a union-wide campaign against media cutbacks.
Last modified: Friday, March 20, 2009
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Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
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Previous stories
Media Ownership
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