John Wojcik pays tribute to a black US activist who spent six decades at the forefront of struggles for voting rights, economic justice and peace – reshaping US politics and inspiring movements worldwide
LETTER-WRITERS to the press and many pundits themselves ask pleadingly why so many of their fellow citizens vote for parties and politicians who are opposed to their best interests — and why do so many not even bother with politics or voting at all?
While there may be no simple answer to such queries, undoubtedly one of the key reasons is the ownership of the media and the deliberate dumbing down of content.
The urgent need for a thorough democratisation of the media was stressed by Jeremy Corbyn during the launch of his Peace and Justice Project last weekend.
Claims that digital media has rendered press power obsolete are a dangerous myth, argues DES FREEDMAN
LAURA DAVISON traces how Murdoch’s mass sackings, political deals and legal loopholes shattered collective bargaining 40 years ago – and how persistent NUJ organising, landmark court victories and new employment rights legislation are finally challenging that legacy
As advertising drains away, newsrooms shrink and local papers disappear, MIKE WAYNE argues that the market model for news is broken – and that public-interest alternatives, rooted in democratic accountability, are more necessary than ever
LOUISA BULL traces how derecognition, outsourcing and digitalisation reshaped the industry, weakened collective bargaining and created today’s precarious media workforce


