Informed 12 International


Silent tribute to 162 killed journalists


Delegates gathered together outside the conference hall to pay a silent tribute to the 162 journalists who lost their lives since the last DM two years ago. DM guest speaker Anthony Bellanger,


general secretary of the International Federation of Journalists, said: “In 2017, Mexico, Yemen, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India were the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Last year, the IFJ reported 82 journalists killed and nearly 2,500 since 1990. Tese statistics are unacceptable because


Message of freedom: Anthony Bellanger


behind these figures are women and men, mothers and fathers. Journalists killed precisely because they were journalists: nothing else. Today, messengers are killed, but the message of freedom of expression will never be erased.” He added: “You know we must remain vigilant everywhere, even in the United Kingdom or in my country, France.” Katrin McGauran, from the Netherlands branch, outlined plans by the Dutch government to allow security services to conduct mass electronic surveillance which would jeopardise the protection of journalistic sources. Te NEC was instructed to work with the IFJ and the Dutch unions to oppose these measures. Other motions supported journalists in the Iraqi, Palestinian and Turkish press whose lives are put at risk for just doing their job. Te union has also mounted a concerted campaign this year in support of colleagues at BBC Persian who have been intimidated by the Iranian authorities.


Support the IFJ safety fund


Jim Boumelha, honorary treasurer of the International Federation of Journalists, appealed to delegates to increase assistance for the fund which since 1992 had provided €2m in health, welfare and legal aid for journalists and their families who had suffered intimidation, discrimination, or physical violence, or had a member of the family killed. Manchester and Salford branch is one of a number with standing orders set up for the fund and one of its delegates, Rzhwan Jaff, said the support provided was always appreciated. Te NEC was instructed to allocate funding as part of its budgeting process. You can donate now on the IFJ website htp://if-safety.org/en/contents/ the-if-safety-fund


Under Atack Fallen colleagues were remembered by DM in motions from Continental Europe and the Irish Executive Council, which condemned the deaths of Maltese investigative reporter, Daphne Caruana Galizia, and Belfast branch officer, Martin O’Hagan, plus other media workers. Conrad Bower, Manchester and Salford branch, told the meeting India was becoming a killing field for journalists, telling of a branch member


who had fled to exile in the UK aſter being abducted, jailed and tortured in India. Te NEC was instructed to work with the IFJ and explore the possibility of raising the issue in Parliament. Te increased atacks on


press freedom in member states of the European Union, including Poland and Hungary, was noted and DM agreed to continue to work with the IFJ to campaign against those atacks and that branches would organise events to mark the


International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on 2 November.


Homage to Catalonia Te Spanish state was condemned for its use of violence and repressive measures against media workers during the 2017 Catalan independence referendum. TVE and TV3, the


region’s public-funded stations, were accused of providing biased and unfair coverage.


Journalists at TVE rebuked their bosses for pushing an editorial agenda on them and demonstrated outside their own headquarters. Anton McCabe from the


Derry and North West Ireland branch, who seconded the motion, sent congratulations to colleagues in the Catalonian media who, in the spirit of the NUJ ethics code, resisted atempts at censorship and distortion by management and protested against it.


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