working life Frozen out by officials


Avoiding scrutiny “Politicians and government bodies are notorious for restricting access to press conferences, briefings and interviews,” says journalist and broadcaster Kathryn


Johnston. “Many journalists have found themselves frozen out by those they hold up to scrutiny.” She also describes the representation of women in broadcasting as ‘poor’.


Wilson cites the recent film about McKee, showing the


challenges she faced, including discrimination against LGBT+ individuals and social exclusion in a working class neighbourhood like the one where she grew up. He believes one problem Belfast has is that few people


move there: “It needs inward migrants to provide a kind of leavening influence and widen perspectives other than the very narrow, provincial sectarianism that often prevails here.” Challenges aside, Belfast has a proud tradition of


newspapers. The Irish News, established in 1891, is Northern Ireland’s largest-selling morning newspaper, owned by the Fitzpatrick family. It was in Donegall Street, Belfast’s old press district, since 1905 and moved offices last year. The Belfast Telegraph, founded in 1870, is published by Mediahuis, alongside the weekly tabloids Sunday World and Sunday Life. The News Letter, owned by National World, was founded in 1737 and is the world’s oldest English language newspaper. Reach also has an office for the Northern Ireland Daily Mirror and Belfast Live website. Magazines include Ulster Tatler, Ulster Business and Farm


Week. Ulster Grocer closed last year following its 50th anniversary, but politics, culture and art magazine Fortnight has been revived. There is also investigative news and analysis not-for-profit online platform The Detail. The city is home to BBC Northern Ireland, which produces programmes across radio, TV and online. The BBC has proposed cuts elsewhere in Northern Ireland as part of a plan to save £2.3m, which the NUJ has opposed. The daily breakfast news programme and regional news bulletins on Derry-based station BBC Radio Foyle are to be scrapped. The weekly Inside Business programme on Radio Ulster is also due to go, with more investment made in digital output.


House and home Northern Ireland has the lowest house prices in the UK (after the north east of England), although prices rose 7.1 per cent in 2022. “You can rent a nice two-bed


“If members of paramilitary organisations feel they can enjoy impunity for killing journalists, then journalists have no reason to feel secure.” Robin Wilson, outgoing chair of Belfast and District NUJ branch


“The people of Belfast are among the friendliest and finest on earth, but it remains a patriarchal society with major issues including sectarianism and dysfunction.” Amanda Ferguson, journalist, writer and broadcaster


“Freelance gigs are like hen’s teeth.” Kathryn Johnston, journalist, author and broadcaster


terrace within a 15-minute drive from the city centre for £600-£650 a month,” says Matt Sterling, producer and journalist at UTV.


Safety tools Any journalists subjected to threats or abuse should contact the NUJ. A safety


toolkit and app can be downloaded from the union’s website. The Belfast and District NUJ branch has met with the European Commissioner of Human Rights, who highlighted in a report that journalists’ safety needed to be guaranteed by government.


UTV (owned by ITV) is a major employer and the most popular news source in Northern Ireland, according to Ofcom. Broadcasters include U105, Q Radio, local public service community TV station NVTV (Northern Visions Television) and Radio Failte – Belfast’s only Irish language radio station. Matt Sterling, producer and journalist at UTV, grew up in Belfast and says attitudes are changing. “There are bars and coffee shops that are very welcoming and don’t care what religion you are or what community you’re from,” he says. After starting on the Belfast Telegraph, Amanda Ferguson


is now freelance Northern Ireland correspondent and Ireland stringer for major media outlets across Britain and Ireland. She co-founded Women in Media Belfast. “I love it here,” she says. “It’s a post-conflict society and a


complex beat that requires detailed explanation that doesn’t always make sense to those living outside, so it’s our job to break it down and pack in as much information as possible.” Thanks to the rejuvenated Titanic Quarter, Game of Thrones Trail, Cathedral Quarter and Botanical Gardens, the city is a popular tourist destination, with museums, street art, music, spa hotels and magnificent Victorian pubs. Although opportunities can be limited, Ferguson would recommend Belfast to other journalists: “The money could be better and some colleagues can present as territorial, standoffish and insecure, but you’ll work with some of the best of the best. Don’t expect everyone to be happy for your success, focus on those who are and do good-quality work.” Wilson offers a word of caution: “Sometimes it’s easy to


romanticise a place like Belfast or Sarajevo or other trouble spots. I’ve lived through the violence nearly all of my life and, when you see it up close, it doesn’t look romantic. “If any journalists want to come to Belfast, they need to have their eyes wide open.”


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