Comments on: Bullivant ex-journalists given 2p for every pound owed

By: Chris Morley

Chris Morley — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:06:42 +0000

Let’s be clear here Clem, when The Birmingham Press launched in 2010, Trinity Mirror had axed more than 100 journalists in the West Midlands in the two previous years. Other media employers in the region were also busy sacking journalists so if you believe in pluralism in the media and aiming for the maximum opportunities for journalists to find work, why would you not cautiously welcome the introduction of a new player in the market? The NUJ has many members on Trinity Mirror’s titles in the Midlands but giving it a free hand to keep cutting because no one is putting it under direct competition is a quick way to cut even more jobs. As it happens, during the period the Press was running the cuts at the Post & Mail did pause, only to resume once it was safely out of the way. And as for Neil’s claim, I think the fact that I got involved in the liquidation committee and stayed throughout the two year process to make sure on principle that something was extracted from nothing shows the NUJ does not walk away from its freelance members. And Lunch you seem to be saying freelance journalists don’t count as much as staff. To the NUJ all our members, staff or freelance, are important.

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By: Lunch

Lunch — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:00:18 +0000

He got a taste of his own medicine and tried to deflect the attention away from the fact he’d led a bunch of journalists up the garden path. The NUJ turned up at the launch party and kept saying nice things about it, even though just one job was created and everyone else was freelance. Disgraceful

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By: Breakfast

Breakfast — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:07:49 +0000

I can’t believe Bullivant is still pushing the “predatory pricing” complaint. He tried to undercut TM’s property advertising rates (the method by which he built most of his newspaper empire) and seems surprised that they responded in kind! A ridiculous venture, doomed from the start.

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By: Neil Hodge

Neil Hodge — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 10:29:41 +0000

For Chris Morley to try to spin this as some sort of victory – however Pyrrhic – is outrageous. The NUJ has a very poor track record of representing freelancers, and has real problems with trying to understand the business side of journalism.

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By: Clem

Clem — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 08:44:40 +0000

The NUJ should hang its head in shame here. They actively encouraged people to get involved with Bullivant, seeing it as a chance to knock Trinity Mirror hard. Anyone with an ounce of business sense could see that a paper which was relying on one declining advertising sector – property – was going to struggle. As for Bullivant blaming Trinity Mirror, what did he expect them to do? It was a vanity project for Bullivant and the NUJ let its members down. Not for the first time, Chris Morley let his feelings towards his old employer cloud his judgment. If this was any other newspaper offering 2p for every pound owed, it’d be fire and brimstone from the NUJ. Sad, sad times.

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