Full Stop. Ends... Young journalists flee newspapers for PR - MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL UNION OF JOURNALISTS
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M A G A Z I N E O F T H E N AT I O N A L U N I O N O F J O U R N A L I S T S
WWW.NUJ.ORG.UK | MAY-JUNE 2018
Full Stop.
Ends...
Young journalists flee
newspapers for PR
Contents
“
Main feature
12 Are young dreams being dashed?
Why new entrants leave journalism
D
id you dream of becoming a reporter
News
or an editor? Many of us did, attracted
03 Al Jazeera strike over pay
by an exciting career full of variety Protest over four-year wage freeze
and the potential to hold power to 04 Bid to boost women’s media presence
account. Campaign taken to Scottish TUC
But, as Ruth Addicott finds in our cover feature,
many young people are deserting these roles 05 More job cuts at Trinity Mirror
not long after achieving them, finding that the reality of Digital drive rolls on
clickbait driven, office-bound journalism today is not what 06 NUJ Delegate Meeting 2018
they dreamt of. Conference reports
And then there’s the pay…or lack of it. Louise Tickle looks at
Features
the prevalence of media organisations and other groups who
expect journalists to work for nothing.
Since the last edition of The Journalist the NUJ has held its 10 A day in the life of
biennial delegate meeting – the policy setting framework for A union communications journalist
the union. Low pay, worsening conditions at the BBC, Iran’s
treatment of journalists on the BBC’s Persian service and many 12 S
coop
other issues were on the busy agenda in Southport. International reporting then and now
There was also a motion calling for The Journalist to remain a 16 Pay day mayday
print publication published at least six times a year. It came as
Growing demands for free work
the union’s strategic communications review raised a question
over the frequency of the magazine. I was delighted that the
motion from Bristol branch was passed with no opposition. Regulars
I’m glad that the delegates showed that they appreciate the
09 Viewpoint
magazine. I know many non-activist members also value it.
19 NUJ & Me
25 Story behind the picture
”
26 And finally...
Christine Buckley
Editor
@mschrisbuckley
Arts with
Attitude
Pages 20-21
Editor NUJ
journalist@nuj.org.uk 72 Acton Street
Design London WC1X 9NB
Surgerycreations.com info@nuj.org.uk
info@surgerycreations.com www.nuj.org.uk
Raymond
Advertising Tel: 020 7843 3700
Melanie Richards Manchester office
Tel: 07494975239
ads@journalistmagazine.co.uk
nujmanchester@nuj.org.uk Snoddy
Print
Glasgow office
nujscotland@nuj.org.uk Page 18
Warners
www.warners.co.uk Dublin office Cover picture Letters &
Steve Bell
info@nuj.ie Gary Neil
Distribution
GB Mail
www.gb-mail.co.uk
Page 22-23
02 | theJournalist
news
Al-Jazeera staff vote on inbrief...
nine per cent pay offer
PRESS REVIEW CHAIR
IS DAME FRANCES
“
The Government has appointed
Dame Frances Cairncross as chair of
As The Journalist went pay increase of 3 per cent for its review of press sustainability in
to press, staff at 2019. Members of the NUJ the UK and has published its terms
Al Jazeera’s English- and Bectu will now vote to of reference. She is a former
language TV channel in accept or reject the offer. economic journalist, author and
London were preparing to The management’s offer Solidarity and all academic administrator.
vote on a pay offer brokered
by the conciliation service
follows three years of
negotiations and four years
good wishes to
Acas. without a pay rise. The joint colleagues at Al UK STATIC IN PRESS
The nine per cent offer over unions said they hoped the FREEDOM INDEX
two years came as staff had offer was proof that Al Jazeera English from Britain has stayed at number 40 out
been preparing to stage a Jazeera will now take the the NUJ’s BBC Radio of 180 countries on the 2018 World
one-day strike followed by collective bargaining process, Press Freedom Index compiled by
indefinite action short of a and its relationship with the and Future Media Reporters without Borders. It was
named as one of the worst
strike.
The NUJ had said that the
staff unions, seriously.
Messages of support for
Chapel. You deserve countries for press freedom in
channel, which is funded by meal breaks in full; not the Al Jazeera staff have a pay rise! western Europe. When the index
the Qatari government, has answering telephone calls, included other unions and began in 2002 the UK was 22nd.
failed to honour an emails and message out of the NUJ’s BBC Radio and
agreement to negotiate pay normal working hours and on Future Media Chapel, which NUJ’s BBC Radio
on an annual basis. Both days off work; and the said: “Solidarity and all good TORRANCE HITS OUT
members of the NUJ and withdrawal of goodwill. wishes to colleagues at Al AT ‘ONLINE BILE’
Bectu, which represents Al Jazeera English is based Jazeera English from the David Torrance, the Herald political
technical staff, voted to take in Doha and has about 130 NUJ’s BBC Radio and Future columnist and Scottish freelance
action. staff in London. Media Chapel. You deserve has left journalism, partly because
Following the strike the The deal for 2018 is an a pay rise! Unless journalists of the rise of ‘online bile’ and
chapel had planned indefinite across-the board pay increase are paid properly, there’ll ‘puerile’ political discourse.
action involving taking of six per cent backdated to 1 be no such thing as press Torrance, who has been a journalist
statutory and contractual January and a consolidated freedom.” for 18 years, said political discourse
had ‘narrowed’ following the 2011
Holyrood election, leading him to
become a ‘hate figure’.
Journalists killed by Islamic State VANITY FAIR PUTS
Ten journalists were central Kabul on 30 April. attack the suicide bomber Shah from the BBC’s Afghan UP A PAYWALL
killed on one day in The first bomb was exploded disguised himself as a service was shot dead in Vanity Fair online has moved
Afghanistan after the and the second was journalist. Nine journalists Khost province. behind a paywall.Readers need a
so-called Islamic State detonated 20 minutes later were killed in Kabul out More than 1000 subscription to access all articles on
deliberately targeted among those who had come of 25 people who lost journalists have been killed the website, but can access four
journalists. to rescue and report on the their lives. worldwide over the past free articles per month. US editor
Two suicide attacks hit atrocity. In the subsequent On the same day Ahmad 15 years. Radhika Jones promised to deliver
‘agenda setting journalism’, and
‘in-depth reporting’’.
Chris, Charlie and Joyce are honoured
WESTMORLAND
NUJ activists Chris Frost, Charlie Harkness and Joyce GAZETTE HITS 200
McMillan were made members of honour at last The Westmorland Gazette is
month’s delegate meeting in Southport. celebrating its 200th anniversary
Chris is an emeritus professor at Liverpool John Moores with a museum exhibition. The
University and chair of the union’s ethics council. weekly newspaper covers the Lake
Charlie is a former deputy general secretary of the NUJ as District and Cumbria area since May
well as having had a long career in journalism and 1818, and has a circulation of
communications. around 15,000 with more than
Theatre critic and political commentator Joyce has been an 100,000 readers across print and
NUJ member since 1981. She has been chair and treasurer of online.
Edinburgh freelance branch
NUJ delegate meeting, pages 6-8
PAUL HERRMANN
theJournalist | 03
news
inbrief... NUJ tackles women’s
media representation
PULITZER PRIZE FOR
WEINSTEIN WORK
The New York Times and the New
Yorker’s investigative reporting,
which exposed allegations against Scottish NUJ delegates to the Scottish oppressed groups are represented.”
film producer Harvey Weinstein, has Trades Union Congress in Aviemore led Diljeet Bhachu, a musician and delegate of
won a Pulitzer prize. Allegations by the charge for increased representation of the Musicians’ Union, highlighted the issue of
actors who had worked with the women. visibility. She said: “Visibility has the power to
producer led to the worldwide The delegation comprised Liz Ely, Simon raise aspiration, and encourage real inclusivity
#MeToo movement of women Barrow, Jim Symonds and Scotland’s NUJ and equality.
speaking up about sexual assault. organiser Dominic Bascombe. “But to have some visibility is not enough.
“
The NUJ’s motion challenging the Tokenism is also damaging. Under-
representation of women in the media won represented people are diverse, and
NME GOES ONLINE AS support from all unions representation needs to
PRINT MAKES LOSS attending. reflect this plurality too.
Music magazine NME has moved to The motion recognised People are more than
online publication only following
continuing losses while it was a free
the power of the media to
affect how under-
their labels.”
The NUJ delegation also
I have lost count of
print publication. The NME, which represented groups saw put forward a motion how many times I
was launched in 1952, went on free themselves and how consumers of media challenging the strategy of media companies
distribution for two and a half years viewed them. It called for a joint, cohesive to increase the use of user-generated content have heard groups
before it ended print altogether. approach to tackle negative portrayals and to the detriment of professional journalists. of men on the radio
New editor Charlotte Gunn has messages. A third motion from the union called on
pledged to make the NME the music Liz Ely said: “I have lost count of how many the STUC to explore different models of discussing the gender
industry’s bible once again. times I have heard groups of men on the radio
discussing the gender pay gap, or the #MeToo
ownership and to consider the introduction
of the cooperative model approach for
pay gap, or the
movement. some newspapers. #MeToo movement
CHANNEL 4 TO OPEN “Whenever we have a platform, we represent This follows work by NUJ Scotland about
NEW BUREAUX ourselves and affect how others see us. In the cooperative ownership s for local newspapers
Channel 4 News is to open three trade union movement and across the media, that have been threatened with closure or Liz Ely
new bureaux outside London, we’re working to change how women and all severe editorial cuts. Scottish NUJ delegate
including one ‘major hub’ as part of
an initiative to extend its reach and
Men earn more across our industry
representation in the UK. The
broadcaster said it aimed to become
the first peak-time national news
programme to co-anchor from London Women in the media industry are losing out to men in pay, with their male colleagues
and a studio elsewhere from 2020. earning more, occupying more senior roles and receiving bigger bonuses, the government
gender pay reporting service has revealed.
An analysis by Press Gazette showed that 91 per cent of
HUNGARIAN DAILY UK-based media companies paid men more than women on
FORCED TO CLOSE average, based on the mean hourly rate, and 85 per cent paid
The Hungarian opposition daily men more in bonus pay.
newspaper Magyar Nemzet closed The union is encouraging chapels to carry out their own pay
last month. There had been after a audits to find out how pay is distributed across employees,
sudden increase in rent of the including by age, ethnicity and length of service.
offices. The owners are reportedly The Telegraph has one of the highest gender pay gaps in
close to the recently re-elected the industry with women getting paid 35 per cent less than
president Viktor Orbán. Radio men on average.
station Lánchíd Rádió has also
stopped broadcasting.
5 NEWS HIRES BULMAN
New edition of paper for Mid-Ulster
AS DEPUTY EDITOR One of Tyrone’s oldest streets at the end of edition was needed to launched in Mid-Ulster. In
ITV News head of planning Jessica established weekly February. complement the Tyrone addition, we have taken on
Bulman has been appointed deputy newspapers, the Tyrone Due to rising demands and Courier. an extra journalist.”
editor of 5 News. She has overseen Courier, has launched a new to serve the paper’s growing Editor Ian Greer said: “This Both the Tyrone Courier
the planning of UK and specialist edition. readership in the areas of is a tough time for the and the Mid-Ulster Courier
content at ITV News for two The first issue of the Cookstown and Magherafelt, newspaper industry, so it is are published on Tuesday
years. She will support editor Cat Mid-Ulster Courier hit the it was felt a new Mid-Ulster refreshing to see a new title mornings.
FitzSimons.
04 | theJournalist
news
More job cuts in Trinity inbrief...
Mirror’s digital drive
FT DROPS OUTDATED
‘SIR’ FROM LETTERS
“
The FT has dropped the ‘Sir’,
greeting from its readers’ letters. The
Trinity Mirror is to cut 49 more jobs as newspaper, which has a male editor
it continues establishing its digital Live (Lionel Barber) said the term was old
brand. Online news covering Hull, Grimsby, fashioned. The Guardian stopped
Teesside, Plymouth and Cheshire will be using ‘Sir’ on letters in 1988 but
published under the HullLive, GrimsbyLive, Further job cuts are many other titles still use it.
TeessideLive, PlymouthLive and CheshireLive
brands.
terrible news for our
This follows the loss of 49 jobs announced members at Trinity HOTEL PLANS FOR
in February with the creation of BristolLive, ECHO BUILDING
StokeontrentLive, CoventryLive, DerbyshireLive, Mirror and will The Liverpool Echo has left the
NottinghamshireLive and LeicestershireLive.
Newsrooms in Bath and Burton became part heritage and loyalties? These job losses will
heighten concerns offices it has occupied for the past
45 years. The building in Old Hall
of the SomersetLive and DerbyshireLive digital add extra work and pressure on to an over the company’s Street will be redeveloped into a
hotel. The paper has moved to new
brands, despite Burton being in Staffordshire.
The NUJ has called the cuts ‘terrible’ and is
already-overstretched staff.
“It is vital that the consultations over these
strategic direction offices in nearby St Paul’s Square.
concerned that the company is in some cases redundancies are as meaningful and Trinity Mirror, the Echo’s owner,
pre-selecting posts without consultation and transparent as possible. It is hugely disturbing Michelle Stanistreet said that the old building was a
offering former Local World journalists that the company is carrying out a process of NUJ general secretary purpose-built print operation and
statutory redundancy terms only. Trinity Mirror ‘pre-selection’ which inevitably leads to fears the shift to digital meant the paper
bought Local World three years ago. that the outcomes are predetermined. had different requirements.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, “Yet again, Trinity Mirror is refusing to tackle
said: “Further job cuts are terrible news for the scourge that is redundancy terms at
our members at Trinity Mirror and will journalists from Local World titles. For a blue ARCHANT SEES SALES
heighten concerns over the company’s chip company to treat sections of their staff as AND PROFITS FALL
strategic direction. Will these ‘Live’ brands second-class employees, being paid only Archant, the regional news group
mean anything to individual communities and statutory redundancy terms, is behaviour worthy that publishes the Eastern Daily
towns proud of their distinct traditions, of the most bargain basement employer.” Press and more than 50 other titles,
suffered an 11 per cent fall in total
Deal to buy Express group goes to Ofcom
revenue to £95.5 million last year.
Operating profit was down by 44 per
cent on a like-for-like basis to £4.7
Matt Hancock, the culture secretary, has referred Trinity Mirror’s million. Advertising revenue was
HELOISE / ALAMY STOCK PHOT
£200 million deal to buy the Express and Star newspapers to the media down 12 per cent at £70.9 million.
regulator Ofcom over issues including plurality and the editorial independence
of Richard Desmond’s titles.
Trinity Mirror’s shareholders voted to back the deal to add the Daily Express, LOCAL PAPER EDITOR
Sunday Express, Daily Star and Daily Star Sunday newspapers, as well as BECOMES COUNCIL PR
magazines including celebrity title OK!, to its national titles the Daily Mirror, Chris Prime, editor of the Newark
Sunday Mirror and Sunday People. Advertiser, has left after 10 years
Mr Hancock, who is able to block the deal or force a sell-off of some titles, has in the role. He is moving to local
given Ofcom until 31 May to complete its investigation. He has also asked the government PR. He first joined the
Competition Markets Authority to report back on any wider competition issues family-owned paper in 1987 as a
the deal may raise. junior reporter, then moved to the
Nottingham Post. He rejoined the
Advertiser in 1994 and took over as
deputy editor in 2004.
Clash over new roles after redundancies
The chapel at the against redundancies. in ‘roles that mimic the NUJ head office. The two new RADIO 4 PRESENTERS
Swindon Advertiser has The chapel questioned the former positions’. audience and content editor SWITCH PLACES
dismissed as ‘wrong’ ‘soundness’ of Newsquest’s Toby Granville, Newsquest’s roles are to fill the vacancies Radio 4 news presenters Martha
Newsquest’s justification for plan to replace valued staff editorial development created by recent resignations. Kearney and Sarah Montague have
advertising two newsdesk with less experienced people director, said: “This is more They are not replacing any of traded places. Kearney has moved
roles after making the news on significantly less money nonsense being stirred up by the roles made redundant.” from the World at One to the Today
editor redundant. A Swindon chapel programme, while Montague has
This year, staff at the paper spokesman said this gone from Today to the World at
staged a strike in protest explanation was wrong. One. Montague worked on the
Today programme for 18 years.
theJournalist | 05
Long-term low pay was a key issue at the NUJ’s delegate meeting. The
conference also heard of growing unrest in the BBC, remembered lives lost
worldwide and called on the union to support its own magazine in print
ALL PICTURES PAUL HERRMANN
Campaign to The campaign will also look at ways to close the gender pay
gap which has been laid bare at the BBC and other media
fight against
organisations after they had to publish statistics on pay equality.
As well as running the Journalists Need a Pay Rise campaign,
DM also instructed the NEC to look at the potential benefit to
low pay
NUJ members of the implementation of the living wage, as
defined by the Living Wage Foundation of £8.75 an hour
“
generally and £10.20 in London.
The union is also going to attend more UK media
organisations’ shareholders’ meetings to raise concerns, and
The union is to launch a broad pay campaign will be sending a group to the shareholders’ meeting of
– Journalists Need a Pay Rise – drawing on fights by other Newsquest’s US parent Gannett. Until last year, Newsquest staff
groups of workers to secure better conditions for the low-paid. had suffered a decade of pay freezes.
A motion tabled by South Yorkshire branch to the NUJ’s Like other workers,
biennial delegate meeting (DM) in Southport last month
called on the national executive council (NEC) to launch a pay
journalists have
campaign across the union. effectively suffered
It said: “This DM believes journalists, like other workers,
have effectively suffered pay cuts for too long. The time is right
pay cuts for too long.
for a pay campaign across the whole union to launch initiatives The time is right for a
– including calling for a minimum of the living wage for all
freelance members – an activity that would act as a union pay campaign across
drive and help build organisation in all sectors.”
Julia Armstrong, a member of the South Yorkshire branch
the whole union
who works on the Sheffield Star, said pay and conditions were
at their worst in the many years she had been attending DM. South Yorkshire branch
More action to support Persian service members
The union is to step up pressure on Iran’s national security. It has banned 152 solidarity to stop the targeting of journalists.
the Iranian authorities over the staff from buying or selling property inside The families living in Iran of the BBC
harassment of journalists working for the Iran – a measure that has effectively frozen journalists have also complained of
BBC’s Persian Service. their assets. harassment.
The Iranian government has filed criminal A motion from the NEC said: “DM endorses Shayan Sardarizadeh, an Iranian citizen,
charges against almost all of the Iranian the union’s campaigning efforts to date, and told delegates he was proud to work for the
journalists who work for the Persian service in pledges to continue to support BBC Persian BBC. He said: “I’m very fortunate in working in
London, accusing them of conspiracy against Service journalists’ call for global support and a country that has free speech.”
Remembering journalists’ lives
Delegates gathered on general secretary of the journalists had been killed
the waterfront outside International Federation of – nearly 2,500 since 1990.
Southport’s Floral Hall for a Journalists (IFJ). He said: “In “These statistics are
silent tribute to the 162 2017, Mexico, Yemen, unacceptable because behind
journalists who have been Afghanistan, Pakistan and these figures are women and
killed worldwide since the last India were the most men, mothers and fathers
delegate meeting in 2016. dangerous countries in the – journalists killed precisely
Earlier the meeting heard world for journalists. Last because they were
from Anthony Bellanger, year, the IFJ reported 82 journalists. Nothiang else.”
06 | theJournalist
delegate meeting 2018
Warning of strikes at inbrief...
the BBC over conditions
EVENT TO EXAMINE
POVERTY REPORTING
“
The union will organise a national
conference looking at the reporting
Industrial action could broadcaster, by whatever of poverty following negative
soon break out at the means are deemed depictions of poorer people and
BBC in a clash over terms appropriate and agreed by benefits issues on TV and in print.
and conditions, delegates the union’s structures.” The move follows the work by
heard. This comes amid In addition, DM voted to Stop using us as a Rachel Broady and the Manchester
& Salford branch in highlighting the
continued anger over equal
pay problems at the
support journalists working at
Red Bee Media. David
grab-all. Why should issue and drafting guidelines..
corporation and cuts to its Gallagher of BBC London said: the BBC become part
budget. “These people who edit
Pierre Vicary, chair of the subtitles and the EPG of the Department of ‘ONE UNION’ TAKE TO
Broadcasting Industrial [electronic programme guide] Work & Pensions and BOOST RECRUITMENT
Council and newly elected were once part of the BBC. Following an increase in members in
vice-president of the NUJ, Pierre said they could soon Since then, they have suffered pay for free licences the union’s new media, digital and
independent broadcasting sectors,
said: “National strikes could
be on their way.”
be reaching a crunch point.
The concern over these
a toxic combination of
outsourcing, offshoring and
for the over-75s? delegates called for a ‘one union’
He added: “Stop using us proposals and the high- extreme cost-cutting rather than a sectoral approach to
as a grab-all. Why should the profile equal pay campaign measures which have Pierre Vicary recruitment to further boost
BBC become part of the at the BBC has helped recruit seriously degraded the membership. Other motions called
Department of Work & new NUJ members, some of editorial operation.” on the NEC to encourage branches
Pensions and pay for the free whom attended DM. Delegates also instructed to engage with hyperlocal websites.
licences of the over-75s?” A motion from the BBC the NEC to support NUJ
Talks over proposed World Service was passed, members at the Al-Araby TV
changes to terms and instructing the NEC to channel. Members and reps SUPPORT TO FIGHT
conditions have been “continue fighting any have complained of ONLINE ABUSE
continuing for more than a detrimental changes to victimisation and Qatari The union is to support journalists
year and have angered many members’ terms and owner Fadaat Media has who suffer online abuse with
journalists at the corporation. conditions at our public service refused to talk to the union. measures including: an awareness
campaign; a toolkit for journalists
to protect themselves; guides on
gathering evidence; encouraging
Union subscriptions rise is rejected
the reporting of incidents to
platforms and the police; and
lobbying politicians.
A move to increase about £120,000 per year in floors in Headland House including newly elected NEC
subscription payments extra income. became fully flowing in member for London Natasha
for NUJ members was Although the union’s 2020. Bernal, complained that the 60+ GROUP TO HELP
rejected by the delegate finances are considerably All office space in the rises fell disproportionately YOUNG JOURNALISTS
meeting. stronger than they were at renovated headquarters is on lower-paid members. The NUJ’s 60+ council is to work on
The NEC had asked for the last DM, the NEC called now let but tenants have A subs increase requires mentoring programmes to support
authority to raise subs by for a subs rise to help fund introductory rent-free or the backing of a two-thirds young journalists and those
between 50p and 60p a day-to-day work and staffing low-rent periods. majority of delegates, which working alone such as community
month in the hope of raising until income from letting However, some delegates, the motion failed to achieve. website editors. A fringe meeting
held by the council heard from a
young first-time delegate who said
young journalists would value the
Use parliamentary group, MP urges
support of experienced colleagues.
Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville-Roberts pledged to advance the MANIFESTO PLEDGES
interests of the NUJ and journalism in Westminster as part of the union’s ON WORK WELCOMED
cross-party parliamentary group. The MP for Dwyfor Meirionnyd told delegates DM welcomed pledges by the
that she understood very well the attrition taking place in the industry. Labour Party and Scottish National
A former journalist and long-standing NUJ member, she said that her old parties to repeal the 2016 Trade
newspaper the Caernarfon and Denbigh Herald had suffered a 28 per cent Union Act and commitments by
decline in circulation and that no major Welsh title was now printed in Wales. Labour, the SNP and the Liberal
She told NUJ members to make the most of the parliamentary group: Democrats to introduce
“We can amplify matters and concerns for you in Westminster. We work in a employment rights including a ban
cross-party fashion and there is a will to defend press freedom.” on fees for employment tribunals.
theJournalist | 07
delegate meeting 2018
inbrief...
STRUCURAL REVIEW
Support for The Journalist in print
DIDN’T TAKE SHAPE The NEC has been instructed uncertainty over the future regular print publication. that the magazine was
An instruction from the previous to maintain The Journalist in frequency of the magazine, Its report to the conference now the only print publication
delegate meeting in 2016 calling on print for at least six editions a which is sent out to all said: “The NUJ should be flying for the media industry
the NEC to carry out a root and year – the current frequency of members. the flag for print journalism. following the shift of Press
branch structural review of the the magazine. The review said that its future “We deplore the loss of Gazette to online.
union was not carried out. Seamus A motion from Bristol branch frequency would be a matter media titles in print and She said that the digital
Dooley, assistant general secretary, said: “This DM believes that for the new NEC to decide. support the continuation of take-up of NUJ online
had called the motion the most the NUJ should lead the way in The Journalist editorial print journalism. publications, such as
important one from the 2016 DM. supporting print publications.” advisory board, a DM-elected “What signal would it NUJ Informed, had been
Tim Dawson, president, explained The motion was carried with body that supports the send out if we were to cease found to be low and that
in his report to this DM that the no one speaking against it. independence of the printing our own flagship it was a valuable for a
union’s development committee The motion came as the magazine’s editor, had also publication?” membership organisation to
had not functioned well and that union’s strategic voiced support for the Christine Buckley, editor of be able to communicate with
significant managerial time had communications review raised magazine continuing as a The Journalist, told delegates its members directly.
been spent on the communications
review. He said that it may not be
possible to deliver more than one
significant review but he promised
Welsh channel cash call Welsh Assembly rather
than Westminster.
funding to a shrinking
and insecure budget.”
to conduct such a review if there Delegates backed government funding the past 10 years. Nick Powell of the He said money was
was still support for it and if the a campaign to for the channel to end A motion from the WEC said that the needed from
NEC backed it. ensure proper funding by 2022. After then, all union’s Welsh channel was a vital politicians but also
for Welsh language its money will come executive council part of Welsh culture. that it was important
broadcaster S4C. from the licence fee. (WEC) called for the He told conference: to guarantee
For full coverage of the The move is in DM heard S4C had broadcaster to be “S4C has gone from independence from
delegate meeting go to response to plans for seen its income fall by funded in Wales and having secure and political control and
www.nuj.org.uk nearly £7 million in nearly £20 million in to be overseen by the even generous influence.
Moved house or
changed your
email address?
Please let us know.
You can update your membership
record on the website nuj.org.uk or
email membership@nuj.org.uk
8 | theJournalist
viewpoint
Caroline Thain says that it’s vital to secure proper recognition
Let’s crack down were as much to hold writers
accountable for errors or wrongdoing
on byline banditry
as they were for glorifying authors.
Many might ask if the absence of
a byline, a shared byline or byline
spelling error can be thought of as a
blessing. With fewer subeditors, articles
are often not subbed but bashed out
S
ince leaving office- Boyle says: “Bylines say you own by busy staffers who frequently make
based journalism, I your work. We are not asking for the mistakes. At least their typos are
have built a portfolio I crown jewels, just that our work is attributable to them.
am proud of, with officially, publicly recognised as ours. But where so much has changed
stories published in When Paul McCartney writes a song, he in an industry that elicits pride, it is
major newspapers. Bylines matter – doesn’t allow another musician to say undoubtedly a shame if hacks miss
since I started out aged 16 until today he has done it. When Dan Brown writes out on well-deserved recognition and
as a freelancer, they have been a a novel, he doesn’t allow another writer are afraid to raise the matter of having
hallmark linking my ownership, talent to put their name on it – or the editor their bylines nicked, in case it costs
and effort to my latest scoop. who will have tweaked the copy. them professionally.
I file every story with ‘By Caroline “I think up all my own stories, find
Thain’ at the top and would never want interviewees, encourage them to speak,
copy printed without it. I specify I want sell the idea to a publication, then
a byline as I agree payment terms and, write the piece. It may need a couple of
especially as I work from home, it is hundred words cutting or tightening
important for keeping up my profile. but that does not allow a salaried staffer
I was disappointed when I excitedly to put their name on it first or at all.”
searched for a recent national news Boyle is in dispute with another
exclusive and found the section editor national newspaper now. She adds: “It
had added her name and tagged mine is vital we keep hold of our property.
on, as if I were on work experience. Signing away work means signing
I found the case study, researched away future earnings. I would like
the story and filed meticulous copy. I to see an overhaul of the shoddy,
sourced images and turned it round legally dubious practices of byline
quickly. She sliced and diced it then banditry of freelancer’s work.”
stuck her name on. I politely requested Another important issue to
“
that she remove her name from the consider is that stories with
online version. She refused. shared bylines are trickier to
The problem is if you defend your find in a Google search.
right to a byline, you risk not being But, valuable as they are,
used again. It was little me in my It is not vanity. It bylines are not enough,
kitchen versus her with a firstname.
surname@majornewstitle email is about etiquette according to journalism
lecturer and writing coach Susan
address, other salaried journalists
around her and influence over how
and credibility. Grossman. She says: “Like most
creatives, we have egos. We need our
much payment I receive and when. Bylines can be talent recognised to get more work.
It is not vanity. It is about etiquette We need our names in prestigious
and credibility. Bylines can be hard hard to come by titles to grow our status. We also
and if it’s worth
to come by and if it’s worth buying, need payment. A byline alone is
it’s worth bylining, surely? Freelance neither ethical nor enough. As often
journalist Sheron Boyle won a notable
victory after refusing to let go of her
buying, it’s worth as not, they’ll spell your name
wrong. A student of mine uses a
single byline, meaning The Sun held bylining, surely? pseudonym for that reason.”
”
her copy for three months before Omitting a byline has not
agreeing to let her have what, she always been seen as purely
argues, was hers all along. negative. Historically, bylines
8 For all the latest news from the NUJ go to www.nuj.org.uk
theJournalist | 9
un ion
a mmunications
a day in the life of
co alist
journ
Spin doctor, campaigner,
L
ast summer on holiday in France the recent inflation busting Cadbury deal
my wife and I got chatting with a secured for our members. Others will be
couple at the bar on the journalist…Alex Flynn bombshells, which have huge ramifications for
says that he is a bit of all
campsite we were staying at. Our our members such as the recent collapse of
daughter was playing with their Monarch or job losses at BAE Systems.
of those roles
daughter while our conversation covered the Running through all these stories are people,
usual moans and groans about the weather, their families and their livelihoods. Unite
sights to see and places to eat. members, who through their hard earned wages
A couple of glasses of red later, that line of events, such as Sports Direct’s annual general pay their subs to pay my wages to ensure they
chat exhausted, I was asked, “so what job do you meeting. have a voice in an increasingly fragmented and
do then?” “I work for Unite, a trade union where My colleagues and I also compiled what we at times hostile media.
I’m the head of media and campaigns”, I replied. dubbed the ‘dossier of shame’. The basis of our In the case of BAE we knew something bad was
“Oh… but what it is you actually do?” I was asked written evidence to parliament’s inquiry into afoot when news leaked via Sky that the
again. “Are you a spin doctor, campaigner, Sport Direct, it formed the platform for Unite company was rumoured to be cutting 1,000
journalist or what?” assistant general secretary Steve Turner and jobs from its fighter and trainer jet division.
“A bit of all of the above”, I replied and then regional officer Luke Primarolo’s explosive Coming a day before a series of company
the conversation turned to Sports Direct and evidence to MPs ahead of Mike Ashley’s grilling mass meetings with the workforce was
Unite’s campaign. Because of its high profile - 17 by the select committee. scheduled the news partially confirmed
million people have reportedly watched the The strength in the evidence was that it was our worst fears. We felt there was worse
house of commons evidence session from last sourced and strenuously checked, each claim to come.
year- it’s an identifiable example that usually evidenced with FoI requests, pay slips and
elicits an “ah yes” from people. worker testimony. In short rigorous journalist
It succeeded in putting Mike Ashley under the practice meant there was no denying it.
spotlight and exposing Victorian work practices, Away from the long-term projects such as
it’s fair to say that the Sports Direct campaign Sports Direct, the typical day in my role at Unite
created waves and importantly real change is rich and varied. Unite is unique among trade
for workers too. Two years in the making it unions in both its size and scope with members
featured on the front and back pages of national from every walk of life, from the shop floor to
newspapers and its success was built on the boardroom, from vicars to bus drivers.
teamwork. Because of this you are partly in the hands of
With investigations from Channel 4’s the news gods. Typically the team and I will deal
Dispatches, Inside Out on the BBC and the around four stories a day, dealing with
Guardian’s excellent Simon Goodley, whose journalists across the country from print, online
undercover report blew the lid on minimum to broadcast. On the one hand you could be
wage breaches, it demonstrated the importance dealing with the editor of the Isle of Wight
of good quality journalism in holding power County Press and then the next minute ITV’s
to account. irrepressible business editor Joel Hills or the PA’s
In addition to liaising with journalists and legendry Alan Jones.
working up stories, I worked with a close team of Some of the stories will be ours, such as an
colleagues in coordinating media stunts and announcement of an industrial action ballot,
creating content for social media around key strike dates, a legal victory or a pay deal such as
10 | theJournalistwork lives
Understandably when the initial The team and myself always try and write a people’s lives, like with Sports Direct, are
Sky story broke there was a flurry of press release that is in essence a self-contained immeasurable. The overriding factor though, be
calls from journalists asking “is it news story, giving Unite’s spin on events along it a ‘big’ or ‘small’ media day, in what I and the
true?” “What do you know?” While it with the facts. Get that right and in the case of team at Unite do, is articulating Unite members’
wasn’t my job to confirm the BAE and other big announcements where the point of view, their hopes, their fears and
rumours, Unite members needed to company actually gives a breakdown of job importantly what they want to see happen.
hear that their union was speaking up losses, you can largely focus on dealing with the While we beaver away behind the scenes, we
them and their industry. requests for interviews from broadcast media. will occasionally get a word of thanks from
After discussions with colleagues and With BAE as with similar announcements, my members making the job doubly worthwhile.
officers responsible for BAE I drafted a press attention along with the team’s will quickly This can take many forms. Remember that
release for approval that stated the case for our turn to juggling interview bids between couple I mentioned earlier? It turned out they
members’ jobs and pointed the finger at the regional and national spokespeople. As a rule were both Unite members, one a steel worker
government for spending increasing amounts I accompany our key spokespeople while they and the other a local government worker who
of the defence budget overseas, rather than are doing a round of interviews so they are insisted on buying the third class of red. Cheers!
supporting British manufacturing. briefed, aware of developments and stay focused
It was a theme we expanded on the following on our key messages.
day when the news broke that the job losses On the day of the BAE announcement Steve
24-hour news
were actually nearly double the rumoured Turner was in the hot seat for Unite. A live hit on
amount and encompassed BAE’s marine BBC’s news channel followed by a pre-record for
division. We were prepared for went it came. I BBC Look East, then Channel 5 news outside
issued a press release that had been agreed parliament was followed by a round of local Ah the halcyon days of cooking up a
overnight within two minutes of the radio for the BBC and Sky News Radio. The day story over a two hour lunch and
announcement. Our convenors were on standby was completed with an interview with the BBC’s faxing out press releases. They were
and the deluge began. Business Editor talking about the loss of Britain’s gentler times. As journalism has
manufacturing capacity. changed, so has the job of union
Days like BAE can be breathless at times and communications officers.
the feeling of helping make a real difference to At Unite we have a team of campaign and
media officers working tightly with
specialist social media colleagues and
journalists on our digital publication Unite
Live. While the press release is still the
preferred method for getting a message to
the media the job doesn’t stop there.
Each press release is proofed and checked
for house style, before being released to
relevant media. It’s then uploaded on to
Unite’s website, shared via social media and
then refashioned for Unite Live.
Most days we will have what is effectively
a news list of press releases, stories and
announcements that we plan to respond to.
With breaking stories, speed is of the
essence in the world of digital media.
Quite often we’ll tweet and feed an
initial line to media, with a fuller
response following on. In a typical
month we’ll generate around 2,000
Unite mentions across all print, online
and broadcast media.
For campaigns and disputes we’ll
cover a demo or stunt with vox pops,
video and pictures, which will form
content across our digital media and
social media.
While the basics of a strong message
and joined up communications never
change, the rapidity of the news cycle
and immediacy of digital media means
union communication professionals have
had to become increasingly need to be fleet
of foot.
theJournalist | 11SCOOP
dangerous in parts. Part of the reason I was able
to pitch and do such ambitious and expensive
reporting trips was because I can write, take
photos and film for the same story.”
If the calamitous Boot were to return to a
conflict zone now, would he be expected to post
Instagram stories of the quiet revolution? Would
he, like some journalists, use dating apps to
meet local sources? How would he weather
Rhiannon J Davies
days later the rebels have overthrown him. It pro-government Twitter trolls’ accusations of
didn’t drag on – there was a beginning, middle “fake news”? Certainly, with so many people with
compares Evelyn and end – and it was all very colourful and neat.
The demands of editors and the peculiar,
cameraphones and internet connections, he
would surely not score that definitive scoop.
Waugh’s world nomadic, dysfunctional life that the foreign
correspondent lives still have some truth.”
The sheer volume of information online is
another factor. Foreign correspondents are no
with international Despite this, foreign reporting has come a long longer the sole conduit of news between a war
reporting now
way since. For starters, there has been a shift in zone and the public back home. Citizen
gender balance. Bethan McKernan, a Beirut- journalists and, frankly, anyone with a
based reporter who covers the Middle East for cameraphone and an internet connection can
the Independent, notes that while there is still a now scoop the best. Also, journalists have to be
E
ighty years ago saw the need for more women editors, there are now wary of online sources if they do not know their
publication of satirical sensation plenty of great female reporters in the Middle motives. As Pratt notes: “When properly
Scoop – Evelyn Waugh’s “novel East: “I remember looking around a briefing table harnessed, social media can be an incredibly
about journalists” that sends up recently and realising all seven journalists – and useful tool, but it brings a challenge of its own. It
the world of the foreign the person who organised it – were women.” can be corrosive to the veracity of stories and to
correspondent in a typically irreverent fashion. This has influenced the type of stories getting to beneath the veneer of the stories.”
A case of mistaken identity sees protagonist reported. According to Christina Lamb, Sunday The increased availability of information
William Boot sent to cover a growing crisis in the Times chief foreign correspondent, men and online may also have contributed to the
fictional African state of Ishmaelia. Laden with women report things differently: “Women are reduction in funding for international reporting.
an abundance of extraneous luggage, the hapless much better listeners and we talk to women Another issue is the danger foreign
countryside columnist finds himself among a more – often men don’t think of them as being correspondents now face. At one time, journalists
cut-throat pack of foreign correspondents, all of part of the story. And, as a woman, you have were usually injured only accidentally. Now, in
whom are content to make up stories when none access to half the population that a man doesn’t.” some places, journalists have become targets. The
present themselves. Boot’s stubborn refusal to David Pratt agrees: “In many parts of the flak jacket and helmet have become a standard
be drawn into a visit to a town that he knows for world, it’s the female dynamic that is the pivotal element of a foreign correspondent’s “war bag”.
a fact does not exist means he is the sole witness aspect of a story. When covering Israel-Palestine, Despite these challenges, some argue that
to the overthrow of the despotic government I often found that it was the Palestinian women there has never been a greater need for foreign
and the subsequent “counter revolution” – who were much more outspoken, engaging and correspondents or, indeed, a greater interest in
unwittingly scoring the scoop of the century. able to talk about their communities in a way world affairs. Richard Sambrook, professor of
Told with scathing wit, the story is based upon that men couldn’t.” Journalism at Cardiff University, spent 30 years as
Waugh’s time in Ethiopia covering the anticipated Some of the most absurd moments in Scoop a BBC journalist and, in 2010, wrote a report that
invasion by Mussolini’s Italy for the Daily Mail, a come from Boot’s failed attempts to comprehend asked: “Are foreign correspondents redundant?”
conflict that lasted from October 1935 to May 1936. the succinct manner required for telegrams. He says: “We live in an era where there is more
Although an established novelist, Waugh Advances in technology have changed this information available than ever, but where public
never quite made it as a “newspaper man”, which aspect of international reporting almost attention is more fragmented and politicised.
may be why he poured such scorn upon the unrecognisably. Lamb recalls: “When I started, International reporting remains crucially
profession. However, his experience did enable 90 per cent of the work was logistics – trying to important. It can differentiate news organisations
him to take a step back and recognise the find a way to get the story back when there were in a hypercompetitive environment; undertaken
absurdity of the situation, set against the no telephones. You could have the best story in in the right way, it can still engage audiences of
backdrop of a truly abominable war. the world but, if you had no way of getting it back, all ages. But it is harder than ever to make
But – apart from the racist language that it was useless. We used to have to take films to the international issues relevant and engaging
would no longer be tolerated – how does this airport to find someone who would take them against a backdrop of greater media noise.”
satirical tale hold up today? David Pratt, back. It was all very time consuming.” While Boot – and indeed Waugh – may have
contributing foreign editor at the Herald, There is often now an expectation for never become fully enamoured with life as a
Sunday Herald and Cable – Scotland’s new journalists to be multiskilled – publishing words, foreign correspondent, there are plenty who are.
international affairs magazine – thinks it is not photos and video on various platforms. While For those who risk their lives reporting, there
far off the mark. “It’s quite a surreal piece of this is not essential, Bethan McKernan certainly may be no greater response than Lord Copper’s
writing but, in some ways, closer to the truth thinks it helps: “For example, the Raqqa to the book’s eponymous scoop: “Stop the
than many people realise. I was in Port-au-Prince campaign was prohibitively expensive for lots of machines at Manchester and Glasgow. Clear the
NURPHOTO
in the 1980s when the president was overthrown news organisations – fixers [local people who line to Belfast and Paris. Scrap the whole front
and I remember thinking it was a bit like Scoop; help organise interviews and translate] alone page. Kill the Ex-Beauty Queen’s Pauper Funeral.
one day I’m interviewing the president and a few were about $700 a day and it was pretty Get in a photograph of Boot.”
12 | theJournalistinternational reporting
Dramatis personae The weary foreign editor,
ever deferential to his
presumed to be based on
Sir Percival Phillips, an
correspondent working for
the Daily Telegraph who
William Boot Lord Copper overbearing boss. Not established war scooped Waugh.
“Feather-footed “We think it a very reflective of anyone in
through the plashy promising little war … particular as there were Corker
fen passes the We propose to give it many like him on Fleet “News is what a chap
questing vole” fullest publicity” Street at that time. who doesn’t care
Said to be based upon The overbearing press much about anything
Bill Deedes, a journalist baron has recognisable Sir Jocelyn wants to read. And it’s
who was in Ethiopia aspects of Lord Beaverbrook, Hitchcock only news until he’s
with Waugh, who went proprietor of the Daily and “The job of the read it.”
on to become the editor Sunday Express, as well as English special is Sent by an agency to
of the Daily Telegraph. Lord Rothermere and his to spot the story cooperate with Boot on
While he has always brother Lord Northcliffe, he wants, get in – stories for the Beast.
brushed aside the charge, who developed the Daily then clear out and Not based on any one
he has admitted that his Mail and Daily Mirror. leave the rest to person, but his thirst
600lb of luggage might the agencies” for news and brash
have provided some Mr Salter A journalist personality were typical
inspiration. “Up to a point, Lord working for the rival of some of the reporters
Copper” Daily Brute, out there.
theJournalist | 13Ruth Addicott explores why some young people leave journalism early
Are young
dreams being
dashed?
W
hen Lucy Pearce was appointed editor of The the proportion of recently qualifieds working in PR and
Argus in Brighton, aged 28, she was not only communications (18 per cent), compared with one per cent in
its youngest editor but also the first woman a survey in 2012.
to edit the paper in its 137-year history. When One reason is pay. A report by the Chartered Institute of
she resigned within weeks to become Public Relations in 2017 showed the average salary of a PR
communications and engagement manager at Legal & General, professional had risen to £50,447 (£66,102 in London). Nearly
it took many by surprise. Pearce declined to comment on her one in four aged 25-34 earned £40,000-£59,999.
reasons, but she is not alone in making such a move. With local newspaper staff striking over low pay and a
In January 2018, Abigail Weaving was awarded the Paul survey last year showing one in three freelancers is in receipt
Durrant Award for her outstanding NCTJ performance. By of state benefits, for many, PR seems a sensible option.
then, she had already left the Saffron Walden Reporter to Jem Collins, editor of Journo Resources, which offers
work at a London press office. support to journalists starting out, believes a lot of graduates
While many graduate trainees on nationals go on to enjoy become demoralised when they cannot get a job.
prestigious careers, there have been recent reports of trainees More than 300 local papers have closed in the past decade.
quitting. “Good jobs are hard to come by and it’s easy to see why
Why are some young journalists leaving so soon? you’d move into an industry which is easier to crack.
An NCTJ report in 2015 which tracked journalists 6-10 There’s this bizarre idea you should be grateful for any
months after they’d qualified showed ‘a striking difference’ in journalism job, regardless of the conditions, which I
How to get nearer joined Inside Housing and
broke stories on Grenfell
together a huge number of
talented, creative people. It
opportunities. The Celebrity
Interview Club lists celebs
the job you want Tower. “They carved out an
area and were in a great
was like all the best bits of
being on a really good
available for interviews.
position to track that story.” publication – exciting, visual Freelance
Student journalism guide and list of graduate and creative, but they were Freelancing is a good way
The Student Publication trainee schemes. Consider other roles getting paid a lot more.” to build a portfolio,
Association covers the UK Tim Holmes, senior lecturer combined with shifts,
and Ireland and provides Develop a specialism in the Centre for Journalism Get support copywriting, lecturing or
support, training and a Suzanne Franks, head of at Cardiff University, recalls Check out Facebook groups PR for extra income.
chance to showcase work. journalism at City University a graduate who worked in such as The No1 Freelance
Journo Resources provides in London, suggests customer engagement at Ladies’ Buddy Agency and Boost skills
information on how to working for business to online fashion store ASOS, A Few Good Hacks where Broaden your skills. The NUJ
break into journalism, business magazines. She to bring people to its journalists share advice on offers courses: see www.
including a recent fees recalls one graduate who website. “ASOS had brought fees, pitching and nuj.org.uk/work/training/
14 | theJournalistcareers
disservice’, to content and driving reporters too hard.
“There are still a lot of local stories that need proper
exposure and investigation. That is becoming more difficult
for journalists to do and I think that is a real danger. If you’re
not getting the interesting work and not getting paid well,
why should you stay?”
Megan Baynes is on the executive committee of the
Student Publication Association (SPA), which supports young
journalists. She believes graduates get a rude awakening.
“Going into any job is a shock, but journalism demands
your entire life,” she says. “I think sometimes graduates aren’t
realistic. In my last year, everyone was applying for the BBC
and The Times graduate scheme and I was applying for local
journalism jobs. When I got my job, everyone was like, ‘why
aren’t you aiming higher?’ I said, you’ve got to go in at a local
level. It’s great to be ambitious, but don’t turn up your nose at
your local paper. Moving across the country to work on a local
was the best decision I made.”
Baynes didn’t do a journalism degree, but put as much on
her CV as possible – running her student paper and doing
work experience at the Gloucestershire Echo, the BBC and
Channel 4, as well as working for a paper in the US during her
year abroad.
think is one of the reasons people leave,” says Collins. So, when she graduated, she had experience. She is now
“I think journalism training romanticises the profession doing an apprenticeship at the Isle of Wight County Press as a
slightly, which makes it more painfully obvious when the trainee reporter.
conditions are bad. We’re told how to do on the ground “I prefer it because you get on the ground experience while
reporting, how to get exclusives and allowed to take our time you’re training,” she says.
on stories and cover things we’re interested in. Sadly, there Feedback from students at SPA also found that editors don’t
are few jobs in the real world which let you do that – often always look as favourably on journalism degrees. “If someone
you’re churning out seven or more pieces a day. That’s not to said, ‘I’m applying for university’, I wouldn’t advise them to
say we shouldn’t do training, but we need to prepare those do a journalism degree,” says Baynes. “It’s hard because
breaking into the industry for the reality.” everyone wants that experience and a lot of the time
A report in Press Gazette last summer said the ‘ripping publishers want the NCTJ, but they aren’t willing to pay for it.
culture’ (re-jigging stories from rivals) at one national So you’ve got to put yourself in a lot of debt, then take a job
newspaper website led to more than half of its graduate where you may not earn much. I can see why students think,
trainee intake for the past two years leaving to work in PR. ‘What’s the point when I can take a job in PR?’ ” There are new
Professor Suzanne Franks, head of journalism at City opportunities at organisations such as charities and non
University in London, says: “Quite a number of our students governmental organisations.
end up in that situation and get disillusioned – you can’t do So are graduates being encouraged to take jobs in PR?
real journalism that way.” “We definitely don’t want students to go into PR because
So are students leaving university with false expectations? that’s not journalism and we train them to be journalists,”
“I don’t think so,” says Franks. “They’ve grown up in a very says Franks. “We want them to be independent minded and
digitally aware age. Some think they’re going to walk out and hold power to account. The reason we do this is to produce
read the Ten o’Clock news the next week but, by and large, good journalists who will go out there, fly the flag and ask
they understand. We have lots of career events with alumni difficult questions. I feel a bit disappointed when I see people
coming back and talking about their experience.” who have those skills and use them in the capacity of PR.”
Tim Holmes, senior lecturer in the Centre for Journalism at Holmes believes the industry needs to look at itself, including
Cardiff University, says the acid test is when students do work at wage structures and career paths. “If they want bright young
experience. While most come back enthused, some go to a people to come in, there has to be some reward,” he says. “It
big consumer magazine and end up photocopying or clearing doesn’t necessarily have to be pay – if they’re getting interesting
the fashion cupboard with schoolchildren. work, there’s a balance. But if they’re expected to do fairly
“That happens rarely, but it does happen,” says Holmes. rubbish jobs and not get paid well, that is a recipe for disaster.”
He believes the shift to PR happens when journalists want Franks says: “The bright ones and the determined ones will
to start a family or need more financial security. make it in the end. Keep your skills, keep learning and find
Holmes says local newspapers have also done a ‘grave your niche.”
theJournalist | 15You can also read
