Contents “


everyone. Many people have lost their jobs and lots of those in work have had to adjust to homeworking and virtual meetings. For some it’s


I


enabled more work/life balance – count the number of puppies in your park – but for others, especially those with young children it has made work more stressful. Virtual meetings have opened up more possibilities for many and if you’re a disabled journalist then you might have more access than usual. But you also might face struggles with some of the technology. Natasha Hirst, herself a disabled journalist, looks at these issues. The pandemic has also increased the gap between the digital


haves and have nots. Jenny Sims looks at ways of bridging the digital divide and tackling the democratic deficit that has been caused by the decline in well-resourced local journalism. The coronavirus has this year wreaked havoc in many parts of the media industry as advertising has shrunk drastically. But some local publications have been thrown lifelines with grants from the Public Interest News Foundation. Ruth Addicott reports on the help for hyperlocals. And as it’s Christmas, our media anniversary feature provides our cover with a taste of seasonal Dickens. Wishing everyone a happier and more prosperous New Year.


Christine Buckley Editor @mschrisbuckley


Editor journalist@nuj.org.uk


Design Surgerycreations.com info@surgerycreations.com


Advertising Melanie Richards Tel: 07494975239 ads@journalistmagazine.co.uk Print Warners www.warners.co.uk


Distribution GB Mail www.gb-mail.co.uk


02 | theJournalist


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ISSN: 0022-5541 ”


Cover picture Niday Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo


Main feature 12 The Nitpick Papers When Charles Dickens was an editor


t’s not long now until we welcome the new year and we will all be hoping that it brings much better fortune than this year. It’s been a tumultuous period for


News 03 Journalists face rise in violence Threats from paramilitaries and far-right


04 Black women need digital media Claudia Jones memorial lecture


05 NUJ staff on four-day week Change made to save union money


06 Fairer deal for freelances Union launches major campaign


Features


10 Bridging the digital divide The fight for online inclusion


12 Survival on a small stage Grants help hyperlocals keep going


14 Access all areas? Virtual working’s impact on the disabled


Regulars


24 Obituaries 26 And finally...


Arts Page 20


Ray Snoddy Page 19


Tech Page 21


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