Book now for free DM Talk-in events; lunchtime Taster Training sessions and Friday night comedy gig with Mark Thomas, Shazia Mirza and Jonny and The Baptists – all taking place 17-22 May 2021.
The NUJ’s Delegate Meeting, our policy-setting conference, is taking place next Friday and Saturday and for the first-time delegates from across the union’s nations and regions will be attending virtually. So, this year we wanted to do things a bit differently and encourage all NUJ members to input into our work, campaigning and industrial priorities.
To that end, we’ve got a great week lined up of 5pm daily discussions, events and free lunchtime taster training sessions. Have a look through the programme, put some dates in your diary and come along and take part!
The past year has been a bit short of laughs for many so what better way to end our DM week than with a special night of comedy, brought to NUJ members by a fabulous line-up. We have award winning comedians Mark Thomas and Shazia Mirza and renowned musical satirists Jonny and The Baptists to entertain us.
Even better, this is a free event for NUJ members – although we’re asking everyone who registers to make a donation that will be split between the NUJ’s two brilliant charities, NUJ Extra, which has been a lifeline providing financial support for many members during the pandemic, and the George Viner Memorial Fund, which awards training bursaries to aspiring black and minority ethnic journalists. Tickets for the gig will be snapped up quickly so book your Friday night in now!
Book now for our DM Talk-ins, Taster Training sessions and Mark Thomas gig!
5PM Talk-ins
Every evening from 5pm Monday to Thursday of DM week, starting on Monday 17 May, come and take part in a series of debates and discussions with an expert panel.
Monday 17 May, 17.00: Following the Road Map: NUJ’s News Recovery Plan
Join Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, and colleagues who have been working with the Westminster, Irish, Welsh and Scottish governments to put in place measures to bring about a vibrant, diverse and plural press as the industry recovers from the pandemic, and find out how our sister union in the United States has been addressing the same challenges.
Speakers: Siobhan Holliman, joint chair, Irish Executive Council and member of the Irish government’s Future of Media Commission; Joyce McMillan, NUJ Edinburgh Freelance branch chair, and a member of the Scottish government’s short-life working group on public interest journalism; Nick Powell, chair of the NUJ’s Welsh Executive Council; and Andy Grimm, reporter at the Chicago Sun-Times and lay activist at The NewsGuild – Communications Workers of America (TNG-CWA).
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/93026236432?pwd=NVpSaEk1YmpnY3BudkloVmVrUmx6Zz09
Passcode: 557262
Tuesday 18 May, 17.00: The Right to Know
NUJ president Sian Jones introduces: Guardian reporter Rob Evans; Jenna Corderoy, reporter for openDemocracy; Paul Lashmar investigative journalist and research academic; Lizzie Dearden, home affairs and security correspondent at the Independent; Aasma Day, former HuffPost correspondent and JP investigations unit; and Tim Dawson freelance journalist and NUJ past president, to discuss the current challenges facing journalists when reporting in the public interest.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/95443191156?pwd=dExpYVNLc1BVSkp2aHZ4cGdZSXB0Zz09
Passcode: 487214
Wednesday 19 May, 17.00: Journalism under attack: unions fight back!
From killings to jailings, from internet shutdowns to job cuts and media closures journalism across the globe is under threat. Join the International Federation of Journalists and unions from around the world to hear about how unions are fighting back – and what you can do to stand in solidarity.
Jeremy Dear, IFJ deputy general secretary, will chair a panel of speakers including: Sakeus Likela, general secretary of the Namibia Media Professionals Union, talking about the strike at NBC; Sabina Inderjit, general secretary of the Indian Journalists Union, speaking about the siege of Kashmir and the use of sedition laws against journalists; and Jim Boumelha, IFJ honorary treasurer, on the unions’ fight against impunity; plus contributions from Turkey and the US.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/99355063971?pwd=TURkUXRaa2NyNmo4V3duVkJLWWc1dz09
Passcode: 660488
Thursday 20 May, 17.00: Defending public service broadcasting
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, S4C have a long and proud tradition in the UK, delivering impartial and trusted news and UK-originated programmes. They were the heroes of the pandemic as people tuned into them for trusted news. Rebecca Keating, Radio 4’s Today programme output editor, will ask Jo Stevens, Labour’s media and digital shadow secretary, Sir Peter Bazalgette, ITV chair, Owen Evans S4C chief executive, Patrick Barwise, author of The War Against the BBC and Cearbhall Ó Síocháin, RTÉ Irish language broadcaster, how the PSBs can stave off the threats of cuts to journalist jobs, political interference and competition from the likes of Netflix and Disney+.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/91814581984?pwd=NW5wQTdtYlVaMUlHRlo5QjhSMjFEQT09
Passcode: 003020
Special events
Thursday 20 May at 18.30 Remembering Lyra McKee: Séamus Dooley, assistant general secretary, introduces a panel discussion on the life and legacy of NUJ member Lyra McKee, pictured above, who was killed in Derry on 18 April 2019.
Guests will include Sara Canning, Lyra’s partner, Kathryn Johnson, freelance journalist and friend of Lyra and Owen Reidy, assistant general secretary, ICTU.
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://zoom.us/j/99972749931?pwd=TE1iUUpCNmp0c1QzdDBhc1pueWdGUT09
Passcode: 922567
Friday Night Stand Up! 19.30
Stand up for Journalism: Friday night comedy with Mark Thomas and friends
Register now for a night of comedy! Join comedian Mark Thomas, winner of Amnesty Freedom of Expression award for his show about spy cops and in the Guinness Book of World Records for attending the most political demos in a day; Shazia Mirza, award winning British stand-up comedian and star of Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls; and Jonny and The Baptists, musical satirists as seen on TV and radio for a Friday night social starting at 19.30. Donations to be split between the NUJ’s charities, NUJ Extra and the George Viner Memorial Fund.
Register to attend online and donate to the union’s charities – https://www.gfsboxoffice.com/event.php?id=46693
Brush up on your skills in your lunch-break – free taster training sessions for NUJ members
Monday 17 May: News writing with David McKay, NUJ Training Scotland. News writing is a craft, not an art, where facts are king and simplicity is all. (12.30-14.30). Email amyw@nuj.org.uk to book.
Wednesday 19 May: Social media campaigning taster with Dan Mason. Social media is a vital tool in getting your message across. The key to a good social media campaign is a structured approach, creative content and result that hits a measured target. (12.30-13.30). Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82386175165 Meeting ID: 823 8617 5165 Passcode: 667675
Thursday 20 May: Introduction to scriptwriting with James Doherty, NUJ Training Scotland. You will learn about what makes good stories, the characters that drive them and how to bring ideas to life. Email amyw@nuj.org.uk to book.
Fast and free online tools for journalists with Dan Mason. Includes tools for reading, sharing, searching and storytelling, as well as tips that cover research, networking and self-promotion. (15.00-16.00). Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84194926281 Meeting ID: 841 9492 6281 Passcode: 259713
There’s also great workshops for our reps and activists:
Organising and recruitment in a hybrid/remote workplace with Caroline Holmes NUJ reps’ training co-ordinator. Wednesday 12.00-13.00
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87194171401?pwd=SVlaYlFxc3d6OVdUdFdVdnNZSlVYQT09 Meeting ID: 871 9417 1401 Passcode: 746426
Equality in Action: How chapels can embed equality into all their structures and policies, with Natasha Hirst, equality council chair, Caroline Holmes, NUJ reps’ training, Federica Cocco, FT rep and Raj Ford, BBC secondee. Tuesday 12.00- 13.00 Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84607654295?pwd=bGtEWncySzFTeWNzRjMzTFpKYklEUT09
Meeting ID: 846 0765 4295 Passcode: 773847
Hope you can all take part,