The National Union of Journalists is to stage a "union-wide Day of Action".

Thousands of journalists from across the UK will take part on November 5, standing up for journalists and journalism, general secretary Jeremy Dear said.

In his opening speech at the NUJ's annual delegate meeting, he said: "We will make sure our message is heard in the boardrooms and offices across the industry.

"Someone asked if we chose November 5 because there would be fireworks. They might well be right.

"Someone asked me if we chose it because it coincides with the Society of Editors' conference in Manchester. I couldn't possibly comment."

He added: "What I will say is that we will make it understood, loud and clear, that we will not tolerate the low pay which blights the lives of thousands in our profession, the stress from under-staffing, the lack of work-life balance and the bullying by mangers to achieve unrealistic targets."