The National Union of Journalists will bring its Journalism Matters campaign to the TUC tomorrow with a motion to highlight the crucial role of the media in defending democracy - and the dangers to the profession.

Motion 52 will inform delegates across the trade union movement about the crisis the union says is facing the industry from "savage cuts in jobs and budgets", and ask for their support.

Union general secretary Jeremy Dear said: “We want our colleagues in the trade union movement to know exactly what is going on in the media and that quality journalism matters not only to journalists but to everybody in our society who cares about democratic debate and holding the powerful to account.

“We are asking the TUC to support our demand that the Government investigate the regional monopolies in the local newspaper industry and the failure of Ofcom to maintain and strengthen public service broadcasting.”

Delegates will vote on the motion, which is seconded by Amicus, tomorrow afternoon.

The motion reads:

This Congress welcomes the launch of the NUJ’s Journalism Matters campaign which aims to highlight the important role journalism can play in promoting democratic participation in local communities and across the UK.

Congress condemns the actions of those media and publishing companies who are axing frontline newsgathering and specialist reporters, closing editions, reducing news pages, marginalizing public service programmes and cutting editorial budgets whilst posting record profits and increased shareholder dividends.

Congress believes the result of such cuts is to reduce local and specialist media coverage, leading to a detrimental effect on local communities, public knowledge and democratic participation.

Congress calls on the Government to investigate the operation of regional monopolies in the local newspaper industry which act against the citizens’ interest, and the failure of OFCOM to maintain and strengthen public service broadcasting across the ITV regions.

Congress urges affiliates to back local Journalism Matters initiatives with the aim of pressuring local media to invest in and promote rather than cut back newsgathering resources.

Congress believes the Government should consider urgent action to promote greater plurality in media as a step towards encouraging greater democratic participation.