2 EDITOR’S NOTE BLM is a movement, not a moment


The Black Lives Matter protests that began in the United States in May have grown into an overdue reckoning around the world. What began as an outpouring of anger and


emotion in response to the police killing of George Floyd has evolved into a larger discussion of our responsibility to identify and address racism and unconscious bias and their impact. These discussions are taking place in workplaces


around the world, including newsrooms. In June, The Washington Post reported: “Like the nation itself, news organisations across the country are facing a racial reckoning, spurred by protests from their own journalists over portrayals of minority communities and the historically unequal treatment of nonwhite colleagues.” Also in June, 50 Black, Asian and minority ethnic journalists in the UK wrote in an open letter to the Society of Editors: “There is more to our communities than just ‘race matters’ and we believe that by having a greater cross section of journalists from across the UK’s diverse communities will only help to enrich coverage, provide more eclectic views and deliver more insight into those that make up the Britain of today.”


These discussions raise important questions: How


do we bring more voices of people of colour and people from ethnic minorities into our pages and broadcasts? How do NUJ members of colour experience race on the job and how can white members be active allies? How do we frame stories about race and ethnic minorities? How can we ensure best practice means not simply being non- racist but actively anti-racist? This is not a moment; it’s a movement. How will we turn these discussions into action? * * *


As The Irish Journalist was going to press, news broke of the appointment of Siobhan Holliman, deputy editor of The Tuam Herald and joint IEC cathaoirleach, to the Future of Media Commission. Siobhan brings a wealth of journalism and trade union experience to the role and we welcome her appointment.


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Contact us with stories around your branch, chapel or workplace at irishjournalist@nuj.ie.


Carolyn Farrar Editor, The Irish Journalist


P&PR offers tips to members starting media businesses


The Dublin P&PR branch held an online Zoom seminar this summer to introduce journalists to potential supports for setting up their own media business. Hosted by Gerry Curran, branch membership


secretary and IEC and NEC member, and chaired by part-time NUJ official George Kiely, the June 29th seminar presented options for journalists looking to go into business for themselves, or with others. “At the very least a journalist should know about


these and know if they do step outside there’s help and there’s financial help and there’s a lot of it,” George said. There are 31 Local Enterprise Offices across Ireland, working with micro- and small businesses that employ up to 10 people. Enterprise Ireland works with larger companies. “They’re useful organisations and a potential benefit


to journalists who might be starting their own business within journalism,” said George, who worked for many years with Enterprise Ireland. The seminar focused on three scenarios: a journalist who has been made redundant and is starting a business; a small number of individuals starting up a local news outlet; and a number of individuals starting up a nationwide news service with potential overseas markets. George acknowledged that there are not as many journalism start-ups as there are in other fields. But he said the branch began talking about these broader possibilities when the Daniel Kinahan story broke earlier this year and reporters here were flooded with requests from UK media outlets looking for


information. “There’s something of a need for an agency, which


hopefully someone might pick up on,” George said. He said there is also a great appetite for news in rural areas. He warned would-be start-ups that most supports


require new businesses to take proactive measures to avail of them. “If you want to get to them you have to proactively do your research and present your case,” George said. “But naturally, journalists are very able to present a case.”


Oisín Geoghegan, chair of Network of Local


Enterprise Offices (LEOs) and head of enterprise at Fingal LEO, told the seminar of the supports LEOs provide, including financial supports for feasibility studies, business priming grants and business expansion. There are courses in starting your own business, as well as management development training, business advice clinics and one-on-one mentoring, now online. The seminar also heard about Microfinance Ireland, which works very closely with LEOs. MFI is a not-for- profit lender that delivers the government’s Microenterprise Loan Fund, providing unsecured business loans for commercially viable business proposals. They consider applications from any small businesses that may have difficulties in getting access to finance from other commercial providers.


For more information, visit LocalEnterprise.ie, microfinanceireland.ie, and enterprise-ireland.com.


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