DM2025: recruitment and membership
Motions in this debate included one from the Equality council encouraging recruitment of migrant journalists to the NUJ.
Motion 143 tabled by the Equality Council noted the amalgamation of media corporations had led to the “swallowing of local and regional news organisations.” It recognised that independent and community media organisations have sought to provide platforms for diverse audiences and journalists.
Cristina Lago.
© Jess Hurd
Cristina Lago speaking in support of the motion said, “there have been more and more women being forced out of journalism”, and that community and independent media provided a crucial role in journalism. The motion was carried.
Another motion from the Equality Council instructing the NEC to develop plans to increase the recruitment of migrant journalists to the union, in consultation with the Black Members and Equality council was carried.
Motion 145 from South West England Branch was moved by Andrew Lee. He said independent publications often small and not for profit were often not yet NUJ members but needed to be. Paul Breeden seconding for the NEC, urged delegates to support the motion. He said, “it’s the job of all of us to find new members.” The motion was carried.
Paul Breeden.
© Jess Hurd
A motion by Leeds & West Yorkshire Branch, amended by the National Executive Council (NEC), will allow students and retired journalists to stand for election to branch committees and all union bodies.
This was followed by three motions tabled by the NEC to change the NUJ’s Rule Book. Among them was a motion, amended by the Leeds & West Yorkshire Branch and the PR and Communications Branch, to widen membership to anyone working in mass communications. The motion also included an instruction that only those who adhere to the rules of the UK Press Card Authority and the NUJ’s Code of Conduct are eligible for a press card. Delegates also agreed to allow the union to recruit members under the age of 30 if they earn at least a quarter of their income from journalism.
A motion by the Equality Council will enable branches and councils to send student members as observers the Trade Union Congress Equalities Conferences while the final motion of the DM 2025 agenda, tabled by Derry & North West Branch, will give retired members voting rights in all union elections.
Concluding DM 2025, Debbie Cavaldoro thanked her fellow Standing Order Committee (SOC) members for their hard work and perseverance in preparing the meeting’s agenda and facilitating debate.
The NUJ’s annual report was approved before Natasha Hirst handed the union’s presidency to Gerry Curran and Fran McNulty: “It’s been a pleasure to work with you both over the last two years and I have full confidence you will do splendid jobs”, said Hirst.
Curran said that becoming the union’s joint president was a “tremendous honour.” McNulty similarly thanked members for providing clarity on the union’s mandate: “We know what delegates want. We know what the issues are. Thank you for your confidence,” he said.
Laura Davison closed conference by noting that 43 branches had been represented with 127 voting delegates. She acknowledged everyone who made the conference a success, including: the Blackpool Conference Centre staff, Spark technicians, palantypists, the SOC, special guest speakers, NUJ staff and the union’s trainer Caroline Holmes. Davison gave special thanks to her colleagues Leyla Yusuf, Lorna James, and Laura Fagan, as well as outgoing NEC members for their dedication to the NUJ.
Davison ended by announcing that the next Delegate Meeting will take place in Brighton from 23-25 April 2027.