1,000 hits on the blog

Well, we have passed our first significant milestone - 1,000 hits on the blog!

So, who is looking at what we publish?

Just over sixty percent of hits come form the UK (625) with a further 20% (192) from the USA. Germany, (58) Russia, (47) and Singapore, (25) are the other notable countries where we appear to have a following.

The most significant referring URL is our national NUJ website followed by Google. We also have two sites in Romania sending traffic our way  - interesting, and unfathomable, unless anyone accessing the blog from Romania would like to tell us why!

While most of the traffic is from computers we are seeing a few hits now from IPhones, IPads and Android phones. A higher proportion of hits are coming from Apple products and systems, maybe not unexpected considering the sector our membership operates within.

Lastly, this December is already our best month for hits - let's hope we can continue this upward trend into 2012.

NUJ democracy: election news

The membership of the NUJ is its lifeblood.

The NUJ is a democratic and campaigning union and strives to represent all sectors of the industry.

We want to encourage members to actively take part in the union and make sure the union reflects the strength and diversity of our membership.

One of the ways that members can get active in the NUJ is to volunteer to stand for election.

There is a variety of NUJ Councils and seats/posts on these Councils (which reflect the industrial sectors, nations and regions of the union) and all the Councils form the basis of the democratic decision-making structures of the NUJ.

There is a range of vacancies. Nomination forms have been sent to your local branch, so if you want to find out more information or volunteer please contact your branch secretary.

Your local branch has to nominate you and the nomination needs to reach Headland House by Friday 27 January 2012.

If you are not sure who your local branch contact is, then please email: campaigns@nuj.org.uk

http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2349

Crisis in Midlands Journalism: the Fight Back has Started

The fight back against the savage cuts to journalism in the Midlands was launched at a packed meeting in Birmingham. The "Crisis in Midlands Journalism" event was prompted by the recent announcement to shed 50 jobs at Trinity Mirror and the major cuts planned at the BBC's Midlands operations.

Michelle Stanistreet warned the meeting of the damage that repeated cuts had on journalists' ability to hold those in power to account. "The sad reality is that communities deserve better than this and the resulting democratic deficit is something that should frighten and anger all of us,"
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2337

Public service media needed to strengthen pluralism

Two major threats to media freedom exist across Europe today. One is the attempt by state authorities to dominate the media market. The other is the trend towards commercialisation and monopoly. Both these tendencies undermine freedom of expression - and are good reasons for strengthening public service media.

Media pluralism is necessary for the development of informed societies where different voices can be heard. However, in several European countries there is little genuine media freedom and therefore limited space for pluralism. Independent television and radio channels are denied licences, and critical newspapers are prevented from buying newsprint or distributing their papers.
Thomas Hammarberg, European Commissioner for Human Rights
Posted 06/12/11 / Read more here . . . .

Swedish Journalists Deny Supporting Ethiopia Rebels
Two Swedish journalists, Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson, have told an Ethiopian court they were upholding the highest traditions of their profession when they were arrested in the company of rebels in the restive Ogaden region.
Voice of America, 06/12/11

EDM 2517: Human Rights Abuses In Ogaden
That this House expresses its deep concern at the continuing human rights abuses perpetrated against the people of Ogaden by Ethiopian government forces and militias previously evidenced by Human Rights Watch; and urges the UK Government to work with the African Union and United Nations to enable the access of independent human rights observers and journalists to Ogaden to press for the release of the Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson and to seek a negotiated settlement of the conflict between the Ethiopian regime and the Ogaden National Liberation Front.

Primary sponsor: John McDonnell, date tabled: 06/12/2011

BBC (Proposed Cuts) - Parliamentary Debate 01/12/11

Austin Mitchell (Great Grimsby) (Lab): I beg to move,

That this House calls upon the BBC to reconsider the scale and timing of its proposed cuts so as better to safeguard BBC local radio, regional television news and programmes, the morale and enthusiasm of its staff, and the quality of BBC programmes generally, all of which have made the BBC the most respected public service broadcaster in the world.

Full debate can be read here
House of Commons / 1 Dec 2011 : Column 1101