Vote Phil Creighton for editor of The Journalist
Journalism has changed enormously in recent years.
When I started in the industry, most regional newspapers were printed on site that morning, and delivered to street vendors with the ink still wet.
The work in the press hall would rumble across the building, letting newsrooms be in no doubt that the first draft of history was on its way.
Newspapers back then were black and white and read all over.
On television, there were four channels or, if you were dished up, a few more thanks to the wonders of satellite.
The idea that you could take your phone out of the house and use it to access more information than was printed in the Encyclopaedia Britannica was science fiction.
Being able to fit the library of Alexandra in your pocket via eBook readers … heck, our mobile storage solution was floppy discs that could store an amazing 1.44mb.
Technology has made accessing information easier than ever, and demand for quality content has never been higher.
It has had a real cost to our industry.
Newsrooms have shrunk.
Offices have closed.
The wise old heads in the corner with knowledge of everything that has happened since the time of dinosaurs? Gone.
Instead, we have seen workloads increase, journalists asked to multi-skill and multi-task, and seen retail stores including WHSmith reduce space allocated to books, magazines and newspapers.
We now have the emergence of AI to contend with.
The industry is adapting to these new challenges, and the role of the Union through it all has never been more important.
But how do members – and non-members – find out what the NUJ has been doing on the industry’s behalf?
The best way, the strongest way, the easiest way, is to have a strong house journal that champions, celebrates, commiserates, cheer leads and confidently queries the latest developments.
There are many websites that give news about the industry, but only The Journalist can talk about the work of the NUJ.
The union is for everyone who works in publishing, and it is a broad church: editors, designers, publishers, rights managers, publicists, marketing, contracts, content development and solutions digital and online, library and archives, research and project management.
In this website, I set out my vision for The Journalist and how it can work for all members, regardless of the sector they work in.
Members having their say on who runs their journal is important, and I won’t take your support lightly, especially as there are some formidable candidates putting themselves forward in this contest.
As your editor, I would bring a fresh format to the magazine, with new ideas, features and columns that aim to inspire, encourage and support everyone who works in our industry.
The magazine is one of the NUJ’s key tools for recruiting new members and showing them how effective and important being part of the Union is.
My vision for The Journalist will help with that – an inspired membership, a strong union and a brilliant read.
Vote for Phil Creighton for editor of The Journalist.