Informed 12


News Update


NUJ a key partner in safety body


Creating a safer world for journalists to carry out their work without fear of intimidation, harassment, imprisonment or worse is the object of the government’s National Commitee for the Safety and Protection of Journalists. Te NUJ is a key member of the


safety and protection commitee, which includes media organisations, the police, Crown Prosecution Service and BBC. Michelle Stanistreet gave a presentation to its inaugural meeting in July with media and data minister, John Whitingdale, and minister for safeguarding, Victoria Atkins, and outlined the recent threats members have experienced. While atacks on journalists are not


new, there has been an increasing atmosphere of intimidation, whether from US president Donald Trump calling the press the enemy of the people, far-right demonstrators turning on photographers and TV crews and members of the public becoming violent aſter being photographed while not social distancing. Michelle described how members


Belfast united In May, the NUJ spearheaded a coalition of publishers, editors, trade unionists and politicians in Northern Ireland to publicly condemn violent threats made against newspaper journalists and staff by paramilitary groups. A statement was published in the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and News Leter newspapers noting an increase in the number of violent threats against


Mark Kerrison / Alamy Stock Photo


Photographers have been atacked at several far-right demonstrations


in Northern Ireland were routinely threatened by paramilitary groups, with an offshoot of the Ulster Defence Association recently targeting all the staff of the Sunday Life and Sunday World in Belfast. She reported incidents of unacceptable and abusive behaviour from the British police, maters since raised directly with the National Police Chiefs’ Council. She also highlighted the case of the NUJ’s MoC at Te Mail in Barrow, Amy Fenton, who suffered horrendous online threats and abuse for her public interest


journalists in Northern Ireland during the past year, saying: “Treats against journalists and media organisations have no place in our society. It is vital that such behaviour is not tolerated. No worker should be exposed to threats for doing their job.”


#WeStandWithLyra On April 18, the anniversary of her death, the NUJ celebrated the life of investigative journalist


stories on false sex grooming allegations. Atacks have continued on members at BBC Persian Service and Iran International by the Iranian authorities, largely by intimidating their families in Iran but also by threats to snatch them off the streets of London. Michelle said: “Unfetered journalism is a vital part of our democracy and the NUJ looks forward to working with the commitee to protect a free media and end the impunity of crimes against journalists.” Te safety and protection commitee’s first task will be to develop a national action plan seting out a framework to provide journalists with protection from physical harm and threats of violence. Te commitee will meet twice a year and journalists will be invited on an ad hoc basis to share their experiences. Observers, such as the International Federation of Journalists, will provide international perspectives. Te IFJ’s global tally of journalists killed in 2020 is so far 23. Send your ideas for the safety commitee’s action plan to campaigns@nuj.org.uk


Lyra McKee, who was shot by the New IRA in Derry; arrests have since been made. Members were asked to share examples of her journalism, tributes and pictures on social media. She was also commemorated, together with murdered Irish journalists, Martin O’Hagan and Veronica Guerin, in a candle-lit tribute on International Workers’ Memorial Day which remembers those killed or


injured carrying out their professional duties.


Beirut blast Messages of solidarity were sent to Lebanese media workers injured aſter the explosion in Beirut, which killed more than 200 and injured thousands more. Reuters senior television producer, Ayat Basma, provided some of the first images of the explosion from her phone, despite being cut by flying glass in her home.


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