Business assistance - frustration's setting in

We're 12 days away from our next meeting to discuss the union-triggered journalism co-op. I sincerely hope our working party members are able to report some progress that night - because embracing public sector-sponsored help is starting to frustrate.
All the individuals we've met as we seek guidance and assistance have been decent, good-humoured individuals with good credentials but, blimey, they ain't half hamstrung by the system.
Costa Coffee in Swansea - opposite Ann Summers, nudge, nudge, wink, wink - was the venue for today's lunchtime chat with a business advisor appointed by the Swansea Business Centre. She was attentive, understanding, ready with ideas and thoughtful in her approach.
However, we were left with a feeling of: "We've come this far - we've ploughed through meeting after meeting - but we're not much further forward."
It was the nth time we'd outlined our plans and aspirations, it was another blast of espresso for the body to fight and it was another valuable two hours out of a day.
The time has come to be decisive and forceful. Our November 2 gathering must deliver some significant advances, including an agreement to formally register the company.
It's also clear that we need cash from somewhere to pay for a development go-getter to kick-start this Vespa that we want to be a Harley. Without a couple of months hard graft from him or her the progress of our willing volunteers will be severely hampered.
There's a thrilling uphill adventure in prospect - but we've not yet starting packing the tent poles for base camp.

Heartstrings and headlines

The story of the out-of-work Welsh journalist may not tug at the heartstrings and it's unlikely to hit the headlines. A cocktail of inhuman old stereotypes and distant mega-media managements in self-preservation mode will ensure the lack of furore.
Yet the work sector in which these (mainly) hardworking, modestly paid professionals operate is undergoing a revolution. It's difficult to predict who the winners will be. Or whether there'll be any.
Radical times call for radical thinking and that's what's been occupying the minds of a working party from the National Union of Journalists' Swansea and District branch.
For two months the group has been considering options with one common aim: creating work for freelance and out-of-work journalists based in south-west Wales.
Experts have been consulted, gatherings of interested individuals called, miles clocked, coffees consumed and valued new acquaintances made. Those in the know from the worlds of business start-ups, the co-operative movement and the community regeneration sector have been encouragingly helpful and supportive.
Now - crucially - a marketplace has been identified, trading principles agreed and options for business models are on the table. It may well be that this is an opportunity not to be missed.
It's also time for the union to hand over the reins to a team of members who are passionate about going it alone (with the branch's wholehearted backing and support, of course) and who will take the project forward.
As cliches go, it's now or never - the idea, the marketplace and the professional assistance awaits. All that's needed now is hard work, vision and a great dollop of the teamwork ethic.

Let's get together To find out more, to get involved, to get energised and to start generating work meet up on Monday, October 12, from 6-7pm in the Swansea Yacht Club, close to the maritime quarter's Dylan Thomas Centre.

Details Andy Pearson - 07758 745 240, andy@hopestreetmedia.co.uk

Making journalism pay - Wales listens

The Wales Council of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists) meets tomorrow and one item under discussion will be an effort by the Swansea branch to explore new ways of making journalism pay.
The background is diminishing employment opportunities in the traditional media; the opportunity is the fast-evolving new media landscape and technology. Wherever it's leading, we want to reach that destination.
Working at Parc y Scarlets as a rugby PR guy, I won't make the Cardiff meeting - but good people in the form of Ken Smith and Mike Burrows will be there fighting our branch's corner. It'd be good to get positive feedback and offers of support and guidance from the council as the Swansea case won't be an isolated one. Newspapers, radio stations and TV channels all over the UK are shedding jobs so something needs to be done to retain and use the skills these jettisoned journos have.
Things are changing dramatically and many regions, cities and towns may soon find themselves in a professional journalism desert. The powers that be and the holders of our public purse strings will find themselves protected by a clogged up information filtration system. Worse, the public will lose a lively tier of entertainment and independent news.
Swansea are looking at the possibility of being a catalyst in the creation of a multi-media thoroughly modern news agency. A working party is looking at key areas such as governmental aid for young businesses, partnerships with academia, tie-ups and with cooperative and development trust movements and, of course, links with like-minded union groups and activists.
I hope the union's Wales Council give a great deal of honest and open thought to what Ken and Mike have to report.

August 16 - the future starts here

Exciting things are happening down the National Union of Journalists' Swansea and District branch.
Instead of suffering the recession in silence, NUJ members are exploring new ways of creating work (with pay!) for journalists.
As branch chairman, I've been involved in early explorations into the idea of a co-operative enterprise. They have resulted in some innovative thinking and a summer timetable for encouraging progress.
Now members are being invited to a groundbreaking August 16 gathering which will decide on the best business model(s) to pursue. It could be the start of the future so I've urged members to make every effort to attend: the more bright minds we bring together the more feasible a business model we'll devise.
The meeting will be in the form of a brainstorming session open to all NUJ branch members who would consider contributing or getting involved in the practical work of setting up a media co-operative. The venue is the Swansea Sub-aqua and Yacht Club, Pockett's Wharf, East Burrows Road, Swansea SA1 1RE.
The background to all this is that the recession means lost jobs in the traditional media and fewer freelance opportunities. It also creates opportunities. Could a co-op be the way forward? There’s a demand for news & info so why don’t we – the experts - supply it and make a fair living from it? Could we run a grassroots-up network using agreed union rates?
Did you know? Associated Press – the global news agency serving multi-media platforms - is a co-op. New Internationalist, the London-based social affairs mag, is a co-op as is Wisconsin’s 70-year-old weekly Inter-County Leader (7,000 circ, 75 payroll)
There’s enthusiasm for exploring Swansea and District co-op opportunities, a pool of skilled journalists and a lot of niches. Key questions include - What niche? Can we fill gaps left by established media?
What market do we go for? How will revenues be generated? Agency? Publication? New media? Rather than starting an enterprise from scratch, could we buy-out a company, run it along co-op lines & develop new-media lines?
Intersting - and encouragingly - there's UN, UK & Wales support network for co-ops. Individual support/encouragement indicated by co-ops across the UK.
Ideas on a postcard, please ...