04 Informed


Update Support the war reporters


Te International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ) have launched a special Safety Fund for journalists in Ukraine which is providing crucial support to local journalists and buying safety equipment and humanitarian aid. Jim Boumelha, chair of the union’s


policy commitee, told the NEC that the IFJ had sent €10,000 (£8,400) each to its two journalist union affiliates in Ukraine. Other funds will be sent to pay for safety training, first aid kits, power banks and communications and a 24-hour hotline for journalists has been set up. UNESCO had paid for 100 sets of body armour and €20,000 had been promised by the Irish government. He said the Daily Mail had made a large donation and already sums had been sent from NUJ branches including Notingham, Edinburgh Freelance, London PR & Comms, with much more on its way. A motion passed by the NEC called on


all employers to ensure their staff and freelance personnel deployed to Ukraine were properly trained and prepared, and provided with the fullest possible support and vital safety equipment and materials. Te IFJ is also supporting


Safety Survey 2022 Te union is urging members to complete the government’s UK Journalist Safety Survey as part of the work of the National Commitee for the Safety of Journalists. Te data will inform policies to protect media workers so they can do their job in safety. If you have experienced threats or abuse online and otherwise, or not, please complete the survey by Tursday 14 April. htps://journalistsafety


Help Ukraine


Te NUJ is asking all members to donate to a special IFJ/EFJ Ukraine Safety Fund. All donations will be used directly to provide emergency assistance to support journalists under threat. We are working with Ukraine’s journalists’ unions the NUJU and IMTUU. News teams are being directly targeted and have been killed and injured. Donate now: htps://bit.ly/3N8uz3j


at least 35 Russian journalists who had to flee their country and urged EU countries to help Russian colleagues obtain Schengen visas. Te NEC motion recognised that the war had resulted in significant hardships for the Russian population, and for journalists subject to laws which had effectively criminalised coverage of the war. Te motion said: “We congratulate those journalists, such as TV presenter and protester Marina Ovsyannikova, who have taken enormous personal risks to try and tell the Russian people the true story of this war.”


survey2022.questionpro. eu/?l=001


BBC Persian threat Te BBC World Service has filed an urgent appeal to the United Nations against Iran over the online violence faced by women journalists working for BBC News Persian. Te women face relentless online atacks and harassment, including threats of rape and death. Paul Siegert, NUJ’s national broadcasting organiser, said the “chilling”


Te motion condemned the UK


government’s slow and mean-spirited approach in opening up its borders and backed the TUC’s call for a clear plan to support refugees, from Ukraine and elsewhere, ensuring they are given proper support to find decent work and avoid exploitation, and access to welfare benefits. Te ICTU’s “Stand with Ukraine” campaign was welcomed. Te NEC reaffirmed the union’s opposition to the UK Nationality and Borders Bill saying it would create further barriers to the most vulnerable seeking sanctuary who face segregation, racism and abuse as they flee conflict. Te motion called on governments to work together to take steps to tackle the racism faced by black and ethnic minority people at the Ukrainian border, and ensure they do not face further discrimination as they travel through Europe. “All refugees should be shown the same level of support and compassion,” it said. Te IFJ has provided a media safety


advisory for journalists covering the war in Ukraine [htps://bit.ly/3NRpjld]


Under Russian fire, page 10


threats must stop and the NUJ joined the BBC in calling on the UN to condemn this unacceptable behaviour.


Security guidelines Guidelines to help journalists and private security officers (PSOs) to improve working relationships by helping them understand each other’s roles have been published by the NUJ. Tey explain that PSOs cannot confiscate equipment or images and that enforcing a photography ban on


private premises is a civil mater. Journalists should be prepared to show their UKPCA or IFJ press cards.


Courts bill concerns Crime and court reporters say that “damaging” provisions in the Judicial Review and Courts Bill will pose a serious risk to open justice by denying them the schedules of criminal cases, restricting access to vital court documents, and more cases not in public.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12