Jeremy Dear has announced plans to step down as leader of the National Union of Journalists following a decade at its helm.
He was the union’s youngest ever general secretary when he was elected in 2001 at the age of 34, winning re-election in 2006, but has now announced he will not stand again this year.
The move triggers the first leadership contest at the union in 10 years, with deputy general secretary Michelle Stanistreet thought to be one of the main contenders for the role – which would give the NUJ its first female leader.
Jeremy first rose to prominence after leading a dispute against de-recognition of the NUJ at the Essex Chronicle.
He said: “It was the proudest moment of my life being elected General Secretary and I have been honoured to have had the opportunity to serve our union at every level over many years.
“Throughout all my years as a lay activist or a full time official I have never failed to be inspired by the spirit of the NUJ members and their continued commitment to fight for social and economic justice.
“My deep thanks go to all those – staff, reps and members – who do so much to make the NUJ the fantastic union it is and whose friendship and solidarity I have been fortunate to share over the years.”
Before becoming general secretary, Jeremy served the union as national organiser for newspapers and as President.
As a full-time official, Jeremy was responsible for the union’s recognition campaigns – winning back union rights in national and local newspapers, magazines and book publishers – and he also managed NUJ training in its early years.
His election as NUJ general secretary saw the union adopt a more militant, active stance as members aimed to tackle low pay, job cuts and win back collective bargaining rights.
Jeremy was the first NUJ leader to be elected to the TUC General Council in 2002 as part of a wave of left wing leaders who took office in a number of unions.
Deputy general secretary Michelle Stanistreet, said: “Jeremy’s passion and dedication to the union he loves, his unrivalled commitment to trade unionism and his sheer energy have made him a general secretary the NUJ can be truly proud of.
“Jeremy is leaving the union in fighting shape ready and able to carry forward his work and legacy as the voice for journalists and journalism throughout the UK and Ireland.
“As his deputy over the last three years, and as an activist before that, I’ve been privileged to work with an outstanding general secretary who will be much missed.”
NUJ President Pete Murray added: “Jeremy Dear has been a uniquely inspiring general secretary of the union, constantly, energetically and faithfully representing journalists at work across the UK and Ireland.
“The whole union owes him enormous thanks for a decade of commitment and success.”
Sign up for our free daily email bulletin
Follow HTFP on Twitter
Got a story? Email the Editor at
The whole union owes him enormous thanks for a decade of commitment and success. That wouldn’t be the decade where subs jobs have all but vanished, where wages within journalism have shrunk to such obscenely low levels that it is now a poorly paid job, rather than a well paid profession.
Report this comment
..and where ad reps dictate content?
Report this comment
I just hope that we get a sensible person, someone who will both take the fight to the bean counters and phone monkeys, and won’t let themselves get distracted by anti-Jewish trot campaigns. We need someone who knows local newspapers.
Report this comment
We need someone who is going to ditch the NUJ’s leftie stance and look after the interests of provincial journalists. I work in a large daily newspaper office and when my colleagues and I receive The Journalist we marvel at the support the union gives to causes abroad while we are sitting ducks for further redundancies. I have a friend who used to work in Plymouth but who was recently made redundant. Last year she told me that there were no NUJ members in her office. This is the reason why so many people are losing their jobs, the union top brass are sitting in London deciding on this month’s leftie foreign cause, instead of actively recruiting new members in the UK. I agree with Sly Dig that I can’t see a decade of success. Jeremy Dear’s time in office has been disastrous for me and my colleagues.
Report this comment
I didn’t even know “The Journalist” paper was still going. Last time I saw it was in the late-80s, when it was fondly known among hacks of this parish as The Sinn Fein Advertiser. Sounds like nothing much about it changed in the past couple of decades.
Report this comment
Er, obvious question really – why is he standing down?
Report this comment
Perhaps Bluestringer should join the NUJ ,then he would get a copy of the Journalist……
Report this comment
You may as well put a cat in charge, it would make just as much impact on the day to day lives of most journalists..
Report this comment
As an actual NUJ member, rather than an “outraged”, inactive non union whinger, I would like to thank Jeremy Dear for being a superb General Secretary during possibly the most difficult time in the union’s history. I will always view his dedication, drive, approachability and shrewdness as positive rather than negative qualities. Very best wishes.
Report this comment
I would welcome a so-called “sensible” or “moderate” candidate in the contest to succeed Jeremy Dear. However, the problem with those who call for a “sensible” or “moderate” NUJ General Secretary is that they don’t seem to realise that the “moderates” and right are loo lazy to campaign to be the next GS. They also seem to assume that a “moderate” (ie Freemason) candidate would win concessions that “lefties” like Jeremy can’t. The reality is that “sensible” or “moderate” union officials quickly sell out their members over a posh lunch or round of golf.
Report this comment
Chris Youett has contested countless elections. On no occasion has anyone considered him to be the “sensible” candidate.
Report this comment
I do enjoy the “it’s all the left’s fault for not saving me from my nasty bosses” complaints. Sure it’d be nice to have a union top brass so superb that we could all sit back and watch them forge the future of journalism for us, but the absence of that lala land is not the reason your workplace sucks. A union’s only as good as its grassroots. If your office is a mess, that’s primarily your own fault for sitting back and expecting someone else to do everything for you. The answer is not to blame “them” (ie. the dozen or so trots in an organisation of tens of thousands who happen to be a bit gobby) but to get your own act together.
Report this comment
In response to Gatsby, I stand by my story. He/she should save his/her energy for getting better pay & conditions for all journalists – something the employers can easily afford.
Report this comment