STANDING IT UP
EVER SINCE the NUJ began its Stand Up For Journalism campaign a couple of years ago there was bound to be a benefit “stand-up” comedy gig and it happened at a London club in March. A string of shouty comics, including the venerable Atilla the Stockbroker, raised £700 for NUJ chapels taking strike action in Leeds, Glasgow and York.
Meanwhile the Gig for Gaza, organised by BBC workers who had been banned from holding an event at the BBC bar to raise funds for children whose lives were devastated by the Israeli assault in January (last issue), raised more than £2,500 when it was held instead at a London college.
Comics mocked the BBC’s decision to refuse to broadcast the charity appeal. NUJ member Jeremy Hardy questioned why the BBC had agreed to show the appeal for the Asian tsunami victims in 2004, declaring: “I’ve seen lots of young boys throwing stones at the sea”.
Transparency rules
SAY WHAT YOU like about the Press Complaints Commission, whose annual report, published in February, was able to vaunt yet again a rise in complaints against the UK press (I still can’t figure out why this is always the occasion of such bragging), but at least it doesn’t tack the word “independent” onto its name, as the Independent Police Complaints Commission does.
The credibility of the IPCC has been another victim of the April protests, as it stumbled from one lame attempt to excuse the police to another. Our commission is much the same with the national press, but it makes no pretence of autonomy. That’s the PCC, dependent and proud.
UK Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced he is going to “name and shame” individuals and companies that avoid their tax obligations. Virtually all top companies and super-rich individuals employ some form of tax avoidance. One of the most successful is News International, UK subsidiary of the Murdoch publishing empire, which pays hardly any corporation tax at all. So Alistair Darling is going to name and shame Rupert Murdoch? I’ll believe that when I see it.