BAJ Membership Cards

The union has now stopped issuing and selling BAJ Plastic Membership Cards.

 

We were coming under pressure from our membership to cut down on plastic waste. After an audit of the number of cards being produced, it was found that each year we were sending out over 10kg of plastic cards that ultimately ended up being thrown away when they expired.

 

The cost saving associated with producing and posting plastic cards had also increased to a sum in excess of £1,000.00 when also taking into account the rising costs of post and packing.

 

It is important to mention that the BAJ Membership card is 'NOT' an accepted form of identification as a journalist.  The UK PRESS CARD is recognised and is an essential ID verifier for journalists and news gatherers working on assignments, scenes of crime, incidents, Royal visits and political events to name just a few. It is also essential for ID purposes when communicating with first responders and to be identifiable to police officers as a working journalist.

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When a journalist joins the BAJ a new Membership Card will be issued.  Moving forward current BAJ members can now request a new Membership Card, these like before will not be plastic but paper.

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