Organ Grinder: Jeremy Dear: end casualisation in war reporting

Journalist Kate Peyton, who was killed in Somalia in 2005, was a victim of 'the creeping casualisation of the media workforce', argues the general secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). Peyton agreed to work in Somalia to protect her contract with the BBC, says Dear. "It casualisation makes people disposable and discourages dissent and caution. Staff near the end of their contracts feel they have to go to any lengths to prove their worth," he adds. Full story...

Tags: BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, Jeremy Dear, Kate Peyton, National Union, Somalia

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Newsquest to axe 12 jobs

Newsquest has announced plans to cut 12 editorial positions and make six staff redundant at titles in north and north east London.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has attacked the proposed changes: “This is a savage cut to the already overworked, stressed and underpaid journalists that work for these titles,” said Don Mackglew, NUJ assistant organiser, in a press statement.

According to a report from MediaGuardian, the publisher is looking to replace some sub-editing positions with multimedia journalists, who would take responsibility for reporting, sub-editing and uploading multimedia content to the titles’ content management systems.

The NUJ is currently in consultation with Newsquest about the changes, which are likely to involve a number of compulsory redundancies, the union said.

Tags: content management systems, Don Mackglew, London, National Union

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MediaGuardian: Trinity Mirror announces redundancies for all 300 editorial staff in Midlands

According to the Guardian, all 300 editorial staff at Trinity Mirror’s Midlands titles have been made redundant and are being asked to reapply for new roles.

The mass restructuring of editorial staff will pave the way for the integration of multimedia, production and news desks across Trinity’s titles in the region.

A central multimedia desk will be created to take control of editorial content for the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post and Sunday Mercury with particular responsibility for online platforms.

A similar hub will be developed to produce content for its Coventry-based titles, while a regional production unit will oversee the multimedia desks’ work.

In addition a new work process of ‘content creation, multimedia desk, page finishing’ will be implemented.

Yesterday Trinity Mirror said the changes would require ’substantially fewer journalists’ and the publisher has entered into a consultation process with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ).

“Whatever the company may claim, you simply can’t take dozens of journalists out of your local operations and continue to report news to the same standard. Bosses at the company are sacrificing quality journalism to appease the short-term whims of the financial markets,” said Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, in response to yesterday’s announcement.

Tags: Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post, Coventry, management changes, National Union, Sunday Mercury

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NUJ plans ‘concerted campaign’ against Johnston Press cuts

National Union of Journalists (NUJ) representatives are gearing up for ‘coordinated action’ in response to cutbacks announced by Johnston Press.

Reps will tonight discuss plans for a campaign, the NUJ has said, following news of cuts at the Sheffield Star, Scotsman Publications, the Glasgow East News and the Ayrshire Extra.

Restructuring has put up to 30 jobs at risk at the Scotsman, Scotland on Sunday and Edinburgh Evening News, though no specific figure for the number of editorial job losses has been given.

A further 15 positions are to go as Johnston Press ceases publication of the Glasgow East News and Ayrshire Extra.

The union has also received complaints about working conditions at the Blackpool Gazette, which it has sent in a memo to the company.

The memo included claims that four news sub-editors have been working 55-hour weeks, while a junior reporter worked 110 hours in 11 days.

The publisher has disputed the figures stated in the memo, the NUJ said.

“Our members in Johnston Press want to produce high quality local papers, but they are finding they have to work incredibly long hours - sometimes dangerously long hours - in order to do so.

“Many of our members are already facing high levels of stress and these latest cuts will simply make an intolerable situation even worse. No wonder our members are calling for a concerted campaign against the company’s failure to invest in quality journalism,” said Jeremy Dear, NUJ general secretary, in a press statement.

Tags: Edinburgh Evening News, National Union, nuj, Scotland, Sheffield Star, The Scotsman

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Freesheet closures: axe falls on Johnston Press and Trinity Mirror titles

Johnston Press is to close two of its free titles in Scotland, as part of further cost-cutting by the publisher.

According to MediaGuardian, Glasgow East News and Ayrshire Extra will cease publication resulting in the loss of 15 jobs.

The move follows the publisher’s recent decision to restructure Scotsman Publications, resulting in the loss of up to 30 posts.

The National Union of Journalists is set for talks with Johnston tomorrow.

Following suit, Trinity Mirror is to close free weekly paper the Bridgend Post citing ‘difficult market conditions’, HoldtheFrontPage reports.

No advertising or editorial jobs will be lost, as the paper is produced fro Trinity’s Cardiff office.

Tags: Bridgend Post, National Union, Scotland

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