Following a number of significant cases, members are reminded that they should exercise care when charging anything to their employers' accounts.

Specifically, there has been some difficulty regarding the use of taxis charged to the company, which have then become subject to investigation.

For the record, it seems to be worth pointing out that employers may implement extreme disciplinary measures, should evidence of irregularity be uncovered.

The same potential sanctions may result following investigations into expenses claims and it is worth noting that actual dishonesty need not be proven in these circumstances. For example, if an employee forgot to acquire a receipt for a legitimate expense on one day and sought to compensate by having the establishment supply a receipt for double the fee the following day, the person may well be liable to a charge of gross misconduct.

The NUJ does all that it can to represent members, advise them of their legal rights and seek to negotiate on their behalf. However, all employees have a responsibility to observe the legitimate terms of their contracts of employment.

(Published in Ethical Space: The International Journal of Communication
Ethics, Vol. 1, No. 1, 2003)

The dissection of journalistic practice following the BBC/Blair/Campbell debacle over "sexing up" the case for war and the suicide of Dr David Kelly has led to a new slump in public confidence in the media.

It comes after a year of consultations among media and consumer organisations about the role of journalism in a democracy. And from these discussions plans for a new type of forum for a continuous dialogue between citizens and media professionals have emerged.

The media ethics charity PressWise has played a leading role in this process. After ten years spent advising those with complaints about the media, commenting on the worst excesses of the UK media, and delivering ethics training to journalists around the world, it is now preparing to "go mainstream" and transform itself into MediaWise.

As part of a two-year self appraisal, PressWise has consulted extensively with media practitioners, consumer groups, academics and media NGOs. This led to the formation of the Journalism, Media Ethics and Democracy (JMED) Steering Group with representatives of the Media Society, the International Communications Forum, the Institute of Global Ethics and the Institute of Communication Ethics as well as academics and media practitioners.

Two significant events, held at St George's House, Windsor in December 2002 and the Guardian Media Centre in March 2003, helped to map out the shape of MediaWise. The consensus at both meetings emerged that it would require concerted efforts to re-establish trust between journalists and the public to improve "media literacy" and to offset the impact of competitive commercial pressures, cross-media ownership and political "spin".

This will be especially important in the post-Communications Act media environment under OfCom's "light touch" regulation. And, following the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee Report on Privacy and Media Intrusion it will be vital to ensure that chairman Sir Christopher Meyer is held to his promise to make the Press Complaints Commission more effective and accountable.

The eventual aim of MediaWise is to create an independent, authoritative "media observatory" open and welcoming to the public and the media alike. Operating under the PressWise credo "Press freedom is a responsibility exercised by journalists on behalf of the public" it will be an entirely new endeavour to engage civil society more fully in obtaining "the media it deserves".

It will seek partnerships with industry bodies and other agencies concerned with press freedom and human rights.

Work has already begun to find funding, premises, and the means to deliver:

	a web-based Right of Reply service, enabling individuals and institutions misrepresented by the media to set the record straight by providing the public and other journalists with instant access to original sources;
	advice, assistance and information on ethical issues to media professionals and the public;
	a new edge to academic research through collaborative programmes, and on-line and public fora;
	systematic training around problematic media issues;
	high profile public debates, screenings, exhibitions, and market research around ethical issues as they arise;
	a global network of dialogue by collaborating with media centres in developing democracies.

For the time being, individuals and organisations wishing to contribute to
this exciting initiative should contact:

The PressWise Trust, 38 Easton Business Centre, Felix Road, Bristol,
BS5 0HE; Telephone +44 (0) 117 941 5889; Fax +44 (0) 117 941 5848;
E-mail: pw@presswise.org.uk; Web: www.presswise.org.uk.

December traditionally sees the shortest yet best-attended meeting of the year, something which may or may not be related to the fact that the Christmas shindig follows immediately afterwards.

The next meeting is expected to be no different with the upstairs bar of The Doublet set as the venue.

Our colleagues at the West of Scotland Freelance and Glasgow Broadcasting branches are, as always, respectfully invited. However, all members will be welcomed.

So, if you feel the desire to indulge in an evening of comradeship; if you fancy a night of celeb-spotting or if "No-pals" is your middle name, come and join us.

This media request was sent to us from Bully OnLine on behalf of BBC assistant producer Chris Alcock. If you wish to take part please contact Chris at the addresses indicated.

BBC TV series on bullying I'm Chris Alcock and I'm an assistant producer working for BBC Current Affairs. I'm working on a new series for Daytime BBC1 which consists of five 30-minute programmes. The aim is to look at the prevalence and effects of bullying in today's society. Over five days we want to tackle different themes including family bullying, school bullying, workplace bullying (including possibly a Service story) and sexual bullying. We want to use 'real people' telling their own stories by speaking to people who've experienced bullying and who are left to deal with the consequences. We want to highlight how traumatic it can be. We also hope to illustrate the enormous pressures people are under as a result of this type of intolerable behaviour, and to show what can be done to help others in similar situations. To that extent we will also be setting up a helpline to provide further support and advice. We are interested in contacting anyone who's had recent experience of bullies and being bullied and is willing to tell their story on camera, including: individuals who are suffering or who have suffered because of bullying by members of their own family or relatives (eg sibling rivalry spilling over into bullying) families who have been bullied by neighbours or other 'families' individuals who have suffered in the workplace - ideally these individuals have documented the bullying and have been through the tribunal process parents whose children have experienced bullying at school (we are also keen to talk to the children) As discussed, in all these examples we are very keen to hear from people who've been able to document the bullying and the consequences of actions that have resulted from it. Anyone interested in contacting me can do so on tel 0208 752 5928 or you can email me at chris.alcock@bbc.co.uk. I will of course call people straight back to save their phone bills.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress has issued an urgent appeal for stewards to assist with this Saturday's St Andrew's Day March and Rally against Racism & Fascism.

Stewarding is a very simple task just ensuring the route of the march is followed by all, and that marchers proceed safely and don't stray into traffic lanes.

The march assembles at 10.30am on Saturday morning in Blythswood Square, marching off at 11am to St Andrew's in the Square, Saltmarket at 12noon.

If you can help please, contact Helen Carson at the STUC email: hcarson@stuc.org.uk; tel. 0141 337 8100.

Martin Hannan has asked us to extend his thanks to NUJ members for their support during recent difficulties, which followed an article he wrote about Giovanni Di Stefano and Dundee Football Club.

Martin and all our members can be assured that the union will continue to back any members who come under attack by those who do not have the interests of press freeedom or trade unionism at heart.

We condemn any attempt by any person or company to inhibit investigative journalism, especially if such attempts are accompanied by personal attacks which appear designed to put pressure on the journalist.

Francis Shennan, LL.B, Chair, Scottish Executive Council, NUJ.
Paul Holleran, Scottish Organiser, NUJ.

Days after Rupert Murdoch let it be known that the political leanings of his mass circulation papers are up for grabs now that a tough guy has taken over the Tory party, Press Complaints Commission Director Guy Black has announced that he is to be Press Secretary to the new Tory leader.

Let's hope his vacancy will be properly advertised this time. When his predecessor at the PCC, Black's partner Mark Bolland, was headhunted to become Press Secretary to the Prince of Wales, Tory peer Lord Wakeham of Enron quickly filled the post.

There was not a word of protest from the press normally so keen to ensure that everyone else behaves impeccably.

Bolland, once revered for normalising Prince Charles' relationship with Camilla and the public, is now seen as a snitch for writing about his palace days in Murdoch's News of the World. Meanwhile Sun Editor Rebekah Wade, who holidays with the two former press policemen, has issued a thinly veiled threat to Labour MP Clive Soley who had the temerity to question News International's £500,000 payout and gagging order over alleged sexual harassment by former Sun editor Stuart Higgins.

The reek of hypocrisy seems particularly pungent, to journalists from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and Scandinavia, involved in recent PressWise assignments.

Quick to pick up on the pettiness and prurience of the British tabloids, they were puzzled that a gagging order had constrained publication of the 'royal rumours' which they could access on the electronic grapevine - and print in their own papers had they been so inclined. However they recognised that establishing the 'truth', or at least the facts, rather than simply publishing hearsay is what journalism is supposed to be about.

The papers have been full of justifiable criticism of Margaret Hodge for her inappropriate and injudicious remarks to the BBC about a survivor of abuse at the hands of her staff in Islington who had the temerity to question her suitability to be Children's Minister. Yet the same papers were happy to publish similarly damaging remarks about former royal valet George Smith, for whose unsubstantiated allegations the Mail was willing to pay handsomely before the gag went on.

There were acres of newsprint devoted to the appointment of Rupert Murdoch's son, James, as executive director of BSkyB, a company in which his father, as chair, has a 34 percent share. And plenty of space was devoted to the disgrace of another Tory peer - Lord Black of the Telegraph - for keeping his share of £19million in 'unauthorised payments'.

His titles (but not his peerage) may be up for sale, with porn-tycoon Richard Desmond a likely bidder. Credited with turning around the fortunes of the Express group by turning on asylum seekers, Desmond has friends in Downing Street and makes his millions from sex (Asian Babes and Horny Housewives) and gossip (OK! and New!).

It makes for a potent if unsavoury mix, little of which is likely to endear British journalism to any audience. Yet, in our view, it is vital to build trust between journalists and the public they serve.

PressWise is seeking alliances to promote dialogue between the public and the media, and to strengthen the resolve of journalists who recognise that press freedom is a responsibility they exercise on behalf of the public, not a licence for their bosses to make money at every one else's expense.

A Glasgow branch member is the editor of a major new book on the reporting of the war in Iraq.

Tell Me Lies: Propaganda & Media Distortion in the Attack on Iraq is edited by Vice-chair, David Miller, and reveals the systematic propaganda used by both the US and UK governments to convince us of the threat from Iraq.

It shows how we were deliberately misled into a war that has resulted in a humanitarian disaster in Iraq and threatens to create further instability and resentment of the US and UK throughout the Middle East.

Tell Me Lies is a scathing indictment of the role of the mainstream media in legitimising government actions and undermining dissent.

With a foreword from Mark Thomas, the book contains contributions by NUJ members including Abdul Hadi Jiad, who contributes The BBC: A personal account; The Journalist Editor, Tim Gopsill, whose piece entitled Target the Media appears under a chapter on Alternatives; and David's own essay, The Propaganda Machine, also appears.

Other notable contributions come from Noam Chomsky, Robert Fisk and John Pilger, among many other renowned writers.

David is a member of the Stirling Media Research Institute and he has published numerous books on the use and abuse of the media. He is currently writing a book on global public relations and corporate power.

Tell Me Lies can be purchased directly from Pluto Press, www.plutobooks.com, and is available to order now for £11.00, a saving of £1.99 on the cover price.

Email: pluto@plutobooks.com

An order form can be downloaded by clicking here.

A leading Colombian trade union campaigner is to visit Scotland. Congressman Wilson Borja will undertake a speaking tour organised by the TUC-backed Justice for Colombia campaign, visiting Edinburgh and Glasgow on 24th November.

Borja, who has been compared to Tony Benn, is a former trade union leader. Having once survived an assassination attempt, the Congressman is one of the few voices of opposition to Alvaro Uribe Velez's repressive regime.

Colombia sees 90 per cent of the world's trade unionist murders and the NUJ is asking members to show solidarity with those fighting for workers' rights and social justice.

Borja will visit the Scottish parliament before going on to a 5 PM public meeting in the John McIntyre building of Glasgow University. Also speaking will be NUJ member, Tommy Sheridan.

For further information, contact Justice for Colombia by email on info@justiceforcolombia.org or telephone 0207 794 364.

The NUJ in Scotland is supporting a superb new guide for journalists covering stories involving refugees and asylum seekers.

The Amnesty International publication, produced in collaboration with the NUJ, Oxfam and the Scottish Refugee Council, should prove indispensable to any journalist wishing to write on the issues in a responsible and informed manner.

The comprehensive guide provides factual information, helping to scotch some commonly-held misconceptions. It also contains data to assist journalists in putting issues in their proper perspective as well as contacts, important dates, analysis of key issues and specifics on asylum seekers' rights and the processes they go through.

Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran, said: "The National Union of Journalists is delighted to promote this guide. At a time when the union is campaigning to raise professional skills and standards of accurate, balanced reporting, Amnesty International has produced an essential tool for all journalists interested in coverage of refugees and asylum seekers.

"Refugees and Asylum Seekers: A Guide for Journalists in Scotland" will be launched officially at the Scottish NUJ offices on Friday at 10am.

For details of how to obtain a copy, contact the Scottish NUJ Office on 0141 632 2378.

We hear that cost-conscious Archant are at it again.

An informed source tells us that a memo was recently circulated at the Glasgow offices of The Extra, The Courier and The Weekly News offering reporters a £25 bonus if they do not use a photographer for a whole week.

We will leave it to the freesheets' readers to decide if quality has been affected but, if photos in the papers do leave something to be desired, you might want to make your disappointment known to the editor.

Meanwhile, we hear that the papers, which have recently lost the services of another reporter, are continuing to make good use of work experience hopefuls.

Better news is that a second sub-editor who was being asked to work shifts has now received payment, although the Editor, Alan Hodge, seemed to show some reluctance to cough up.

With his apparent belief that journalists should produce his papers unpaid, we are starting to wonder how much of his time Mr Hodge contributes without remuneration.

Preparations are already under way for an initial blitz that will target specific publishers and fire a shot across the bows of anyone who thinks that they can abuse the work of freelances by refusing to pay for work done.

A rash of actions is planned soon and Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran, has promised that the union will repeat the process for as long as the problem persists.

So, if you owe money to a freelance, now is the time to call the Accounts department to tell them to pay up!

Had problems securing payment? Email us, in strict confidence, to name them and shame the non-payers.

West of Scotland Freelance members were bemused and distressed last night when they were forced to call the police to have a colleague removed from their branch meeting.

Members were at a loss to explain the conduct of former wine writer Bill McLean, who allegedly disrupted proceedings with hostile interjections on several occasions, ignoring warnings about his conduct.

Some members referred to apparently menacing undertones to a number of comments made by the one-time Dalek, the most serious of which were directed at Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran.

Exasperated, members voted to adjourn the meeting until McLean left, accompanied by police officers, who were later praised for their sensitive handling of the matter.

When asked for his reaction to allegations that he had been threatened by McLean, a clearly concerned Holleran declined to comment, preferring to play down the incident.

Following complaints and a meeting of the National Executive Council, James Cruickshank, formerly of the West of Scotland Freelance branch was expelled from the NUJ on 31st October.

The complaints concerned remarks made in the West of Scotland Freelance newsletter and the production of an issue after the NEC issued instructions to cease publication.

A complaint against West of Scotland Freelance member Bill McLean was not upheld.

The International Federation of Journalists has condemned as "censorship", press restrictions that will exclude freelances from next month's World Summit on the Information Society.

Media accreditation conditions for the Summit require journalists to submit application forms "with a letter of assignment on official letterhead" (a recognised press card is not required).

Noting that freelances often attend such events in the hope of selling work afterwards, IFJ General Secretary, Aidan White, said: "It is bizarre that this rule has been introduced. It appears to be an attempt to exclude bona fide journalists just because they have no confirmed commission.

"Freelancers who show a regular press card should undeniably be allowed in the Summit discussions. Public information and adequate coverage of the Summit are essential, particularly at a time where summit negotiations have been suffering from a lack of transparency.

"This process is another form of censorship."

The summit, the first phase of which will be held in Geneva between 10th and 12th December, is being organised by the International Telecommunication Union under the patronage of United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan.

It will bring together more than 10,000 participants, including heads of state, media professionals and civilian and commercial representatives.

White went on to stress the wider importance of access to the summit: "In the context of global discussions, the role of the media must be supported and journalists encouraged to cover the event.

"It is extraordinary that in these days of new technology and changing media, part of the UN appears not to understand what journalism is all about."

The deadline for motions to ADM and nominations for elected bodies has now passed.

The Glasgow branch's nominations were as follows (names in upper case denote Glasgow branch members):

Appeals tribunal

ANN COLTART
Pauline Norris

Committee of British National Pensioners

Pat Healey
Roy Jones
Bob Norris

Disabled Members Council

Keith Halley
Jenny Meredith
Michael Morgan
Cliff Price
Val Sweeney (County Clare)

Equality Council

ANN COLTART
JAMES DOHERTY
Mindy Ran

Journalist Editorial Advisory Board

FRANK MORGAN

Professional Training Committee

Frank Shennan

TUC Delegation

Jeff Apter

Women's TUC Delegation

ANN COLTART
HEATHER MCNALLY
VAL MCNULTY

Scottish Executive Council

Broadcasting

Pete Murray

Magazine & Books

ROY BEERS

National Newspapers and Agencies

IAN BRUCE
JAMES DOHERTY
FRANK MORGAN

Provincial Newspapers

EDDIE DOCHERTY
JO HARVIE
Helen Russell

Public Relations and Information

RUTH ALLEN

Glasgow Branch

KATH KYLE

Ethics Council

Scotland

ANN COLTART

This ADM congratulates the Daily Record chapel for its work in securing a Dignity at Work agreement after years of sustained bullying, intimidation and harassment by editorial management directed at the newspaper's journalists.

This ADM instructs the NEC to distribute the agreement as a model claim to branches and chapels across the union. This ADM further instructs the NEC to continue its campaign against bullying and harassment in the work place.

This ADM calls on the NEC to work with the SEC in campaigning for the establishment of an independent Press Commission for Scotland. Such a Commission would have the powers to examine and rule on issues and complaints relating to journalistic bias, distortion, misrepresentation, suppression of stories and matters of privacy, among others.

The Commission would also be charged with establishing a regulatory framework which enforces and supersedes the voluntary code of the Press Complaints Commission and be accountable to the Scottish Parliament.

The Commission would have the power, under law, to issue directives and impose sanctions on publications and individuals found to be in breach the code as well as a right of reply for injured parties.

As part of that campaign, this ADM asserts that the NUJ's Code of Conduct be at the heart of any statutory framework underpinning a future Press Commission for Scotland.

This ADM condemns the military practice requiring so-called embedded journalists to sign contracts restricting accepted journalistic freedom and allowing the military to vet copy prior to publication.

This ADM calls on the NEC to instruct NUJ members not to sign such contracts and support members who are placed under pressure by their employers and the military to do so.

This ADM instructs the NEC through the SEC to campaign for the establishment of a register of lobbyists at the Scottish Parliament.

Such a register would facilitate reporting on lobbyists, their clients and interests and enhance openness and transparency within the Scottish Parliament, along the lines of similar systems in Canada and the United States.

Such a register should include information about lobbying organisations, their clients, fees and the topics on which they lobby.

This ADM instructs the NEC to commit extra resources to extend the NUJ website so that it includes straightforward advice on a range of industrial issues such as bullying, safety and inequality.

Such easily accessible information would provide help for any individual experiencing problems within the work place and give immediate advice, when full time officials might not be available and could alleviate pressure on NUJ staff.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress is organising a Glasgow march and rally against racism and fascism.

Under the slogan, "No racism; No 'them and us'", the march will take place on Saturday, 29th November. Participants will assemble in Blythswood Square at 10.30am and march to St Andrews in the Square for a 12pm rally.

Speakers will include the STUC President, Sandy Boyle; Robin Qureshi from Positive Action on Housing and Jelina Rahman of the Glasgow Anti-Racist Alliance.

The STUC would welcome the participation of union branches as well as other interested groups and individuals. Further information can be obtained from the STUC: Tel. 0141 337 8100, e-mail info@stuc.org.uk.

The UK has fallen six places to 27th in the world league table on press freedom. That is one of the findings of Reporters Without Borders, which has issued its second world press freedom ranking.

The rankings are issued on the basis of a 53-point questionnaire, sent to local journalists or foreign reporters based in a country, researchers, jurists, regional specialists and the researchers working for Reporters Without Borders' International Secretariat.

Covering every kind of press freedom violation directly affecting journalists, it takes account of murders, imprisonment, physical attacks and threats as well as censorship, harassment and other pressures restricting reporting the news.

The ranking also takes account of legislation restricting or protecting the press and the activities of illegal groups within the countries concerned. 166 countries are included in this year's list with North Korea being found to be the worst country in the world in which to be a journalist.

Second from the bottom is Cuba, described by Reporters Without Borders as "the world's biggest prison for journalists".

Other notable placings are those of Iran and China, in 160th and 161st places respectfully; Saudi Arabia ranked 156th and Russia at 148th.

Israel (occupied territories) are placed at 146 while conditions in Israeli territory are far better in joint 44th place with Japan.

Similarly, the United States of America (in Iraq) is placed 135th on the list while the USA (American territory) is in joint 31st place with Greece.

Read the full list.