The NUJ has launched an online petition for photographers who are opposed to plans by Guardian News & Media to stop paying repeat reproduction fees for commissioned pictures.
With the help of the British Photographic Council, an online petition has been created.
The petition, in the form of a letter, states: "The Guardian and Observer have a proud record of championing the cause of downtrodden workers in other countries. We call upon GNM and the Scott Trust to behave in a manner consistent with their editorial policy, and respect the rights of their suppliers to be treated in a fair and equitable manner and in accordance with the spirit of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. As a first step, we urge you to enter into meaningful negotiations with the National Union of Journalists and other organisations representing photographers."
A demo is being organised for 9.30am on Tuesday 1 September at the GNM building, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU.
Tuesday, 11 August 2009
'Papers need committed readers not gadflies'
Tim Luckhurst, head of the Centre for Journalism at the University of Kent, has come down in favour of Rupert Murdoch in the debate over newspapers charging for news on their websites.
Writing on his blog, Luckhurt says: "Quality journalism is expensive. If Rupert can pioneer a system of micro-payments that will finance foreign correspondents, subject specialists and investigations, then his decision may mark the beginning of the end of the delusion that online news should be free. After all, we all know that, in reality, it is being subsidised by declining traditional newspapers and broadcasters."
Luckhurst, a former BBC journalist and editor of the Scotsman, adds: "We have been told for years that millions of unique users would create revenue. They do not create anything approaching enough and it does not serve the interests of good journalism to pretend that they do. Losses at newspapers such as the Guardian, one of the biggest and most inventive internet pioneers, demonstrate that painful truth. It is better to attract 10,000 readers who pay than 5 million who do not. Even advertisers will agree about that. They want committed readers with identifiable interests, not millions of promiscuous gadflies.
"The idea that the internet can transform journalism by introducing the perspectives of millions of untrained, unedited amateur reporters is only partially true. Of course it is tremendous to receive tweets from Iran or blogs from Tibet. I'm all in favour of that. But without editing and collation by professional journalists this is a clear case of going back to a very poor future. We had this sort of citizen journalism in the unstamped, radical press of the early nineteenth century. It was rooted in ideology not fact and prone to spread rumour. It was also easily ignored. To give the majority real power journalism needed to become fact based, accurate and sufficiently profitable to take on powerful vested interests."
Writing on his blog, Luckhurt says: "Quality journalism is expensive. If Rupert can pioneer a system of micro-payments that will finance foreign correspondents, subject specialists and investigations, then his decision may mark the beginning of the end of the delusion that online news should be free. After all, we all know that, in reality, it is being subsidised by declining traditional newspapers and broadcasters."
Luckhurst, a former BBC journalist and editor of the Scotsman, adds: "We have been told for years that millions of unique users would create revenue. They do not create anything approaching enough and it does not serve the interests of good journalism to pretend that they do. Losses at newspapers such as the Guardian, one of the biggest and most inventive internet pioneers, demonstrate that painful truth. It is better to attract 10,000 readers who pay than 5 million who do not. Even advertisers will agree about that. They want committed readers with identifiable interests, not millions of promiscuous gadflies.
"The idea that the internet can transform journalism by introducing the perspectives of millions of untrained, unedited amateur reporters is only partially true. Of course it is tremendous to receive tweets from Iran or blogs from Tibet. I'm all in favour of that. But without editing and collation by professional journalists this is a clear case of going back to a very poor future. We had this sort of citizen journalism in the unstamped, radical press of the early nineteenth century. It was rooted in ideology not fact and prone to spread rumour. It was also easily ignored. To give the majority real power journalism needed to become fact based, accurate and sufficiently profitable to take on powerful vested interests."
Guardian: 'Right to name Connelly and Barker'
The Guardian says in its main editorial today that although "little good ever comes out of a vengeful mob" it was right for Mr. Justice Coleridge to lift the anonymity order stopping the media naming Baby Peter Connelly's mother and stepfather.
It argues: "There will be risks throughout her [Tracey Connelly's] remaining time in jail, and on release she may need to be granted the right to conceal her old identity. Then there is the question of innocent relations, some of them children, who could end up paying an unjust price for guilt by association.
"All of this no doubt caused Mr Justice Coleridge to hesitate before he ruled that the identities could be published. Yet in the end he said the names must come out – and was right to do so.
"While powerful, the arguments for keeping Connelly and Barker behind a veil of anonymity would apply to most serious crimes. Where is the notorious perpetrator whose conviction did not attract dangerous enemies or bring shame upon the family? The right to free expression and public confidence in criminal justice – confidence inspired by openness – are two important general principles that can be over-ridden only in truly exceptional cases, and it is not obvious that this is one."
It argues: "There will be risks throughout her [Tracey Connelly's] remaining time in jail, and on release she may need to be granted the right to conceal her old identity. Then there is the question of innocent relations, some of them children, who could end up paying an unjust price for guilt by association.
"All of this no doubt caused Mr Justice Coleridge to hesitate before he ruled that the identities could be published. Yet in the end he said the names must come out – and was right to do so.
"While powerful, the arguments for keeping Connelly and Barker behind a veil of anonymity would apply to most serious crimes. Where is the notorious perpetrator whose conviction did not attract dangerous enemies or bring shame upon the family? The right to free expression and public confidence in criminal justice – confidence inspired by openness – are two important general principles that can be over-ridden only in truly exceptional cases, and it is not obvious that this is one."
Media can name Baby P mum today but she could get new identity on release from jail
Although the mother of Baby Peter was named by the media last night as Tracey Connelly after a High Court order expired, she may be given a new identity on her release from prison.
The Guardian reports today: "Lawyers for Connelly may before her release apply for a "Mary Bell order", which will give her a new identity and anonymity if they can prove that her life is at risk."
The Sun said today: "At last, today the world can see the identities of Baby Peter Connelly's evil killers - murderers in all but name. True justice was never possible for this poor boy as long as these heartless sadists remained anonymous."
According to the Guardian, "The decision by Mr Justice Coleridge to withdraw the protection of anonymity from Tracey Connelly and Baby Peter's stepfather, Steven Barker, followed pressure from several major media organisations, including the BBC, the Mirror Group, and the Times, who argued that this was important to ensure that those who caused the toddler's death were being properly held to account.
"Haringey council, which has been heavily criticised for not taking Peter into care despite evidence of repeated non accidental injuries, had made two attempts to keep Connelly's name secret. But Coleridge ruled that Connelly, 28, and Barker, 32, could be named today in the interests of article 10 of the Human Rights Act, the right to freedom of expression, and in order that the public did not lose faith in the criminal justice system.
"He said the case was so notorious that "for the public to be prohibited from learning the identity of the defendants may give rise to considerable public disquiet".
Baby Peter died in August 2007 after suffering months of torture and abuse.
Connelly and Barker's identity was widely available on the internet. As The Times noted today: "Anyone with an internet connection could have circumvented the order issued by those who oversaw the trial. Simply typing “Baby P Mother” into Google yesterday disclosed Connelly’s name and picture in a matter of seconds."
The Guardian reports today: "Lawyers for Connelly may before her release apply for a "Mary Bell order", which will give her a new identity and anonymity if they can prove that her life is at risk."
The Sun said today: "At last, today the world can see the identities of Baby Peter Connelly's evil killers - murderers in all but name. True justice was never possible for this poor boy as long as these heartless sadists remained anonymous."
According to the Guardian, "The decision by Mr Justice Coleridge to withdraw the protection of anonymity from Tracey Connelly and Baby Peter's stepfather, Steven Barker, followed pressure from several major media organisations, including the BBC, the Mirror Group, and the Times, who argued that this was important to ensure that those who caused the toddler's death were being properly held to account.
"Haringey council, which has been heavily criticised for not taking Peter into care despite evidence of repeated non accidental injuries, had made two attempts to keep Connelly's name secret. But Coleridge ruled that Connelly, 28, and Barker, 32, could be named today in the interests of article 10 of the Human Rights Act, the right to freedom of expression, and in order that the public did not lose faith in the criminal justice system.
"He said the case was so notorious that "for the public to be prohibited from learning the identity of the defendants may give rise to considerable public disquiet".
Baby Peter died in August 2007 after suffering months of torture and abuse.
Connelly and Barker's identity was widely available on the internet. As The Times noted today: "Anyone with an internet connection could have circumvented the order issued by those who oversaw the trial. Simply typing “Baby P Mother” into Google yesterday disclosed Connelly’s name and picture in a matter of seconds."
Guardian and Observer axe bulk copies
Guardian News & Media said today that it is stopping distributing the "bulk" copies of the Guardian and the Observer which go to selected hotels and airlines at reduced rates and are given away free to readers.
It will have a big impact on the two papers full ABC audited circulation figures. The Guardian will strip out 12,000 bulks, which makes up 3.9% of its monthly ABC headline sale, while the Observer will strip out 20,000 copies, 5.1% of its headline sale.
GNM said its aim was to "increase openness in the marketplace" and that the move would benefit advertisers, readers and retailers, as well as reducing carbon emissions. The company has just announced heavy losses on both papers and the future of the Observer is under review.
ABC is currently investigating bulk distribution figures. The next national newspaper circulation figures are due out on Friday.
It will have a big impact on the two papers full ABC audited circulation figures. The Guardian will strip out 12,000 bulks, which makes up 3.9% of its monthly ABC headline sale, while the Observer will strip out 20,000 copies, 5.1% of its headline sale.
GNM said its aim was to "increase openness in the marketplace" and that the move would benefit advertisers, readers and retailers, as well as reducing carbon emissions. The company has just announced heavy losses on both papers and the future of the Observer is under review.
ABC is currently investigating bulk distribution figures. The next national newspaper circulation figures are due out on Friday.
Monday, 10 August 2009
Baby P mum and stepdad are named
The mother and stepfather of Baby P were named tonight as Tracey Connelly and Steven Barker, of Penshurst Road, Haringey. The BBC and rest of the media were able to name the couple after a High Court order imposed two years ago, granting them anonymity, expired.
The third defendant in the case has also now been named as Jason Owen, 37, Barker's brother. Baby Peter's surname, Connelly, has also been released. He was tortured to death in Haringey, North London, in August 2007. In May, Tracey Connelly, 28, and Barker, 33, were jailed for five and 12 years for causing or allowing the death of Peter. The 17-month old baby had more than 50 injuries when he died.
It has also been revealed that the brothers were charged with assaulting their own grandmother, Hilda Barker, in 1995, in an attempt to get her to change her will.
BBC 2's Newsnight named the mum and stepdad of Baby P tonight as did the BBC website.
The Sun had reported that the order would expire at 11.59 pm tonight but Newsnight named the couple shortly after 11pm.
The couple's names and pictures of Tracey Connelly were available on the internet despite the court order. There will be massive coverage of the case in the papers tomorrow.
Where do all the media graduates go?
Student journalist Josh Halliday has provided a useful service by going through the latest Unistats and has looked at the data for all degrees termed 'Media Studies' and 'Journalism' .
The data shows what percentage of students went from Media Studies and Journalism courses into what general industry. Media-related jobs are termed 'Media Associate Professionals'.
The percentages getting media-related jobs at the end of their Media Studies and Journalism courses range from a high of 85 per cent to just 15 per cent.
The data shows what percentage of students went from Media Studies and Journalism courses into what general industry. Media-related jobs are termed 'Media Associate Professionals'.
The percentages getting media-related jobs at the end of their Media Studies and Journalism courses range from a high of 85 per cent to just 15 per cent.
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