Freedom of Information Training

Date and time: 1000; Monday 5th December, 2005
Venue: NUJ Offices, 114 Union Street, Glasgow
Cost: £80 including lunch

Course Description

The Freedom of Information Scotland Act opens a raft of new possibilities and opportunities for journalists, campaigners and those who seek to promote openness and transparency in Scottish public life.

This NUJ Scotland training course aims to provide an overview of the Act, how it is being put into practice and how to get the most out of it.

Whatever you want to know, from how exemptions work, to how to phrase a request to get the answer you need, this course can provide you with the information and knowledge you require.

Course Content

1000: Introduction and Training Objectives
1020: What is the Freedom of Information Scotland Act?
1100: Making a Request
1230: Lunch
1330: Getting the information you need
1530: Exemptions - a practical guide
1630: Wind up and close

If you wish to take advantage of the training, please telephone Angela Austin, NUJ Assistant Organiser, on 0141 944 7031 or email angela.nuj@btinternet.com

GFTU courses for union reps

The General Federation of Trade unions has unveiled a series of courses for trade union members.

The Basic Reps course is intended to enable activists to represent members more effectively while Organise Now outlines techniques to aid workplace organisation.

The Organisational Behaviour course is for experienced reps, looking at workplace organisation from a trade union perspective, and Dealing with Bullying, Harassment and Stress tackles a key area of current concern.

Basic Reps and Dealing with Bullying, Harassment and Stress courses
Course: Dates 27-29 January 2006
Closing date for nominations: 4 January 2006
Venue: Standish (near Wigan)

Organise Now and Organisational Behaviour courses
Course Dates: 10-12 February 2006
Closing date for nominations: 13 January 2006
Venue: Birmingham

Nominations will only be accepted on GFTU nomination forms which should be signed by your General Secretary or Education Officer and returned to the GFTU.

Further information
Basic Reps	Application details	Course outline
Dealing with Bullying, Harassment and Stress	Application details	Course outline
Organise Now	Application details	Course outline
Organisational Behaviour	Application details	Course outline

Script writing course

Two places remain on the NUJ's script-writing course on Saturday 26th November 2005.

Venue: Rail Learning Centre, Glasgow.
Cost: £80

Course outline:
This one-day course will provide a detailed introduction to writing for television drama. From characterisation, to developing plots and marketing your work for broadcast, the course will provide an outline, focus and the tools necessary for you to take your script to screen.

Tutor's biography:

James Doherty is an award-winning journalist and television scriptwriter. At the age of 21, he became one of the youngest network television scriptwriters when he started work on Brookside. Since then he has written for Family Affairs and has been writing River City for the last two years. He is also working on his first feature film. His career in journalism included work on the Big Issue and The Scotsman. He is currently chair of the NUJ in Scotland and senior media officer at Glasgow City Council.

If you wish to take advantage of this training opportunity, please telephone Angela Austin, NUJ Assistant Organiser, on 0141 944 7031 or email angela.nuj@btinternet.com.

Alternatively, contact Alice McCarney on 0141 248 6648/7748 or email: alicem@nuj.org.uk.