The National Union of Journalists and Bristol Media have organised a conference in Bristol to introduce out-of-work journalists to the PR and communications industry, following the recent redundancy news by Northcliffe, which runs Bristol’s Evening Post and the Western Daily Press, announced in January it was cutting 45 jobs and proposed changes across ITV.

The “opportunities day” on Saturday 4 April aims to help journalists find work in public relations and marketing communications.

Bristol Media, which represents 1,800 media firms in the South West, approached the NUJ following news of the redundancy programme and offered to facilitate the day, bringing together speakers from Bristol’s PR community and other industry bodies including the Public Relations Consultants Association, The Chartered Institute of Public Relations and BRAVE, Bristol’s enterprise agency.

NUJ Bristol branch chair Christina Zaba commented : “Bristol is the second media city in the UK, and it’s a booming city, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other organisations looking for the skills of journalists.”

Zaba said the conference would help “lift the doom and gloom” for out-of-work journalists.

“What we’re hearing from PR organisations is that journalists know what a story is, they know how to write, they know what’s newsworthy. That’s one thing, the ability to supply material to the media that media can use.

“As well as that, they’re disciplined, professional, used to working under pressure. They have earned their stripes.”

The event, at the Bristol Ramada Plaza hotel, runs from 11am to 4,30 pm on Saturday 4 April.

It will include workshops and presentations from more than 10 PR executives and recruitment specialists, including Sarah Pinch, head of communications at University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust, Lis Anderson, managing director, Corixa Communications and PRCA council member, Liz Snell, The Green Room, Tom Bowden-Green, CIPR and Chloe Rigby, freelance business writer.

Entry is £5 to NUJ members, and £25 to non-NUJ members. To book a place, email nuj@christina.zaba.com.