IT-Review

Internet is the 'New Journalists' Sweatshop'

It may mean freedom of expression for some people. Alas, for journalists the Internet has become a net of the new sweatshops.

In the interview, published on www.mediabuddies.com on September 29, Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, who heads Europe's largest journalists union with 35,000 members also discusses cheque book journalism, embedded journalists, salaries, training and the NUJ's international links, including the Newspaper Guild in the US.

He said that the internet had created new opportunities in journalism but the problem still remained that no-one knew how to make it pay.

He disclosed that the union was in the process of establishing a dedicated new media section to mirror its newspapers, broadcasting, magazines and other sectors. "This is a reflection of its growing importance, and the growth in the number of new media journalists joining the NUJ.

"For all its innovation and sometimes glamorous image, we see some of the worst problems of low pay, long hours and health and safety problems in new media companies. New media, same exploitation!"

Source: press release