The NUJ is a Hostile Environment For Jewish Journalists. So I Quit.


Welcome to The Addition, where I cover the crossover between culture, media and sport.

I don’t like making the newsletter about me, but today I must. I have resigned from the National Union of Journalists (NUJ). It has become a hostile environment for Jews, and I can no longer be a part of that. (Sadly, this is not the first time I've had to leave an organisation over such issues.)

I remember the first time I joined the NUJ and received my Press Card. I felt so proud. Coming from the world of blogging, it made me feel like a “proper” journalist. However, the issues that have finally led to me giving up my membership have gone on for years.

Plenty of Jewish journalists have already quit the NUJ over its response to the war between Israel and the terror group Hamas following the atrocities of October 7, 2023. I, in hope/naivety, decided to stay. Indeed, a few months ago, I attended a meeting for the branch I was a member of. Those there seemed keener to discuss a foreign war than how to support journalists. I spent much of the meeting worrying that people would work out that I am Jewish.

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Charlotte Henry is a journalist and broadcaster who creates and runs The Addition newsletter and podcast; an award-winning publication looking at the crossover between media and technology.

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