The implications of false ID

The British Government's plan to introduce the ID card system has raised more than a few eyebrows.

To date, my belief was that its sole purpose was to fight terrorism. It turns out that there is more to the ID card system; your every move will be monitored, your information can easily be accessed by web hackers and to make matters worse, someone else can take on your identity. It sounds like Hollywood plot.

It could cost as much as £350 to get an ID card and if you refuse to participate, you could be fined up to £1000. Journalists are afraid that they will not be able to do their work without been monitored and that the freedom of speech that has been collectively fought for and protected for years will be out the window.

While this issue was being debated, Bristol member Tony Gosling (sporting a 'stop-the-war' t-shirt) was distributing mock-ups of Tony Blair's ID card. The text stood out: his reference number 91177, presumably standing for the World Trade Centre attacks and the London bombings.

Iraq: More dead journalists than UK soldiers

ADM debate often covers political issues, and the invasion of Iraq took centre stage this afternoon. According to the Yorkshire delegate who spoke on this issue: "It is not only killing our people; it's corroding our ability to report the circumstances in which our people are dying".

It was shocking to learn about the number of civilians who have lost their lives since the invasion of Iraq three years ago. But equally shocking was the claim that more journalists have been killed in Iraq than British soldiers.

It’s time to question what’s at stake. There has been so much debate and public protest about the war; I don't know what to believe any more. Does anyone still remember the purpose of the war in the first place?

Learning at ADM

The decision to come to this year's ADM meeting was so I could see things for myself on a first-hand basis. In previous years, having read emails sent out by the NUJ and wondering what ADM was all about, I really wasn't sure on what to expect or what the experience would be all about.

It has been an interesting experience, although travelling down was hectic because I had so much luggage. From now on, I've decided, I'm going to travel light and avoid taking up all the storage space on the train.

At the student ADM there were lessons to be learnt. The biggest lesson was that, as a student Journalist, whatever work you do, learn to get confirmation about the payment you are getting. You might not necessarily sign a contract, because sometimes that might be a laborious process and most likely put an editor off. An email confirmation will do the trick and you can always print out a paper version.

Journalism skills are transferable and whatever you start with is not necessarily where you end up. It seems sensible to be versatile and flexible because the industry is changing rapidly.

Attending the main conference has had more of a revelatory effect on me. Firstly, it felt like I was at the House of Parliament but without the heckling (mostly).

There are so many activities going on at the same time that it's amazing anyone is able to focus on the speaker. But somehow they do manage to vote on motions raised by delegates.

The process of getting a motion passed is not dissimilar to passing a bill in Parliament. It is read, someone seconds it, amendments are sometimes added and then conference votes by raising hands. If delegates vote for the motion it is 'carried, and if they vote against it is 'failed'.

Seeing the number of Journalists at this conference has re-enforced for me how competitive the industry is. We really are swimming with sharks. We need a Journalism survival plan!

I am at the apprentice stage, learning what is required to become a Journalist worth her salt. I already know that being a Journalist is hard work; you must define your worth for yourself and others so you can be reckoned with. I don't know it all yet, but what I have learnt in the last three days will help me take the next steps in my career.

This time last week, I didn't know what a blog was

The BBC employs close to 4000 people to produce news online. The emergence of new media is having a major effect on journalism, and blogging is the latest new kid on the block.

And even last week I was asking what a blog was; it was the first time I'd heard about blogging.

For many people, blogs are an online diary or a personal log of thoughts, published on the web. Blogging is fast becoming a powerful method of reaching millions of people without the major challenges of printing and distributing a printed publication. The blog format has also been adopted by major newspapers like The Guardian - who sent one of its own reporters to ADM to cover the conference on its Organ Grinder media blog.

The Guardian is not alone. Catching up with the trend, Channel 4 has also launched a new website called 121 aimed at facilitating dialogue between people in the UK and in other countries. Channel 4 views it as: "A public pen pal session written in blog format".

Covering events at this year's ADM has been a learning process to get myself acquainted with blogging and I have to admit, it is great fun and easy to use. Once you get started, you want to keep going and blog your way up. I want to encourage students out there to take the time to familiarise themselves with blogs and online publishing.

Last week, I barely knew what a blog was, but as of today, I have posted seven news items on the web using the blogging system. It's easy to learn and don’t be afraid of the technology if you're not inclined that way. There are no cables involved - you just have to learn to navigate your way through. It may sound laborious but it’s only three or four steps. You can create your own web page and do what you like with it.

Get with the programme, or you'll be left behind...

Pregnant - not brain dead

The most interesting motion for me so far has been 161; discrimination against pregnant women.

Female journalists are not the only ones affected by this issue. It is fast becoming an epidemic in the business sector. According to the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) unless something is done to reverse the trend: "One million women will suffer from pregnancy discrimination over the next five years".

There have been extensive reports in the past about the challenges of a working mother and this new development makes matters worse for the working women who also want a family. Is it now a crime to be a working woman who also wants a child? An EOC investigation found that: "More than seven out of ten pregnant women are treated unfairly at work and they are suffering in silence". It is estimated that women who are sacked because they are pregnant are loosing out on their share of £12 million in statutory pay every year, and it cost employers £126 million each year to fill their positions.

It has been an interesting debate at ADM and one motion that received huge support because of the negative experiences of female NUJ members who worked while pregnant. The argument, of course, is that pregnancy does not hinder a woman from doing her job.

She is pregnant - not brain dead.

Pregnant women may need more support while they are still at work, but they mustn't be punished. There are women who work all the way through their pregnancy; most notably the well-known athlete Marion Jones trained with her team mates right up to the end of her pregnancy.

The possibility that, as a woman, you may lose your job if you become pregnant is quite scary to comprehend. As a woman and a student journalist, I am concerned because I don't want to lose my job in the future if I decided to have a baby and raise a family.

There is an issue to be tackled and the only way forward is to become a collective voice. It's not only the women that are affected; her family will also be affected by her loss of income. It's time to fight the epidemic that has crept into our workplaces.

More Shining shenanigans

Spooky.

Slightly less spooky when you learnt that the photo was taken outside the union's conference creche.

Thanks Alice.

Putting union minutes online

Official records of the union's meetings will now be made available online.

Members narrowly voted in favour of making minutes accessible to only to members, who have password-protected access to most of the NUJ's website.

One speaker against the motion objected because he said contact details are widely available for committee members. Journalists have to be able to pick up the phone and ask questions, he said, which they have done "since time immemorial".