MEAA Update for August 2018

Something that will hopefully keep you in the loop a bit more…

Introduction

The MEAA (Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance) is the union for journalists and writers and I thought I should start doing this monthly so that whether you are a member or not, you were aware of what the union is trying to do to help journalism and journalists.

It also helps you be more informed especially if you have ideas for how the union can do more.

So I will tell you what I can tell you – sometimes there are awesome things I am dying to tell you about that I cannot because they are still in planning stage behind the scenes, so please do keep that in mind too.

And remember to have a read through of the MEAA FAQs page on this website as well.

MEAA events you may want to go to

28 AUGUST 2018: Melbourne – Workshop on using your mobile phone for capturing & editing film and photography for journalism.
Members: FREE
Non member students: $15
Non members: $30
6 – 8 pm, Level 3, 365 Queen Street, Melbourne
8 SEPTEMBER 2018: Brisbane – Queensland Clarion Awards Gala
Please register ASAP.
12 SEPTEMBER 2018: Melbourne – WiMVic & MEAA’s Equal Pay Day Media Drinks
FREE but register beforehand.
5:30 – 8:30 pm, Diesel, 202 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
14 – 15 SEPTEMBER 2018: Gold Coast – Women In Media National Conference.
20 SEPTEMBER 2018: Melbourne – Peter Greste on Journalism In The Age of Terror.
FREE but register beforehand.
6 – 7:30 pm, RMIT University Lower Storey Hall Lecture Theatre, 336 – 348 Swanston Street, Melbourne.
27 OCTOBER 2018: Perth – MEAA WA Media Awards Gala
7 pm onwards, Aloft Rooftop Ballroom & Terrace, Perth
19 NOVEMBER 2018: Perth – MEAA WA Branch Get Together
FREE.
For all sections of MEAA not just the Media section. Non members welcome.
5:30 – 10 pm, The Shoe, Yagan Square, Perth

If you are aware of any other MEAA/media related events, please send them my way.

Ok, so what has MEAA been doing?

Image from MEAA of wooden printing press block letters arranged to spell freelance against a white background

The new freelance section

I mean the one on the website – freelance photographers, journos, writers, editors etc all still come under the Media Section of MEAA.

But finally, after much hand wringing and code making and breaking, we have a section on the website, that visually lays out all the important information you need to know.

Workshops & training

Workshops, training and other events are now happening quite regularly. In the events section above you will see the info for the mobile journalism workshop which is free for members.

But there is also an online course on cyberculture that MEAA has negotiated a 25% member discount for. Check the freelance page on the website for the code and the cyberculture course is here. It includes modules on cyberhate and bullying and what you can do to combat it.

You also get a discount offer with Australian based invoicing software provider Rounded if you are a MEAA or Freeline member. Tell them I sent you. 😉

MEAA and the current campaign trail…

MEAA works on a lot of different campaigns in each section at once to try to get a lot of issues fixed and there are different ways members and non members can get involved. A lot of these issues will also have an effect on freelancers whether you are a MEAA member or not so it is in your best interest to be aware of what’s happening.

Change The Rules – This is ACTU’s national campaign to change workplace legislation. Many freelancers want better rates of pay, more security and standard entitlements and many in-house employees want to be able to bargain freely, to be able to move from casual to permanent positions more easily and better wages. MEAA wants to help change the legislation so that these things can finally happen.
You can:
read up on exactly what sort of changes we want.
call up your local, state and federal representatives AND their opposition members and ask them to support this campaign.
shout loudly on social media.
march in the rallies.
Press Freedom – This campaign focuses on the legislation that tries to penalise journalists for doing their jobs or for protecting their sources or prevents them from reporting on particular stories.
You can:
follow what has been happening.
read the Press Freedom report.
sign up to keep informed.
call your local representatives to let them know how you feel about current legislation that puts journalists at risk.
Good Jobs in Digital Media – Journalists working in digital media including freelancers are not always treated well or given the same conditions as their counterparts in traditional or print media. This campaign aims to set out a charter for what good working conditions in digital media should look like and to get workplaces adopting it as a standard base set of conditions to work from and helping employees access union representation.
You can:
read the charter and sign it here.
watch the video and share it.
get in touch with MEAA to see how you can help.
join the Facebook Group.
Fair Go Fairfax – Nine’s takeover of Fairfax means less jobs for journalists in-house but also less work for freelancing journalists. Stories written in one publication with one angle will be reproduced across all outlets, eliminating the need for journalists in each outlet to cover it according to that outlet’s specific audience and needs.
You can:
make a submission to the ACCC Inquiry.
also donate to the campaign.
yell very loudly on social media with these resources.
Hands Off Our ABC – This is a campaign that has been long ongoing in an effort to try to prevent funding cuts and other legislation and moves that affect the ABC operating as it should do and being able to do what it is meant to do in its charter.
You can:
follow up on what is happening here.
use all the spicy memes here.

OMG there is more?

Media Safety & Solidarity Fund

The MSSF is handled by MEAA to collect funds for the families of journalists in the Asia-Pacific region who are undergoing hardship. Some have died in the course of reporting on stories, some have been injured, some find themselves unable to work.

In all cases, they need assistance and the MSSF provides that.

You can:
read more here.
donate to MSSF.

Women In Media

Women In Media is supported by MEAA but generally operates seperately. It aims to ensure women (and female identifying people) get paid equally, get to work safely and are better represented in the industry. It does this by providing mentoring, running events and generally doing all sorts of awesome projects. They run awards and carry out research as well.

You can:
mentor or be mentored.
attend an event.
join your state committee to have your say.

I wish to know the future…

Future plans include:
– more workshops and training for freelancers
– the WIM conference and what comes out of it
– face to face National Media Section meetings in November in Brisbane so I will report back then.
– the Queensland, WA and Walkley Awards
– a lot of other things I cannot discuss yet that are still in “behind the scenes” mode.

What do I do now?

If you need to chat to me, email me. I am working my way through a list of everyone and will get back to you. Your queries/discussions will be kept confidential. Members/non members are all welcome. But please read the FAQ first in case your question is answered there.
You can also talk to MEAA directly if you are a member.
If you want to join and can afford to do so, please do. If you are a student of any sort from TAFE to PhD, you can join as a student and pay $55 per year. The lowest you pay as a full member is $365 per year and it is based on your income.
You can take action on any of the campaigns without needing to be a member so feel free to get riled up and call some representatives.
Feel free to leave a question in the comments as well.

MEAA Update for August 2018