View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
October 19, 2006updated 22 Nov 2022 9:30pm

NUJ attacks Express trainee contracts

By Press Gazette

The NUJ is sending a letter to all colleges and universities that run journalism courses to warn students that trainee contracts at Express Newspapers "may not be worth the paper they're written on".

Last week the Daily Express axed six of its current crop of 12 trainee journalists one month into their two-year contracts. It is believed the six were told their contracts were terminated because of a re-evaluation of the group's internet strategy.

An Express Newspapers NUJ chapel representative said: "We want to make journalism students aware of the behaviour of Express Newspapers with regards to its graduate trainees. If they join Express Newspapers we want them to have their eyes wide open to the fact that graduate trainee contracts from [owner] Richard Desmond may not be worth the paper they are written on.

"We feel we were duty bound to inform journalism students that when it comes to securing a traineeship the Express is to be avoided. As of yet the management still haven't given them an official reason for their dismissal, which they are obliged to do."

The group's internet controller Richard Avery and human resources executive Hazel Messenger oversaw the dismissals. It is alleged Messenger told some of the female trainees: "It's a volatile industry, newspapers, you would be better off as midwives."

Chair of the NUJ's professional training committee Chris Wheal said in the letter to colleges: "Cynical journalism students will soon realise that the word ‘trainee' in a job title simply means cheap and expendable.

"When they hear politicians lament the declining standards of journalism today they will wonder why those very same politicians stand by silently while disreputable employers such as Desmond scythe their way through the journalists of the future. You can not expect the best journalism to grow out of the worst treatment."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article :

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network