against media racism "ALIENS pouring into Britain' screamed a headline in the Daily Mail. The Daily Mirror adopted a slightly subtler approach: "Smuggling of exiles alarms Britain". The year? 1938. The 'aliens' in question? Jews fleeing from the Nazis.
This historic perspective on the role played by the press in inciting race hatred was provided by George Jerrom at a public meeting organised by the CamRacism in the Media (CARM) in London on 17 November.
Jerrom, an executive member elect of the NGA print union and a member of the Communist Party, said that journalists should go to printers to call for industrial action against racism in the media. 'But many printers have an in-built acceptance of the ideological position that Britain has a ree press and our unions nave take. disciplinary action against printers who pressed the button on anti-working class Paul Foot, of Socialist Worker, saw the answer in challenging the ownership of the mass media, and building rank-and-file strength within the unions in order to "Because we have a proprietorial press", Foot argued, 'the media reflects the class interests of those owners. Media workers with independent views are put down, and in general it is the toadies who are Just how viciously the press aids the oppression of black people and feeds the present upsurge in racism was described by Soonu Engineer of Samaj newspaper. *When the black community in Gravesend decided to defend itself against attacks by fascists", she told the meeting, 'there was a massive diatribe from the local press, which had never even reported the fasGeoffrey Sheridan, the secretary of CARM, explained the aims of the campwas lormed in recognition of the fact that anti-racist media workers could not alone combat *While it is vital that we are backed up the need for black • emercet victimised during the by other workers, we must also recognise that we are fighting an ideological battle among the majority of our union mem pers, snendan said. Inis means that the labour movement and the black commu nity should seek discussions with media workers at a local level, and be prepared to take action, such as pickets, when the mcala is racist and tne workers in 1 unresponsive to discussion."
This is one of the aims of the Oper Letter CARM is launching in the labour movemen The other objective is to ensure that the media unions and Labour MPs prevent the fascists from using the next General Election as a platform for racist incitement This position is supported by Frank Allaun MP, a member of the Labour Party's national executive, who told the meeting that journalists have a responsi bility "not to spread race hatred, but to discourage it. . It is shocking that commercial and BBC radio and TV have allowed the racialists to spread their poison. Even National rront or une Natonal Party put up 63 candidates they should not be given minute's time on the air *Freedom for all political views' Allaun stressed. "But no freedom for racists.
All Red Weekly readers are urged to seek endorsement for the Open Letter in their unions and orner organisations The final deadline is 31 January 1977, but earlier returns would be appreciated ruriner copies from. CAKM, I3 Cleve Road, London NW6 [tel. 01-328 2184). CARM'S OPEN LETTER '/we the undersigned resolve to give full supporto mose media workers oresarer to take a stand against racist propa ganda. We urge National Union of Journalisis orancHes ana chaseis other media unions to hold meetings labour movement and black rep We uroe black and labour movement organisations, particularly trades coun cils, to initiate such meetings where ar approach nas not ornerwise been made *These meetings should insist that the media should not be used TOI expression of overt racist views an policies, except in the context of expos ing the nature of racism and facism wnere ine coverace Is racis and in media workers unresponsive to discuss ion, actions such as pickets and demon strations snoule de undenaken We also recognise the extreme danger posed in any future General Election were ine main ascis parties inreaten to stand sufficient candidates to 'entitle them to newspaper reports and part DoliTica broadcasIs. means of incitement would place black people in extreme jeopardy.
we •TNE including Labour MPs, but particularly the Association of Broadcasting Staffs me National unon or voumaisis and tue Association of Cinematograph and Tel evision Technicians, to take all necessan action to prevent me wanonar rront duc