The NUJ compared to other gatekeepers.

Respondents were asked to rank the top four press card issuing bodies from one (best at defending the rights of photographers) to four, or indicate whether they did not feel they knew enough about each one

Please rate the following ‘gatekeeper’ organisations in the order you feel best reflects their effectiveness at defending the rights of photographers, starting with selecting "1" for the organisation you feel is best at protecting photographers’ rights, "2" for the second best, and so on. If you don’t know enough about a particular organisation, select "N/A"

All respondents
 
  1 2 3 4 N/A
           
BAJ 3.8% 1.3% 3.1% 2.2% 89.7%
           
CIOJ 0% 1.2% 2.7% 2.1% 93.9%
           
BPPA 20.4% 15.2% 7.9% 1.8% 54.6%
           
NUJ 12.0% 13.6% 18.5% 32.7% 23.1%
           
AOP 26.3% 18.7% 4.6% 1.5% 48.9%
           
           
NUJ members only
 
  1 2 3 4 N/A
           
BAJ 2.0% 0.0% 4.6% 3.9% 89.5%
           
CIOJ 0% 1.3% 5.0% 2.5% 91.2%
           
BPPA 22.5% 19.4% 6.9% 1.3% 50.0%
           
NUJ 21.5% 16.5% 21.5% 32.3% 8.2%
           
AOP 23.4% 17.7% 2.5% 2.5% 53.8%
           
           
Non-NUJ members only
 
  1 2 3 4 N/A
           
BAJ 5.2% 2.3% 1.7% 0.6% 90.1%
           
CIOJ 0% 1.1% 1.7% 2.2% 94.9%
           
BPPA 19.8% 13.0% 8.5% 2.3% 56.5%
           
NUJ 4.6% 10.3% 16.6% 33.1% 35.4%
           
AOP 28.7% 20.2% 6.2% 0.6% 44.4%
           
           
NI/ROI respondents only
 
  1 2 3 4 N/A
           
BAJ 0% 0% 0% 4.0% 96.0%
           
CIOJ 0% 0% 3.8% 3.8% 92.3%
           
BPPA 26.9% 7.7% 3.8% 0% 61.5%
           
NUJ 7.7% 7.7% 26.9% 34.6% 23.1%
           
AOP 15.4% 30.8% 0% 0% 53.8%
           
           

Additional comments from NUJ members:

  • “I have been an active member of one union or another (NUJ, NUPE, NALGO,Unison,NUS etc) since the age of 16 (I’m now 49), and am active in recruiting other photographers/journalists to the NUJ. Since Drogheda, if a young photographer asked me if it was worth joining the NUJ, I would have to say “It depends. If you believe in trades unions, then ‘Yes’. If you are just looking for an organisation that will look after your interests as a photographer, you may be better off joining the AOP or the BPPA”
  • “A single, unified body representing the needs of the professional photographer is long overdue. Specific divisions could recognised Commercial, Editorial, etc. and could also include recognition for technical and ethical standards that would be protection for consumers/clients. Any chance of a merger between say AOP, NVJA and/or others?”

Additional comments from non-NUJ members:

  • “I’ve yet to find an association that I feel might represent my corner as a photographer, in particular in offering good backup in copyright theft and other instances where legal representation is required. NUJ certainly isn’t it – once, I might have aspired to being a member, but this latest agreement and other oft-reported issues makes certain that I will never part with money to the NUJ.”
  • “I believe it’s now time for ALL the photographic professional associations to come together as one and fight a united front to promote professional photography. At the moment it seems from an outside point of view that they’re each only interested in feathering their own nests and promoting their “chums”.”

Editor’s note: anyone wanting to add comments to this survey can do so at the accompanying news article

  • ...continued on the next page

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