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NUJ Labour Party

NUJ describes shadow culture secretary proposal for journalist register as 'depressing'

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By The Drum Team, Editorial

September 28, 2011 | 2 min read

The NUJ has described described Ivan Lewis, shadow culture secretary’s call for a register for journalists, from which, any found guilty of malpractice, should be ‘stick off’ during the Labour Party conference as ‘depressing’.

Lewis announced the proposal during his speech at the conference yesterday, which he has already moved to distance himself, claiming that he was ‘misunderstood’ and added that he was wanted to propose for discussion whether ‘miscreant journalists’ should be banned from future employment.

In response to the proposal, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said:“It’s depressing to hear a Labour Party shadow minister call for the blacklisting of journalists. Ivan Lewis told Labour Party conference today that journalists found guilty of ‘gross malpractice’ should be struck off. He has since back-peddled, claiming not to approve of state meddling in press freedom but that’s precisely what his ridiculous statement amounts to. Is he actually calling for a state-approved register of journalists, one where politicians or media owners can strike through names at their will?

"At the heart of the NUJ is our ethical Code of Conduct. Let’s not forget that the NUJ has been locked out of Murdoch’s Fortress Wapping for decades. There’s a direct parallel between union-busting at News International and the moral vacuum that’s been allowed to proliferate – a culture that’s been led from those at the top. Yet it’s ordinary working journalists who are being sacrificed and whose livelihoods have been destroyed whilst those at the top of News International enjoy impunity.

“And politicians must remember that they, more than anyone, indulged the worst excesses of Rupert Murdoch. This is the time to right the wrongs of the past, to raise standards across the industry and, crucially, to tackle the widespread problems of media ownership in the UK. Journalists and press freedom absolutely must not be scapegoated in the search for higher standards or for the sake of political soundbites.”

NUJ Labour Party

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