Photographers plan Guardian protest

Photographers will be protesting outside the Guardian and Observer offices in London on Tuesday (1 September) and be handing in a petition signed by 850 photo-journalists.
The protest is in response to Guardian News & Media’s announcement that they will no longer pay for re-use of pictures commissioned from that date.
In a letter to contributors dated 28 July, managing editor Chris Elliott stated that the company’s standard terms for commissioned photography shall include “a non-exclusive, perpetual licence to re-use commissioned photography in its products and services without further payment.”
John Toner, NUJ freelance organiser, said: “At a time when press photographers are suffering severe hardship as a result of the economic downturn, it comes as a further blow to be informed that GNM demands unlimited re-use of photographs free of charge. Re-use is not free use.”
The announcement follows on from GNM’s talks with their contract photographers, who are already resisting moves to end payment for re-use.
The Guardian NUJ Chapel has agreed to represent the contractees in a collective grievance - the agreed procedure for raising concerns about employment practices. The demonstration will take place at 9.30am on Tuesday 1 September at Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1.