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Fitzpatrick elected NUJ deputy general secretary

Head of publishing Barry Fitzpatrick has today been elected deputy general secretary of the National Union of Journalists.

Barry scored a first-ballot victory in the poll with 2,444 votes ahead of runner-up Chris Youett with 1,326 votes and Helen Gavaghan with 473

Turnout was 14.8pc with 4,308 of the union’s 29,120 members voting.

General secretary Michelle Stanistreet announced the result of the election today at a meeting of the union’s national executive council.

She said:  “I congratulate Barry on his election, and I am looking forward to working with him in his new role. He is widely known and respected across the media industries, and has been a determined champion of journalists and journalism.

“His previous career as a leading print union official and activist means he has plenty of experience and the ability to work with all our colleagues in the media in defence of jobs, conditions and ethical standards.”

Barry added:  “I am immensely proud to have been elected as Deputy General Secretary of the NUJ with a vote of confidence from our membership.

“Journalists today face enormous challenges in defending both their jobs and professional standards in the public interest. I look forward to meeting these challenges and working hard with Michelle, all of our officers and staff and most importantly our chapel officials and lay activists without whom there would be no NUJ.”

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  • January 6, 2012 at 12:51 pm
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    Well done to Barry. He helped me to get the union recognised at one of my former workplaces after a long fight. I’m sure he will do a good job for the union now.
    It’s a shame about the low turnout, though. Even if that is normal for a union election (I don’t know the statistics) it’s sad that people who make the effort to be in the NUJ then don’t take enough interest in it.

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  • January 9, 2012 at 3:29 pm
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    Through your columns I would like to thank all those who voted for me in the 2012 NUJ DGS elections. I look forward to continuing to work with Michelle and Barry on many issues.

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