Channel 4's Jon Snow is backing freelance and FoI specialist Mark Watts in the election for editor of the NUJ magazine, the Journalist, but apparently left the union last year and can't vote.
Snow, according to the FOIA website, said today: “I support the Watts campaign. It is time members voted for a truly independent journalists’ union.”
But intriguingly the story on the site also says: "Meanwhile, Snow also revealed in a telephone conversation with our reporter that he quit the NUJ last year because of what he regards as the politicisation of the union. He said: 'I was peeved over the boycott of Israel despite my strong Palestinian sympathies. I did not like being told what to think by my union.' "
That's quite a coup. I think there is growing recognition that the journalist needs an independent editor like Mark Watts.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Snow had quit the NUJ. I agree with his reason for doing so.
ReplyDeleteRe the comment from Greg Watts. While I would not, of course, want to banish anyone who has the fortune to share my surname from commenting, I thought that I should point out that he is, as they say, no relation.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I really am THE candidate.
Yes, I can confirm Mark's comment. We are not related.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to see whether you think Mark Watts would make a good editor for Journalist in the media age, watch him live tonight, Saturday, on BBC News at 2315 (1115pm)I believe any editor who wants to move the Journalist on will have to have a good media presence - something we all know in our profession.
ReplyDelete