National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union supporting journalists and media workers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The NUJ was founded in 1907 and has 20,693 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists, Trades Union Congress affiliated, and a former member of the General [Federation of Trade Unions (UK)|General Federation of Trade Unions].
Structure
There is a range of National Councils beneath the NEC, covering different sections and areas of activity. There is a Sector Council for each of the NUJ's "industrial" sectors:- Broadcasting and Digital Media
- Freelance
- Magazine, Journals & Books
- Newspapers & Agencies
- Public Relations & Communications.
There are also National Executive Councils, covering all sectors, for Ireland and Scotland. The Irish Executive Council, which has a higher degree of autonomy, covers Northern Ireland as well as the Republic. Since 2016, in response to Brexit, the Union's Continental European Council further expanded the NUJ's remit to include NUJ members working in Continental Europe, in particular for NUJ branches in Paris, Brussels and the Netherlands, to campaign on issues of common interest.
The union's structure is democratic, and its supreme decision-making body is its Delegate Meeting, a gathering of elected delegates from all branches across the UK, Ireland and Europe. Between Delegate Meetings, decisions lie with the NUJ's National Executive Council, a committee of 27 people, elected annually by members. The NEC is chaired by a President, elected, along with a Vice-President and Treasurer, at the Delegate Meeting.
The General Secretary is elected every five years by a national ballot of all members and is held to account and responsible to the National Executive Council. The current GS is Laura Davison. The General Secretary is responsible for the day-to-day running of the union and directing its staff. However, important decisions such as authorising industrial action must be taken by the NEC.