Monday night saw the NUJ launch their national campaign to save local newspapers in Enfield.
New general secretary of the union Michelle Stanistreet addressed a gathering of residents from Barnet, Enfield, Haringey and parts of south Hertfordshire about the problems within the industry which has led to a reduction in local journalists and regional coverage.
Leader of Enfield Council Doug Taylor and Barnet Unison branch secretary John Burgess addressed the need for local newspapers to hold the authorities to account.
Chief photographer Anne-Marie Sanderson reminded those gathered about the difference local newspapers make to individual lives.
Thais Portilho-Shrimpton from Newsquest’s south London papers spoke about their recent dispute over redundancies to the group’s sports and leisure reporters.
Eric Gordon, editor of the Camden New Journal spoke about alternative models of ownership and Barry Fitzpatrick, head of publishing for the NUJ also spoke about how newspapers change hands and the need for investment if regionals are to provide in-depth quality news coverage.
Here is the NUJ’s write up from the night: http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=2150
Here are a selection of images:
And here is a YouTube video of NUJ local campaign launch.
Gazette, Advertiser and Press on strike 