AUSTERITY: Journalists agreed yesterday to step up the campaign against Con-Dem austerity by supporting the inauguration of people’s assemblies across the country and backing calls for a general strike.

The NUJ will remind the TUC that a one-day general strike is still relevant and should be pursued as part of the fight against government cuts to jobs and pay.

Delegates also agreed to campaign to support co-ordinated strikes with other unions.

PRIVACY: New legislation must be brought to protect individuals and organisations from unnecessary state surveillance, journalists said at the weekend.

Plans to set up a commission on draft laws were agreed in recognition of Edward Snowden, who revealed mass surveillance by US and British spies.

Guardian trade union rep Brian Williams said: “The support we have had from NUJ members has been essential in helping us to follow up the story.”

ETHICS: Reporters agreed to “kick out the Daily Mail” yesterday when they accepted new guidelines on writing about poverty.

The new code includes avoiding discriminatory language that demonises the working poor and benefit recipients through stereotypes and misinformation.

A related motion condemned the inaccurate “dumb blonde” stereotype of so-called Essex girls perpetuated by TV like The Only Way is Essex. Delegates vowed to continue to campaign on discrimination.

RACISM: NUJ reaffirmed its position at the weekend to support all anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations striving to oppose hate crime across Britain.

Conference heard how journalists reporting racism and fascism in the north had become the target of abuse and threats, which was eroding the freedom to do their jobs.

The union was instructed to be prepared to support and campaign for industrial action to defend journalists under threat.