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Freelancers represented in race for NUJ mag editorship

Posted: 09/10/09 By: Laura Oliver

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Voting opened for the next editor of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) magazine this week with several candidates boasting a strong freelance pedigree.

Eight potential editors are up for the job to replace outgoing incumbent Tim Gopsill, who will retire next month after 21 years in the role.

The runners and riders are tasked with giving the union title a more visible online presence.

Co-ordinator of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Centre Mark Watts will run for the post. Watts, who was previously a chief investigative reporter for the Sunday Business, has freelanced a range of titles, including the Observer, Sunday Times, Independent on Sunday and Sun.

Speaking on the NUJ website, Watts said he would increase the print frequency of the publication, which is currently six a year, launch a proper website and plan regular showcases of freelancers' work.

Fellow candidate Frank Morgan, a sub-editor with the Daily Record for the last 15 years, was previously the news editor of a freelance agency based in Lanarkshire and a freelance features writer.

Alongside Morgan and Watts, Michael Cross, a freelancer for many years at the Guardian, who has also run trade magazine newsdesks and freelanced for the radio and online, will also compete for the job.

"I would make the Journalist a journal for the entire membership, not just for union activists. This means more emphasis on professional issues, and providing 'how to' advice on matters ranging from FoI [Freedom of Information] to VAT registration, from blogging to finding case studies for features," said Cross on the NUJ site [registration required].

The remaining candidates are:

Tim Arnold, a broadcast journalist with 30 years' experience
Christine Buckley, former Times industrial editor
Richard Simcox, editor of the Public and Commercial Services union's magazine
David Tilley, newspaper journalist with more than 11 years at Johnston Press
Steve Usher, art editor of the Daily Star

Voting for the £51,000-a-year job will close on November 6. The new editor will take up their post at the beginning of 2010.

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