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Solidarity vigils
Over the past month, members have been coming together in various ways to support and show solidarity with journalists working in Gaza.
Branches organised vigils and protests across the UK, Ireland and Continental Europe in response to the continued targeted killing of Palestinian colleagues by Israeli forces. Members turned out in large numbers, including 500 people at a vigil in Brussels. They paid their respects, read out the names of fallen colleagues, gave speeches, and, in the case of the London Freelance branch, handed in a letter to 10 Downing Street, with a list of demands and questions for the prime minister. Find our round-up coverage here.
The NUJ also set out various suggested actions members could take, either independently or collectively, to show solidarity. Here are some you can still get involved with:
- Donate to the IFJ Safety Fund, which offers financial and medical assistance to journalists around the world - including in Gaza.
- Join with branch or chapel members to agree collective statements of solidarity in line with our demands for the NUJ website.
- Sign our open letter calling for the UK government to exert serious pressure to protect journalists in Gaza and support an independent investigation to end impunity.
This list is not proscriptive but please ensure that your activity is appropriate and organised with collective support of members and in liaison with your employer as required.
Join the branches summit next week
Branch officers: have you registered for the NUJ branches summit? The online event, taking place on 13 September, 2pm-5pm, is a great opportunity to come together with other members, discuss the needs of branches, hear about what’s working well in other areas, and share ideas on overcoming challenges. Speakers will include those from Edinburgh Freelance, Brussels Branch and insight on the successes of the Dublin Freelance Forum too. Branch officers should have received an email, contact [email protected] with queries. Register here.
TUC Congress
The NUJ will send delegates and present two important motions at the TUC Congress, taking place between 7-10 September. The first will ask Congress to support the NUJ’s AI campaign, which calls for an end to big tech breaching the copyright of journalists, photographers, and other creators, and for AI generated content to be labelled as such. The other motion will urge Congress to continue to stand in solidarity with journalists globally, condemning attacks against media workers wherever they occur, and will call to support a UN convention on the safety and independence of journalists. Watch Congress live here or keep an eye on the NUJ website for highlights from the event.
Events
Women in Journalism is hosting an online masterclass giving freelances of all experience levels advice on how to pitch successfully to outlets. Top commissioning editors from leading titles will share their tips around what editors do and do not want to see, how you can stand out, and how to present your ideas in the best possible way. The webinar will take place on 21 October from 7pm-8pm. Tickets cost £20. Register here.
The union Equity has organised a HMRC-led webinar to help creative professionals navigate ‘Making Tax Digital’ (MTD) - a new system for recording and reporting income rolling out in April 2026. The webinar will take place on 24 September at 10:30am on Zoom. Participants will learn about the key elements of MTD and can have their questions answered, though these need to be submitted ahead of time to Amelia at: [email protected]. The webinar will have live captioning of speakers. If you have any reasonable adjustments or accessibility requirements please contact Amelia. NUJ members can register here.
Freelance journalists, writers, and photographers in or around Dublin can look forward to the Autumn 2025 Freelance Forum on 20 October. This in-person event, organised by the Dublin Freelance branch, will cover pitching to the press, protecting your copyrights, industry updates, and funding opportunities. There will also be an address from Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary. Tickets are €5 for NUJ members. Book your place.
Press council of Ireland: nomination of NUJ member
The NUJ is seeking a new board member for the Press Council of Ireland (PCI) as Siobhan Holliman steps down in September after six years of dedicated service. Candidates should have experience working in the print or digital media sector, knowledge of the media landscape and a minimum of three years of full NUJ membership. Experience as a chapel or branch activist is an advantage but not essential. There is no honorarium but travel and subsistence expenses are covered by the NUJ. Apply to Séamus Dooley, assistant general secretary, via [email protected] or by post to Spencer House, Spencer Row off Store Street, Dublin, D01 R9T8 by 11 September.
Awards
The Write to End Violence Against Women Awards, sponsored by the NUJ, are open for applications. These awards recognise journalists and writers who report on violence against women responsibly, sensitively and accurately with categories including 'Best news piece', 'Best opinion and comment', and 'Best broadcast'. Nominate an article.
The Press Awards have several categories open for individual entrants, including ‘News reporter of the year’, ‘Photographer of the year’ and various awards in speciality areas. There are team awards too, including ‘Scoop of the year’ and ‘News website of the year’. Entries close on 14 November and there is a fee attached to applications. Find out more and apply here.
The Broadcast Journalism Training Council (BJTC) Awards recognise outstanding broadcast journalism work produced by students in the UK, with categories such as ‘Best TV news feature’, ‘Best radio news report’, and ‘Best podcast’. The awards are open to students enrolled on BJTC courses and applications close on 9 October. Apply here.
The Irish News is launching a 12-month programme for aspiring visual storytellers with skills in photography, videography or graphic design. The internship, created to honour the late Irish News photographer Hugh Russell, will provide a successful candidate with structured training, mentoring and hands-on experience across various platforms. Apply before 22 September.
Journalists' Safety Tracker
The NUJ's Safety Tracker collates evidence of harassment, abuse and lawfare against journalists. Both freelance and staff journalists can make submissions using the online tool. Share it with colleagues to encourage its use and help inform our campaigns to tackle threats against journalists. Report an incident using the tracker.
Cuts to journalism course funding
The NUJ is urging all members to use our online tool to raise concerns over the UK government's cuts to journalism education. Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, has written to the education minister but we need your help amplifying our concerns over the government's withdrawal of Strategic Priorities Grant funding from journalism courses for the 2025-26 financial year. Use our template to write to your MP. Email [email protected] with queries; read more on our campaign page.
Campaigns
News Recovery Plan. A Future for News: the NUJ’s recovery plan for the news industry is the updated road map to reinvigorate the industry and sets out a bold set of measures and interventions to protect jobs and quality journalism. Its proposals address the threat of generative AI and the significant additional pressure of the cost-of-living crisis to an already beleaguered sector.
Artificial intelligence: journalism before algorithms. Stay updated on the NUJ’s AI campaign, including calls for urgent regulatory oversight to protect the integrity of journalism and journalists' rights. The union will attend the UK government's AI and copyright working group on 16 September to voice members' concerns on pay, job security, and rights infringements.
#ShowUsTheMoney: the NUJ is campaigning for increased salary transparency. Too many job adverts do not include salary details, and research shows this disadvantages women, disabled workers and Black and minority ethnic workers. Find out more on our calls.
NUJ recruitment materials can be found on the website.
Social media
Keep up with the latest breaking news, campaigns, solidarity events and more from the NUJ campaigns team on X, Bluesky, Instagram and Facebook.
Petitions
Maximum working temperature: the TUC is seeking an an absolute maximum working temperature to keep people safe from the risks associated with excessive heat and sun exposure. Read more in the petition that has amassed nearly 40,000 signatures.
Pass the Employment Rights Bill in full: the UK government's Employment Rights Bill could deliver the biggest upgrade in workers' rights in a generation. Add your signature to the TUC's calls to peers in the House of Lords urging no watering down of proposals.
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) have been used to stymie reporting and prevent publication of stories in the public interest. Sign the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition's petition urging a standalone Anti-SLAPP Law that offers universal, clear and easy-to-access protections against abusive legal threats. Add your name.
Online courses, workshops & webinars
NUJ trade union training dates for 2025: all course outlines and learning outcomes have been updated to reflect the new hybrid ways of working and the challenges this presents for organising members. The NUJ reps' training programme features a monthly two-hour session, which focuses on the structure and workings of the NUJ for new reps before they embark on the core reps' training.
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NUJ Training Scotland. Courses are delivered by Zoom unless otherwise stated. Available for members outside Scotland. Go to the calendar and register for sessions on the NUJ Scotland training website. The next course will cover ‘Contempt and reporting restrictions’ (16 September).
NUJ Training Wales. Visit the Welsh training website for the events calendar and access a huge range of at-a-glance guides on a variety of topics for media professionals. Upcoming sessions include ‘Social media content planning’ (12 September) and ‘Writing the perfect press release’ (24 October).
The GFTU Educational Trust will run a series of online educational sessions focusing on the significant role women have played in trade union and working class history starting on 25 September. Register here.
TUC training, events & resources
The TUC will host the fourth annual Unionreps Connect conference in Birmingham on 15 October. The event will include various practical workshops on topics such as health and safety and include sessions on the Employment Rights Bill and wider changes in employment law. There will also be opportunities to connect with other reps and share ideas. Register here.
TUC Cymru created the Women’s Activist Development Programme to support women who would like to become more involved in their union. The free course will help participants build their confidence and understanding of union structures and look at how they can grow their role in the movement. There will be an online information session on 24 September. Register here.
Every two years the TUC surveys health and safety reps to understand the changing experiences of workplace safety and inform its campaigning priorities. The survey will take 10 minutes to complete and respondents will enter a prize draw. Complete the survey.
TUC Education is the one-stop-shop for training and resources for reps and activists. All the TUC's resources, research, training and content on sexual harassment are available in one section on the TUC website.
You can also find:
- the recording from the TUC webinar for reps on the Equality Act 2010
- the generative AI policy toolkit
- a free toolkit on greener workplaces for a Just Transition
Research
Iqra Iqbal, a media academic from Pakistan, is appealing to female members of the NUJ for help with her research on the impacts of harassment and violence on women journalists. Iqra is studying the experiences of female journalists in the UK, Pakistan, Russia and Turkey. She aims to document the occurrence of harassment and assault, and also understand the psychological impact on female journalists. If you can help, please email her at [email protected].
A report by Amnesty International reveals the scale and severity of threats, intimidation, and violence against journalists in Northern Ireland. Read the report in full.
NUJ Rulebook 2025-2027
The updated rulebook is now available on the website. The rules define the union's work, membership, and democratic structure and includes amendments from the Delegate Meeting held in Blackpool in April.
IFJ international press card
As well as issuing UK and Irish press cards, the NUJ can also supply members with international press cards, which are essential for working safely and with international support. These cards are issued to full members working in foreign countries by the International Federation of Journalists via the NUJ. Please note that there is an additional £100 fee for issuing international press cards. Log in to the website to apply.
Appeals
The IFJ Safety Fund is a lifeline for journalists facing violence and persecution or needing urgent medical treatment. It is a shining example of journalist to journalist solidarity, providing immediate financial support to colleagues in various parts of the world, including Gaza. Please donate what you can here.
The Belarusian Association of Journalists reports that 40 media professionals are currently imprisoned in the country. Under president Alexander Lukashenka’s rule, journalists face restrictions on media freedom and independent media outlets struggle to survive. Watch this video (caution: contains some flashing images) and please donate to the Belarusian Association of Journalists. Please contact Ray Tostevin, SW England NUJ chair if you have any problems with the donation link.
Freelance
NUJ AI licensing survey - there's still time to complete the survey open to all freelance members on artificial intelligence licensing. Let us know if you are being approached to consent to your work being licensed by publishers and media agencies for AI use. Complete the survey.
The National Council for the Training of Journalists’ Journalism Skills Academy is offering freelance NUJ journalists a 15% discount on its professional training courses. Visit its website for more details and use the discount code FL15 to book a course. You must be a freelance.
The Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU) offers a huge range of online training courses and webinars to help creative freelances with their career and the business side of being self-employed. Visit the FEU's training page to register.
The industry body ScreenSkills provides masterclasses, online courses and resources for creative and media freelances plus information on mentoring, bursaries and funding. Visit their website to find out more.
Discounts
UK Dell Business Partnerships Program. Make the most of your membership with exclusive benefits and pricing. You have access to stackable discounts on desktops, laptops, servers, accessories, and monitors.
Access your discounts: Dell | Exclusive offers and find out more. The AI Tech & Back to School sale is now live, ending 23 September. Discounts will show to NUJ members once logged in.
Trusted tech advisors. Your dedicated tech advisor will get to know your business needs and goals; delivering customised tech solutions. Contact the team at [email protected]
Book offer
Orwell Prize for Journalism winner Gary Younge’s book Dispatches from the Diaspora: From Nelson Mandela to Black Lives Matter is a powerful collection of journalism on race, racism and black life and death from one of the nation’s leading political voices. Go to the Faber website and use the discount code Newsletter30 for 30% off for NUJ members.
Scam warning
The NUJ communicates with members about direct debits only by writing, so beware of scammers who call by phone.
NUJ subs
Many of us are feeling the squeeze as the cost-of-living increases. If you are struggling to pay your NUJ subscription fee because your income has reduced significantly, you are unemployed, or are on maternity leave please contact the membership department at [email protected] for help and advice.
NUJ extra
NUJ extra helps members and their dependents who have fallen on hard times.
Your union profile
So the union can keep you up to date with news from the union and involve you in decisions such as consultative ballots on pay and other industrial issues where we need to ballot for action, please log in to the NUJ website, check your personal profile and add your personal email and mobile phone numbers so we do not have to send sensitive information to your workplace address. When you change jobs, remember to update your information. To do this log on at www.nuj.org.uk/login.html and then click My NUJ. You can update your contact preferences by clicking view/edit my profile.
NUJ Rate for the Job
How does a freelance journalist, especially one starting out, know what to charge? To help, the NUJ issues a Freelance Fees Guide. Getting up-to-date data requires members (in confidence) submitting the rates they get for shifts, and lineage etc. Find out more on the London Freelance Branch website.
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