The unions Job Summit unanimously agreed a motion calling for co-ordinated industrial action, a lobbying of the UK parliament and councils, a series of protests at industry events, and a series of regional rallies.

Editorial workers from newspapers, magazines, broadcasting, books, PR, and websites – staff and freelance – joined with journalism students at the event.

• Read the motion adopted by NUJ members at the summit
• Read a report of the opening session with Nick Davies
• Read the speech by NUJ President James Doherty
  
• Show me the money! - download our briefing on money in the media
• Download our factsheet on freelance cutbacks
  
• Download our leaflet on why you need to be part of the NUJ

There were activists from Britain, Ireland, and the NUJ’s branches in Brussels and Paris. They endorsed a strategy that had been agreed earlier in the day at a meeting of the union’s National Executive Council.

Workshop sessions had legal briefings, discussed community campaigns to Stand Up for Journalism like one in Oxford supported by the city’s Mayor, and heard from union members who had taken part in recent NUJ industrial action in places like York and Darlington.

A discussion on freelance cuts concluded that chapels – workplace union branches – should always seek to include casuals and contributors in activity and agreements. NUJ General Secretary Jeremy Dear said afterwards: “This was a great event with a brilliant mix of men and women of different ages and backgrounds.

“People learned from each other’s examples and ideas. We will continue to support our geographical branches and workplace chapels to organise events, protests, and industrial action that protects journalists and defends journalism. The companies who employ NUJ members have sucked huge profits out of their workers and customers.

“They still make profits and have the cash to give executives big pay-offs and pensions. If NUJ members stick together, fight hard, and create a national debate on the importance of journalism in a democracy we can change things.”

The jobs summit was part of a union-wide campaign against media cutbacks.

26 January 2009