GENERAL SECRETARY DEBATES FUTURE OF MEDIA WITH CARDIFF MEMBERS

NUJ members held a lively discussion on the future of the media industry with General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet in Cardiff on January 13.

Cardiff and Newport members were joined by representatives from the BBC branch and Wales Executive Council members at a reception in the Angel Hotel, organised by the Cardiff and South-East Wales branch. Jenny Rathbone AM also attended and messages of support came from other politicians, including Bethan Jenkins AM, Ken Skates AM, Peter Black AM and Jonathan Edwards MP.

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CF10 3BZCalls for a government Media Commission to be set up to safeguard against the real threat of an end to newspaper publishing in Wales were made at The Future of the Press in Wales conference.*
Organised by the NUJ’s Cardiff & South East Wales branch with the University of Glamorgan (Centre for the Study of Media and Culture in Small Nations), the conference agreed “urgent action” was needed to combat the crisis.
Several solutions were suggested, including public subsidy, not to prop up the current failing commercial model but to protect and foster journalism as a “public good”.
Other proposals included encouraging innovative and alternative newspaper models, sponsorship from the business sector and subscription support from the public.
Port Talbot Magnet, a not for profit co-operative providing online local news could be one model for the future, but it is still evolving and not yet in profit said Ken Smith, chair, NUJ Wales National Executive Council, and a founder board member.
In an overview of the current crisis Dr Andy Williams, Cardiff School of Journalism, pointed out the weaknesses in solutions suggested by regional news publishers. More media consolidation - this would lead to more job cuts, less media plurality and weaker journalism. The idea that advertisers will eventually migrate to online news – not enough evidence. Online pay walls may be fine for the Financial Times and Wall Street Journal, but not for economically deprived areas like the Rhondda. And he also dismissed the idea that unpaid citizen journalists will fill the void left by redundant professionals.
 “Accurate, sceptical, watchdog reporting costs in both money and time, and media workers need to be supported by strong, independent, journalistic institutions which can stand up to political and corporate flak” said Dr Williams.
Martin Shipton, chief reporter, Western Mail, and chair, NUJ’s Cardiff & South East Wales branch, gave a detailed account of the crisis at Media Wales and the South Wales Argus, blaming corporate greed, bad management strategy, and failure to invest profits back into Wales. (See the branch’s submission to the Assembly’s Task & Finish group)*.
Stewart Kirkpatrick, editor of the Caledonian Mercury, Scotland’s first online national newspaper, revealed in a video link presentation that they were in profit, and he was positive about the future. Comparing Wales’ and Scotland’s strengthened political powers, he said the need for quality, independent analytical journalism was more important than ever to both nations.
Fellow panellists and speakers agreed with him, including AMs Bethan Jenkins, Plaid Cymru, and Ken Skates, Labour, both members of the National Assembly’s task and finish group on the future outlook for the media in Wales.
Jenny Sims and Lila Haines (NUJ National Executive Council members for Wales)
* http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/documents/s3764/Media4-03-11p1.pdf

CARDIFF MEMBERS WIN WALES SEAT ON UNION EXECUTIVE

It couldn't have been closer. Cardiff members Jenny Sims and Lila Haines won the Wales seat on the NUJ's national executive by one vote.

Jenny and Lila said: "We'd like to thank everyone who voted for us to represent Wales on the union's NEC."

Lila was also elected to the Wales Executive Council's Public Relations and Information seat, and branch chair Martin Shipton was elected to the WEC Provincial Newspapers seat, both unopposed.

The National Assembly has confirmed that it will hold an inquiry into the future outlook for the media in Wales. This follows concerns raised by the NUJ following the recent redundancies at Media Wales.

The NUJ has been invited to give evidence to the inquiry, which will be held in the autumn. Evidence must be submitted by 11 November 2011. Details of the inquiry are available at http://www.senedd.assemblywales.org/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=1787

In addition, Cardiff and South East Wales NUJ, in association with Glamorgan University, will hold a conference on the future of the print media in Wales, on Saturday 19 November at the Atrium building, Cardiff. Admission is free but those wishing to attend should email Dr Huw Jones hjones6@glam.ac.uk, or register on the conference site: https://www.eventbrite.com/orderconfirmation/2328183660/55742828/?ebtv=C#

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Photo: Brian Morgan