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National Union of Journalists
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Quick Facts
Date:
1907 - present
Areas Of Involvement:
journalism
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National Union of Journalists

trade union, United Kingdom and Ireland
Written by
Idir Ouahes
Contributor to SAGE Publications's The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society (2020) whose work appears in Britannica as part of a joint publishing agreement with SAGE.
Idir Ouahes
Fact-checked by
Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
Britannica Editors
History

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is a trade union representing journalists in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Founded in 1907 as an offshoot of the older National Association of Journalists, it is one of the largest journalistsā€™ unions in Europe. Its membership of more than 30,000 forms a diverse body that includes editors, photographers, broadcasters, freelancers, and public relations officers. Because of its prominent role within the British journalism industry, the NUJ also issues press cards that are recognized by police forces in the United Kingdom.

Structure

The NUJ is organized through workplace groups known as chapels, which represent members within particular employers or organizations across the United Kingdom and Ireland. Members also participate in local and national branches. Policy is determined at the unionā€™s Delegate Meeting, where elected delegates debate and vote on motions submitted by branches and chapels. The unionā€™s governing body is the National Executive Council, which is headed by the General Secretary. The NUJ also maintains a number of equality bodies representing groups such as Black members, disabled members, and LGBT+ members.

Activities

As a union, the NUJā€™s foremost duty is to its members. It runs campaigns, lobbies Parliament, and negotiates on behalf of its members, particularly on issues relating to pay equity, discrimination, and workplace treatment. At the local level, NUJ representatives help ensure the health and safety of their work colleagues and provide training for union members.

Beyond its role as a trade union, the NUJ has also engaged in broader debates concerning media ethics, equality, and press freedom. Since the 1990s the union has campaigned against discrimination and negative portrayals of minority groups in the media while also promoting workplace equality within the journalism industry itself.

The NUJ has maintained a Code of Conduct for members since 1936, with disciplinary procedures for breaches of the code. It has also long advocated for press freedom in the United Kingdom and internationally through its involvement with the International Federation of Journalists. In particular, the union has campaigned against violence toward journalists and restrictions on press freedom in countries including Turkey and Egypt. Within the United Kingdom, it has also criticized perceived interference by media owners in editorial independence.

Idir Ouahes The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The original version of this article was published by SAGE Publications in The SAGE International Encyclopedia of Mass Media and Society.