news


Talk to Radio Foyle listeners about cuts to news, BBC bosses urged


© KEVIN COOPER PHOTOLINE


TIM DAVIE, the BBC director general, and corporation chair Richard Sharp are being pressed to visit Derry and engage directly with the community on the future of Radio Foyle. In common with other BBC local radio stations, it is threatened with cuts to jobs and programming. The NUJ has pointed out that as there is no Northern Ireland


representation on the BBC board, decisions in relation to services in the region have been taken with no local input. The union organised a public meeting in Derry’s Guildhall,


hosted by the mayor of Derry and Strabane district, Sandra Duffy, which attracted more than 250 people. Séamus Dooley, the NUJ’s assistant general secretary, who chaired the meeting, said that only an out-of-touch BBC board would ignore “the angry and determined voice of a risen people”. Under the BBC’s plans, eight jobs out of the 30-strong


workforce at Radio Foyle are threatened. The audience included nationalist and unionist politicians as


well as members of the clergy, farmers, factory workers and trade unionists. Radio Foyle presenter Dean McLaughlin told them: “This is a battle and, like our newsroom, we are ready to go to the battlefield.” After the meeting Dooley said: “The historic Guildhall echoed


to the rafters as more than 250 people demanded the retention of existing news services at Radio Foyle. The director general and chair need to show leadership, engage with the


inbrief...


PUTIN’S PEOPLE AUTHOR GETS MBE Catherine Belton, the former Financial Times Moscow correspondent and author of the book Putin’s People, was made an MBE in the New Year’s honours. The book was hit with a legal claim from oligarch Roman Abramovich. She used her award to call for action to end intimidating law suits against journalists.


community and hear what their local listeners have to say.” “The powerful testimonies from across every sector of the


community are confirmation of the role which Radio Foyle plays within its vast catchment area, which extends beyond Derry’s walls. Because of the current political deadlock in Northern


Ireland there is no NI nominee to the board, as provided for in legislation. “In these circumstances, there is a particular onus on Richard


Sharp to protect the interest of Northern Ireland. One way he can do this is by coming to Northern Ireland and engaging with the community.” You can sign the petition to oppose the cuts at https://tinyurl.


com/57dbm9ze Newry paper saved by buyer


ONE OF Northern Ireland’s oldest papers has been saved from closure after it was bought by National World. The Newry Reporter weekly


paper, founded in 1867, was due to bring out its final


edition on January 25. Ten jobs would have been lost. National World executive chairman David Montgomery – a former editor of the News of the World and ex-chief executive of Mirror Group –


Lyra murder charges


TWO MEN are to stand trial for the murder of Lyra McKee, the journalist and NUJ member who was shot dead while reporting on a disturbance in Derry in April 2019. Peter Cavanagh, 35, and Jordan Devine, 22, are both from Derry and will stand trial in Belfast on a date yet to be fixed. They deny the charge of murder and are on bail pending a trial date. The two have also been charged with rioting on the same


night of the shooting along with six other men. Lyra was killed shortly after the 21st anniversary of the Good Friday agreement and her death made headlines around the world.


said: “The Reporter has a proud history and National World is committed to uphold and foster its heritage. “It is important that its independent editorial voice is protected and plays a part in


promoting Newry and the wider region. “We are proud to take on


that role and support all The Reporter’s staff and contributors in that mission.” The NUJ has said the loss of the paper would “pierce the very heart of the town”.


GEORDIE GREIG GOES TO THE INDEPENDENT Geordie Greig is the new editor of the digital-only Independent . He was appointed in January, just over a year after he was ousted from the top job at the Daily Mail. The Independent, which closed its print edition seven years ago, has been led by acting editor David Marley for over two years since Christian Broughton moved from editor to managing director.


THE PAPERS DOES ITS FINAL REVIEW Nightly newspaper review programme The Papers has ended. The Papers, which was broadcast after BBC News at Ten on the 24-hour news channel, was produced for the final time on January 2. It had previously been a popular programme on the main BBC channels, at one point getting more viewers than Newsnight


GUIDE ISSUED ON REFUGEE REPORTING The NUJ and UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, have published guidance for the media during the largest refugee emergency in Europe since the Second World War, caused by the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Reporting on Refugees, Guidance by and for Journalists, covers all the main terms and definitions as well as the different forms of protection that are available to refugees, to assist journalists in carrying out their work. It can be downloaded from https://tinyurl.com/5ar2sdvc


theJournalist | 07


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28