What about Irish members?

[Ciara Ní Ghabhann]

Unfortunately, Ireland doesn't really have its own NUJ, and as a result the Journalist magazine which may very well serve the purposes of UK members of the NUJ, does next-to-nothing for Irish members, and we find ourselves with an uninteresting and irrelevant magazine.

Does anyone have any plans to make the Journalist magazine work better for Irish members?

[Richard Simcox]

Yes, cover the whole union and all its nations, not just certain parts.

You might be interested in these three stories on my website.

[Mark Watts]

Yeah, there is very little about Ireland in the mag. I would introduce a specific section, either a page or a spread devoted to Ireland. The point about this is that it ensures there is at least something in the mag in every edition that is of interest to journalists in Ireland.

The mag has, by contrast, long had an overseas section, and I would maintain that as well.

You will see journalists who are well known in Ireland are among the people publicly backing me (see several stories on endorsements: http://www.foiacentre.com/FOIA-news.html).

Having said all that, I do not want to give the impression that I am completely clued up on journalistic issues in Ireland. I am not. But I think that dedicating a section of the mag to Ireland will ensure that it is not over-looked in future.

[TimArnold]

A good question. I have worked there, and understand the issues facing members on both sides of the border.

Giving members in Northern Ireland and the republic their own pdf magazine would be a great method of improving services to members there.

I am the only candidate for editor of the Journalist to make such a pledge.

[Paula Geraghty]

Hi All,

I have to say I love getting my copy of The Journalist in the post. I am informed by what is happening in my industry right throughout the UK and Ireland. Because of the indepth articles and regularity of The Journalist I think I have a better idea of industry concerns across the Irish Sea than in Ireland. We in Ireland can see what is coming our way and the reports of colleagues fighting against cuts with excellent accompanying images are inspirational. The Journalist is best when it reflects the struggles, the defeats, the victories and debates, whether they rage or fade out. So I like The Journalist because as a freelance photographer based in Dublin, it connects me to the rest of the Union and I can read it when I want!

We have a publication in Ireland called The Irish Journalist and it is available online but it is not as regular as the mothership magazine. Because it is more infrequent it's much harder for it to have a newsy up to date feel to it but our editor (who is elected by the Irish Executive Council) does a really good job, which is mostly thankless and without the financial resources of The Journalist. The future editor of The Journalist is not responsible for The Irish Journalist so I hope this clears up any confusion. The independence and integrity of The Irish Journalist should be respected.

I wish to refute the assertion in the comment above. We do have an NUJ in Ireland and we campaign and organise against the cuts and stand with members. I don't want 'Ireland' to have a little boxed off section with an editor scrambling to fill up space. I want Irish concerns to be a central part of the Journalist just like any other sector (whether a geographical or industrial). The Journalist should reflect the reality with honesty but also offer possibilities. It shouldn't just mechanically  be full of items that tick the right boxes, it should seek to be dynamic and campaign for all of us.

Please watch a video made of the recent NUJ protest to support our colleagues in INN who are facing the sack.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TradeUnionTVIreland#p/a/u/1/0w9jlvcjRXk

I think the Journalist will work for any group of members if they are organised well and link in with the Editor of the Journalist. That to my mind means an editor who is open and inclusive, one that holds trade union principles and seeks to offer possibilties for members to communicate and is not some one who is divisive.

That's why I'm supporting Richard Simcox. He has used a website to forward a vision of what he would do as an editor. It's accessible visually and easy to navigate. A diverse range of issues and topics have been covered seamlessly indicating an inclusive attitude.

I am a photojournalist and Videographer in the Dublin P &PR Branch and have been elected onto the incoming Irish Executive Council. I hope this contribution adds to the constructive discussion about the election of the NUJ's Editor of The Journalist.

[SteveUsher1]

Geography is of no importance to me. Wherever there is a good story about journalists, journalism or trade union activity by NUJ members then it goes in the tray and takes its chances with copy and pictures from elsewhere. A good story is a good story.

[Michael Cross]

I'd be reluctant to create a dedicated Irish section, either within the magazine or as a spin-off. It seems to me there's enough happening on the Irish media scene for stories to stand or fall on their own merits.
 

[christinexbuckley]

I think more regional and sectoral coverage is important. It's too easy for all organisations that are based in London to be v London-centric. I can see why you may feel that the Journalist is irrelevant to Irish members. I fear that NUJ members in Brussels and elsewhere may feel the same. I would try to reflect the full range and activities of the NUJ's membership more than is being done at present. Irish membership is important to our union and others such as Unite and the transport unions. We do need to be more conscious of work outside London and outside the British Isles.

[Ciara Ní Ghabhann]

I'd be reluctant to create a dedicated Irish section, either within the magazine or as a spin-off. It seems to me there's enough happening on the Irish media scene for stories to stand or fall on their own merits.
 

If this is true, why are Irish journalists posting here, and saying to me in person here in Ireland, that we feel the magazine doesn't do nearly enough to include Irish news in it?

Admittedly I don't have my copies of Journalist to hand, but I don't remember the last time I saw an Irish story

[Mark Watts]

Ciara, I agree. That is why I suggested having a specific section, either a page or a spread, devoted to Ireland. This would help ensure that Ireland will not be over-looked. If I were editor, I would be determined to ensure that the magazine is not London-centric. As part of that effort, I intend to attend branch meetings outside London regularly, if invited, to meet members and pick up ideas for stories and features.

[Michael Cross]

Admittedly I don't have my copies of Journalist to hand, but I don't remember the last time I saw an Irish story

Well, from the last edition there's www.thejournalist.org.uk/SepOct09/F_sources_irish.html but one story doesn't refute your point.

Clearly a Londoner editing a London-based publication would have to be highly sensitive to accusations of geographical bias. If, objectively, it did turn out that a readership as important as our Irish one was being neglected, then perhaps a specific page or section might be the answer. However I'd rather tackle the problem by cultivating more and better contributors from Ireland. Be assured I've already had offers!

[Paula Geraghty]

If this is true, why are Irish journalists posting here, and saying to me in person here in Ireland, that we feel the magazine doesn't do nearly enough to include Irish news in it?

Admittedly I don't have my copies of Journalist to hand, but I don't remember the last time I saw an Irish story
[/quote]

I'm posting here, because a debate is happening here and a few candidates have engaged with this thread!

The current front page of the NUJ website has an Irish story and the INN reports have received significant NUJ web coverage.The current Journalist has Irish articles.

The Journalist can be accessed online here
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=871

Can the journalist be better- of course it can. Let's come up with suggestions as to how we can have our union magazine reflect us better. Writing letters is one, suggesting articles another. The editor is working for us! (S)He's not some remote being! Participating in our Chapels and Branches is an excellent way to facilitate this to develop more engagement with how we represent ourselves.

The Suzanne Breen attack by the PSNI has received significant coverage in The Journalist. There are lessons for all of us in the UK and Ireland. These include how a newspaper can defend journalism, the role of journalism in democracy, what does journalistic independence and integrity means. It's not an Irish issue but one that we all can learn from
As a journalist I'm not interested in being patronised. I want intelligent relevant articles. Stories from Iran, Mexico, Russia that appear in the September/October issue. We learn from each others experiences. The Journalist offers NUJ members to learn what our colleagues have gone through, how we can organise, how we can win, analyse why things don't go our way, because we don't win everything. The Journalist offers hope to some and connects us all as members. It unites us  and enables debate. It is our media as trade union members. That's why it is special.

It is not just a Journalist's magazine. It is our media for us, unionised media workers.
So, it's remit is to represent all NUJ members. The editor has a responsibility but so do we as NUJ members.

There's an extension to the vote. I'm more convinced now that  Richard Simcox is one who gets this concept. So if anyone hasn't sent in their ballot yet....................... Number 1 for Richard Simcox!

[Mark Watts]

To Paula Geraghty, are you by any chance related to the Paula Geraghty, the “NUJ Left” activist? Or did that far-left faction falsely claim you as one of its own in a document dating back to last February, "Irish activists join mass action against cuts"?

Do you not think that this puts your conclusion in a rather different light? Why did you not mention it in your post?

[John]

"...are you by any chance related to the Paula Geraghty" who has spent the last few years campaigning to improve the  NUJ's service to Irish NUJ members and Irish photographers in particular?

"...are you by any chance related to the Paula Geraghty" who has been willing to brave the wrath of the NUJ 'establishment' in Ireland to promote the interests of freelance members who have seen their livelihoods threatened by in-house agreements that have paid less than careful attention to their needs?

"...are you by any chance related to the Paula Geraghty" who has established an enviable track record of NUJ activism over a prolonged period, rather than just popping up to posture and pontificate when a tasty £50K union job is there for the taking?

Yes. Thought so.

John

[Mark Watts]

To John, all very fascinating, I’m sure, but it does not exactly answer the questions, does it?

So, has poor Paula lost her ability to type, or are you acting as the generic flak for “NUJ Left” after the last one retired with hurt pom-poms?