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Pressure grows over Welsh language broadcaster cuts
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onference backed plans for the NUJ to join broadcast union BECTU, the Writers Guild, Equity, the Musicians Union, Welsh language campaigners Cymdeithas yr iaith Gymraeg and other organisations to launch an umbrella group to fight the cuts to the Welsh language channel S4C. The Government plans to cut funding to the Welsh language channel S4C by 17 per cent. The move comes as Welsh is now an official language of the country, and after there has been steady growth in bilingual and Welshmedium schools. ken Smith, chair of the Welsh council, told delegates that the cuts, which take funding down to £76 million, would mean ‘going back to the sixties and seventies’ and that the
attack on public sector broadcasting would have implications across the media in Wales. He said: “When there is greater devolution there will be less coverage.” Martin Hughes said that the broadcaster’s ‘role in the revival of the language cannot be underestimated’ and that its proper funding was important for the future of the language. The new coalition of groups fighting the cuts will champion the development of a new multi-media S4C. The group is calling for an independent funding formula for the Welsh language channel, based on inflation and enshrined in statute. Welsh language campaigners have also welcomed support from some politicians including lord Geoffrey Howe – deputy prime minister, chancellor and foreign secretary under Margaret Thatcher – who spoke against the Government’s plans for S4C. in the Spring lord Howe told parliament that the plans would be ‘politically unwise and disastrous for the institution’. S4C has attempted to raise funds with drastic measures such as selling off furniture.
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The Government plans to cut funding to the Welsh language channel S4C by 17 per cent
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hoNoUrINg sPeCIaL UNION ChaMPIONS
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elegates saluted two very special women who were declared NUJ Members of Honour. Veteran left campaigner Anita Halpin (pictured above) received a prolonged standing ovation after general secretary Jeremy Dear declared: “We all owe Anita a huge debt of gratitude for her successful work as our honorary general treasurer in turning around the union’s finances. But, of course, we owe Anita so much more. In over thirty years as an NUJ member Anita has always been there, whenever there was a banner to carry or some thankless task to perform. She’s been there, too, when difficult decisions needed to be taken, even unpopular decisions sometimes, so long as they were in the interests of the members and the union she loves.” Jeremy paid tribute to Anita Halpin’s
work within the wider trade union movement, noting that she was the first member of the NUJ ever to be elected to the general council of the TUC. Conference also applauded Anita’s husband Kevin, praised by Jeremy as “another formidable figure and a legendary champion of trade unionism and the left.” Northern and midlands organiser Chris Morley presented the Member of Honour citation for Mary Bielby, who had been secretary of Derby and Burton branch for 25 years. He said Mary, who has had a lack of sight since 1968, was a person of indomitable spirit. “Mary is one of the unsung heroes of the NUJ, as steady as a rock and literally enabling the union to exist in her quietly understated way.” In addition to her tireless work for the NUJ Mary is actively engaged with five local community organisations.
conference in brief... settiNG staNdards for BloGGiNG With the rapid development of the ‘blogosphere’, delegates saw merit in a network of blogs whose creators adhered to the NUJ’s Code of Conduct. Conference felt blogs were gaining acceptance as ‘a vibrant and authorative part of the new media landscape’. photoGraphers to Get Nec seat Photographers are to elect their own respresententative to the union’s executive council after conference agreed there was a lack of photographer representation. However, delegates rejected a call for a directly-elected photographers’ council representing all members who identified themselves as photographers, photojournalists or video journalists. offshore damaGe to Quality aNd JoBs Concerns among journalists in the book and magazine industry at the impact of ‘offshoring’ specialist work were shared by conference. Delegates agreed the NEC should develop guidance for union chapels on how best to resist moving work and jobs overseas and to defend quality journalism. studeNts are ‘the uNioN’s future’ Student journalists and their importance in securing the future of the union and the media industry was stressed by delegates who agreed that student members should automatically qualify for temporary NUJ membership when they ceased to study and they should enjoy a 50 per cent discount on their temporary membership fee. Speakers pointed out that many students beginning a career in journalism had to choose unpaid work in order to build their professional reputations. coNfereNce clocKs up the votes During the three-day delegate meeting, 155 delegates voted on 122 motions and 133 amendments.
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