Well done!

Slightly belated but well-intentioned 'well done' from me to all of you for your efforts last weekend blogging the NUJ's 2006 ADM.

I know many of you hadn't written for a blog before or covered any event like this, so I'm sure it was quite an eye-opener...

You can keep posting to this blog as often as you want, and hopefully a new group of student members can do the same thing next year. See you at ADM 2007!

Caption competition...

The only prize is your own amusement.

(That's Bob Smith and outgoing union president Tim Lezard, by the way...)

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".

New beginnings

It just occurred to me that green is the most prominent colour the NUJ’s logo, and to me that signifies new beginnings. That's the only colour I remember seeing ever since I joined the union in 2002 while studying for a GNVQ in radio and print journalism at CSV Media, not so far from NUJ HQ in Grays Inn Road.

So new beginnings: is every ADM a new era for the NUJ?

Bruce Almighty

Last night, the student delegates at this year's ADM were treated to a three-course dinner at the hotel's French restaurant, Crompton’s. It was a blast.

Bruce is a likely candidate for the life and soul of the party and couldn't resist a pose. The NUJ training staff who have made this conference enjoyable for us all, were also there. It’s not only students who like to have fun.




Bruce, man of the hour






Chris Wheal (right) and members of the training staff team





Student delegates






Cara and other student delegates






Joan looking bright in green

Wheal: We demand the truth

Just how old is Chris Wheal? Has he been to sooooooo many ADMs that he's actually old enough for Werthers Originals?

We demand the truth!

Photo call!

All our blogging students required at 9.15 AM tomorrow, Saturday, for an official group NUJ photo.

Please bring hangovers.

Looking forward to life as a penniless writer?

Frances O'Grady just told conference that half of all journalists in the UK earn less than the average wage. Best put the Aston order on hold, eh chaps? Oh - unless you're in senior management of course. They typically earn 45 times more than their employees...

Standing up for my fellow students

The funniest thing happened.

Dad sometimes tells me I am not afraid to express my opinions, and so do some of my friends. Yesterday it became a useful tool in the freelance sector conference. A freelancer made a point about the developing practice of newspapers and magazines to take on students to write film reviews, but 'pay' them with a free meal or film tickets. In the opinion of this freelancer, that practice takes work away from freelance journalists.

I had to stand up and say something. I just had to.

What did I say? Well I stood up and introduced myself and that I was from the London freelance branch, then I decided to address his comment. I told my listening audience that they would have to understand that’s the only way we as students can gain any work experience. I suggested it would then be useful if the NUJ could put a structure in place that would mean no-one loses out and every one gains.

It is a fact that one is required to do a two-week work placement by their college or university as part of their course. I don’t believe in exploitation, but two weeks is sometimes not enough to learn the ropes. Yes, students should get paid for internships, which is a method some of the major newspapers have adopted. The point is that we are not here to take away jobs; we want to learn and pass on the baton as it is being handed down to us. Give us a fair chance and let’s work together. Remember, we are the future of the NUJ and Journalism domestically and internationally.

Dessert montage

Last night's food = good. Although the mint/blackberry combination was clearly wrong.

Journalism matters

I heard a thundering round of applause and decided to make my way to the conference room to find out what the commotion was all about. I missed the reason why there was such a roaring noise. So out of curiosity I asked one of the other student delegates.

The rapturous applause was for the speech delivered by Jeremy Dear, general secretary of the NUJ, and Tim Lezard, outgoing president. Did anyone get that recorded?

We're Good People

Liverpool. Someone made a gag earlier about having to employ some very burly security guards overnight to babysit the computers. But really - we're all Good People.

Just now, one of our students rushed in saying she'd lost an envelope containing her expenses money in cash.

Not only was it handed in, but when she couldn't find the finance guy to collect it someone gave her the cash from their own pocket. Isn't that nice?



Jenny Lennox: She's Good People.

We have, like, totally arrived

"Alright our lot!"

I haven't worked out how to write with a Scouse accent yet, but I have seen the Liver Building. I've also checked in (The Shining, anyone?!), but was rather jealous to discover that one comrade had 'rescued' a three-quarters full bottle of Moet from the housekeeping trolley. He told me it looked like a relic from a failed (or should that be successful?) romantic endeavour of the previous evening - not, I should add, anything to do with the union!

He assures me his primary concern was to ensure that the bottle was recycled, although no doubt the contents won't be wasted either...

Anyway, encouraging comments about the blog already and interviews underway. Plus I just learnt that the fledgling new media council has exceeded its first-year membership target and now has more than 270 members. Many, many more to recruit though.

And there's a new NUJ website in the offing. According to someone that knows about these things, it'll be live: "As soon as we get our act together".

Anyone seen any tri-cycling children?

The NUJ: A strange cult?

The best quote I’ve heard so far came from George Macintyre from the Newcastle branch, who likened the Adelphi to "a fine lady wo has past her prime and gone a bit seedy". And Jemima Kiss said it brought The Shining to mind.

As a student however, my idea of luxury is to upgrade from a ten-bed dorm to a three. The joys of free food spread quicker than juicy tabloid scandal around the student newbies. And that was just the people who still had appetites after much drinking - sorry, I mean liaising - in the bar the night before. I could get used to journalism like this…

Referring to regional points of contact, there's something about the term "chapel" that leaves me uneasy, especially when "fathers" and "mothers" of chapels are introduced into the picture. Something about the choice of words brings images of a strange religious NUJ cult to mind. Maybe student delegates should come up with jargon like "crew" and "hood" to tempt new members in with the idea of street kudos rather than communal chanting.

I've just had an idea which I should have contributed to the student conference wish-list on Thursday - if only I had thought of it sooner. I recommend that the ADM allocates up to four final agenda slots for student conference motions. The labels could be SM (Student Motion): 1 SM 2 SM 3 for example. These motions would be exempt from the November deadline and would be discussed agreed on here at the ADM. I think this would facilitate more interraction and understanding between students and pros. Thoughts, anyone?

Does anyone out there feel as rough as me this morning?

Does anyone out there feel as rough as me this morning?

O'Neills pub was the venue for the night. I had absolutely no influence on the decision to go there. Well, maybe a little!

The Irish band got everyone in good spirits - especially Bruce and Mark, who didn't rest until their request for Molly Malone was granted. The night ended in McDonalds with greasy cheese burgers and chips to satisfy the 'munchies' before bed time. Roll on tonight!





Us, during the more civilised pre-pub part of the evening.

Where are our ethnic members?

I noticed there were not a whole lot of members from the ethnic minority at this year's ADM. Maybe it was just me - not, admittedly, a very scientific head count to rely on people I happen to have seen. But we can’t talk about being under-represented in mainstream journalism when we don’t make our presence known at major events in the calendar of the NUJ. And ADM is the biggest union event for us all to come together and make our collective voice heard.

So next year, prepare yourself! Pack your bags and make your presence known. That’s the only way you will have a voice and that message is for all of us. The NUJ is not for a few chosen ones - it is for everybody and that includes you, students.

And anyway, it's actually great fun mixing business and pleasure...

Anastasia?

As some crumpled (and frequently, it has to be said, often apparently hungover) delegates filed in for the first day of conference they were treated to Anastasia on the PA. There were mutterings about Jeremy Dear's taste in music; can anyone confirm that?

There was also a decree that last night's unflattering bar photos of senior union officials should not be posted on the blog. Harumph. So I'll just have to save those for blackmail at a later stage. ("Blackmail is such an ugly word!")

Meanwhile, our students are writing up all sorts of things while trying not to hog all the training room computers...

Freelance fees guide gets a makeover

After 14 years, the NUJ's freelance fees guide has had its first makeover. It's taken a step in a different direction by going online. The idea for this project started two years ago on the stairs of the banqueting hall of the Adelphi Hotel, and went live on the web last night. It is well on the way to helping freelancers negotiate better pay rates for their work.

To find out more, log on to: http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide

Sub-species of freelance journalist

Apparently there are two types of freelance journalist out there: casual and contributors. That's the first time I have heard about that disctinction, so can anyone enlighten me a bit more?!

It would be useful to know more if we decide to go into freelancing of course. But I also know you really need to have worked as a paid staff, gained the right skills and experience, networked your way around different magazines and newspapers, have great contacts for your commissions and earned yourself a reputation as a good journalist. No small feat...

Our formal press release, FYI!

>>> The formal bit

A crack team of student journalists will be covering the 2006 National Union of Journalists conference live from Liverpool, showcasing the work of student members on a dedicated new website.

The union's new media council and the professional training committee have teamed up for the project, helping local students cover the event with text, video and photos.

Members are encouraged to join in and support the project by visiting the site, reading and commenting on stories and spreading news about the site. The organisers hope that the project will help promote the union of students and new media journalists.

"We have a huge challenge in recruiting the thousands of writers, designers and content producers that work in the digital media industry without the support of a union," said Jemima Kiss, new media council chair.

"We have a responsibility to promote what we do and show that we are engaging with this new audience, many of whom work and read news entirely on the internet. Working with our enthusiastic and blog-savvy student team to cover our main annual event live and online is the least we can do to publicise our work to the online community."

Check out the ADM 2006 student blog at http://www.nujstudents.org.uk

>>> The informal bit

Please support the project and encourage out students by reading the site and commenting on their coverage. We can't do it alone! Thanks!

Right - let's get cracking

I've just been tweaking the site in readiness for our perky and incredibly enthusiastic student team. We're in the process confirming who exactly they are...

In the meantime, I've drafted some editorial guidelines, which are also a kind of to-do list. It would be great if this was on a wiki, but it's not. So if you have any suggestions please add your comments instead. (Although obviously we don't have to take any notice. Only joking!)

* * * * * * * * * *

Dear Team,

In advance

- Before you arrive, familiarise yourself with the union's recent news through the NUJ website. You also need to look at the conference agenda (not the most entertaining read in the world, but it's essential) so you can identify what are likely to be the biggest issues. And it would also be very helpful to do some extra research of your own, which might be a posting about good local bars, some background to one of the conference's biggest discussion points or a few of this season's fash tips for the Saturday night event! (Joke. Probably...)

You also need to familiarise yourself with the blogger system (if you aren't already) so you know how to log in, post images and so on - as well as forwarding your mini-profile and a picture to Jemima for the 'about us' column. And then we'll get you to write an introductory post! Hurrah!

Please arrive on Thursday with three rough ideas for postings.

Check copy

- Check your copy before posting. And always ask a co-writer to double check it for content, tone and typos before it goes live.

Speed = essence

- Be quick! If you're writing about a motion that has just been voted on, don't wait until tomorrow to make it live.

Sharing is good

- There is no point writing for no-one, at least not for this project. So each of us needs to undertake a personal promotion campaign - email the site's address to everyone you know. I kid you not! Proper grown-up bloggers go to other relevant blogs, add their comments and then link back to their own sites - and that's a great way to build an audience. I'm not sure we've got time to do that really, but if you can give it a try, great!

Journalism is a con-ver-sa-tion, not a lecture, etc.

- Now you're signed up, log in and introduce yourself! Think of the blog as a conversation, as if you're talking one-to-one with a journalist friend that is kind of interested in joining the union but doesn't know anything about ADM. If you find something interesting or amusing, they probably will too. Did you hear a great joke in the lobby? See a celebrity journalist lurking in the bar? Were you really impressed by one of the speakers? Don't keep it to yourself - blog it!

Style

What we want to achieve is a mix of accurate, factual news reporting and an informal, personal tone that includes your own experiences. (Your own insights and observations at ADM - especially as first timers - are particularly valuable.) I imagine a few different types of postings - some might be straight news stories covering majorish events, some very short entries linking to conference coverage elsewhere (if it's picked up by a national, for example) and other, shorter, light pieces of observation. No ranty, wildly controversial opinion pieces please unless it is really strictly relevant.

And of course, if you are even slightly worried that something might be contentious or legally problematic - DON'T PUBLISH IT! Ask either Jemima or Chris first. It's all common sense...

Our mission

- Remember - if you feel you're losing the plot and aren't quite sure about what you're writing, refer back to our mission statement on the home page. The objective is to provide interesting, informative coverage about the conference. So is that shot of the general secretary falling off his bar stool really essential? (Jesting, Jeremy...)

* * * * * * * * * *

Our mission statement

The aim of this blog project is:
>>> To produce lively, interesting and informative coverage of the union's annual conference to inspire recruitment among students and the new media sector.
>>> To demonstrate how great the web is by publishing live text, audio and video content throughout the conference.
>>> To encourage debate by inviting readers to comment on our coverage, and openness by publishing our editorial guidelines.

This is not an official NUJ website, nor the NUJ training website. It is a blog run by student members of the NUJ, reporting from the NUJ's Annual Delegate Meeting, its yearly conference.

Students are briefed before the project and content will be checked regularly, but in the spirit of blogging content will not be moderated before publication. The NUJ cannot be held responsible for anything posted here.

Posts carry the writer's name and any queries should be addressed to the individual author. Any errors or inaccuracies will be corrected as quickly as possible.

If you feel something needs to be addressed urgently please call either Chris Wheal on 07831 268261 or Jemima Kiss on 07971 988630.

What's this all about then?

In brief, this is a project to help promote the union to the people on which it largely depends for its future - that is students, and those working in new media.

As an ADM virgin (ahem) last year, I was fascinated and quite inspired by all the goings-on at the conference. It's a great opportunity to meet other members; in my experience those that make it to ADM are the most work addicted and committed, but I could be wrong!

Seeing the processes of ADM reinforces how powerful the union is as a body - you can see and feel the opinions and hard work of all the members feeding into this bigger system of getting things done. Like lobbying Parliament to get them to take action to stop journalists being targeted in Colombia, or whatever - things that actually affect people's lives.

I came away feeling re-invigorated about the union and with new ideas and energy for our Brighton branch, so this year we planned to send four members - double the previous year. While I was there I did manage to blog on our branch site live from the conference floor, thanks to the centre's wireless network.

And then it occurred to me that a conference blog would be a great way of encouraging more members to come to ADM, covering the atmosphere and social side of ADM as well as the harder news stuff - and possibly even inspire more people to join the union. Maybe.

Blogging is the obvious way to cover the conference:
- it's virtually instant
- it's free
- it's easy to publish, with no particular technical knowledge required (just confidence!)
- it's easy to read and use
- it's a simple way of presenting a large number of postings for browsing
- it allows text, audio and video to be posted
- it can easily combine straight news reports with short entries and a more personal, chatty kind of coverage

... and so on.

Lastly, I'd also really like to encourage as many members as possible to read and join in with this project - especially members that might be a bit sceptical about blogging and the 'whole new media thing'.

I think this project will show how effective this publishing tool is, and how the union can use it to great effect. There's also a whole new generation out there doing just this kind of thing and the union needs to understand and embrace this new, new journalism (apologies Wolfe...). But that's a whole other debate!

The first of many...

Evening all!

Aloha to the new NUJ blog for students. We're launching to cover this year's union Annual Delegate Meeting (that's ADM, or annual conference to the layperson...) where a team of energetic and enthusiastic students will be blogging direct...

More soon.