Skip to main content
Job vacancy with the National Education Union
Covid-19 shows how vital reliable, trustworthy news is
NUJ leader MICHELLE STANISTREET explains the union’s priorities amid difficult times – including fairness for freelances, making the tech giants pay their way and tackling bullying of journalists

WHEN the pandemic hit last spring, and unprecedented restrictions soon followed, it became clear that the immediate impact on the news industry was going to be stark. 

The NUJ successfully ensured that newsgatherers were classed as key workers, able to move around as necessary for their work, and we worked with the industry and government to solve problems and negotiate a boost of advertising revenue for newspapers.

Our officials and reps were inundated with industrial work, dealing with furloughs and lay-offs — as ever, certain employers were keen to use the crisis as an excuse for redundancies. 

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
TUC Congress 2024 / 10 September 2024
10 September 2024
The erosion of journalism by lack of investment has opened the door to disinformation, racism and partisan agendas. The NUJ’s News Recovery Plan offers an antidote, which can build back high-quality reporting, says MICHELLE STANISTREET
Michelle Stanistreet (right) with former MP Chris Mullin. Th
Features / 17 October 2022
17 October 2022
Without a free press, democracy dies, says NUJ general secretary MICHELLE STANISTREET
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries
Features / 19 January 2022
19 January 2022
This government is intent on hobbling a great British institution for its own short-term political gain, says NUJ leader MICHELLE STANISTREET
TUC CONGRESS 2021 / 8 September 2021
8 September 2021
Online abuse and threats towards journalists are part of a broader decline in standards in the public sphere, writes NUJ leader MICHELLE STANISTREET
Similar stories
Lebanese and Palestinian journalists take part in a protest against the killing of journalists in the Gaza Strip as they gather at the Martyrs square in downtown Beirut, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025
TUC Congress 2025 / 9 September 2025
9 September 2025

Speaking to the Morning Star’s Ceren Sagir, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists LAURA DAVISON outlines the threats to journalism from Palestine to Britain, and the unique challenges confronting the industry through the rise of AI

Bayern Munich's Harry Kane with The Bundesliga Meisterschale (championship shield) at the Allianz Arena, Munich, after his side won the Bundesliga title. Picture date: Saturday May 10, 2025
Men's Football / 22 August 2025
22 August 2025

JAMES NALTON takes a look at the German league’s move to grow its audience in Britain, and around the future of football on TV in general

Striking members of the National Education Union (NEU) at a
NEU Conference 2025 / 15 April 2025
15 April 2025
RON BROWN makes the case for the Morning Star as the daily paper of all trade unionists, and especially education workers who have seen it cover their issues and their actions, day in, day out
Features / 11 April 2025
11 April 2025
After more than 30 years, the printing presses have finally halted for the left-wing magazine. KATE HUDSON pays tribute to the always thought-provoking publication and explains how the editorial team are inviting feedback and comment on their continued online operations