View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 10, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 5:27pm

NUJ plans code for ‘citizen journalists’

By Press Gazette

The NUJ is proposing a new Code of Practice to cover “citizen journalists”

and, perhaps surprisingly, union members are not all against these amateur competitors.

Mike
Holderness, from the London Freelance Branch of the NUJ, said many
union activists would rather call them “citizen witnesses”.

He
added: “The whole point, after all, is that we’re increasingly dealing
with reports and pictures from people who are not journalists.

“That
diversity of input, as all the journalists I’ve asked can agree, is no
bad thing – so long as the interests of journalism, of journalists and
perhaps particularly of the witnesses themselves are protected.

“And that’s the point of developing a code.

“London
Freelance Branch has invited representatives of the BBC, of Scoopt –
the agency that sets out to secure fair financial deals for citizens’

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

photos – and of course experienced journalists involved in the debate”.

He added: “Important events are inconsiderate enough to happen when no professionals are present.

“Technology
means that there are hundreds of thousands of people who can send in
their images and texts from events that would otherwise be covered at
second and third hand. In any case, different views on the news are
often welcome.”

The NUJ London Freelance Branch debate on citizen
journalism is being held on Monday, from 7pm, at the Friends’ House on
Euston Road in London.

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network