If you’re a journalist like me, there’s a good chance that a few quid disappears from your account monthly, heading for Liberty Hall, in the form of an NUJ Membership payment. In these NAMAesque times, every penny counts, and union membership must be worth its money.

So I’m asking the question – what do Irish journalists reckon about NUJ memberhip – is it value for money?

One editor I worked with snorted at anyone who joined the NUJ. He had been a long-standing member, he said, and asked them for legal advice once, the only time he approached them. They completely failed him and he cancelled his sub. He was also of the view that NUJ rates, if adhered to rigidly, would preclude him from rewarding better journalists for doing more valuable work. And NUJ membership certainly didn’t help journalists I worked with who were let go, other than offer a bit of solidarity, á la People’s Front of Judaea.

But I’m a card-carrier, and curious to see how many other journalists reckon that card is worth the money.

So if you can spare 90 seconds, please go and fill out my survey, NUJ – Value for Money, and feel free to pass on the link to anyone you think might be willing to contribute.

http://tinyurl.com/nujvalue

I’ll post results here once I have them.

One of the many freelance hats I wear is as web editor for Afloat Magazine’s online portal, Afloat.ie.

Right now, one of the biggest stories in sailing is the news that Ireland will host the finish of the Volvo Ocean Race.

When Knut Frostad, CEO of the race, came to Ireland to announce that news, I got 20 minutes with him to ask him about his plans. The video is pasted above. What’s interesting today is that Auckland has, overnight, been announced as the final stopover port for the race. If you scroll through the video to around the 2.15 point, Knut talks about the possibility of sending the boats on a lap of Ireland (or possible Britain and Ireland) en route from Lorient to Galway. And he says that he’ll announce details like that once the stopover ports have all been announced. Which means: anytime after today.

Fingers crossed.

Video shot with Kodak Zi8 Camera on a tripod and a new lapel mic