news


Violence and intimidation against journalists is on the increase


CONCERN is growing over increasing physical attacks and threats against reporters and photographers covering protests such as the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. There have also been reports of journalists suffering verbal abuse on the streets as they attempt to report the coronavirus story. ‘Serious threats have been made against specific journalists, including reporters in Northern Ireland who have been subject to intimidation from a loyalist group. The journalists received huge support from politicians of all parties and groups across the region after the NUJ lobbied them for action. ‘In Cumbria Amy Fenton, chief reporter and NUJ MoC at the Mail in Barrow, was forced to leave her home because of threats against her and her young daughter. The harassment followed Amy’s report of a court case which is now sub judice under the Contempt of Court Act. She said she had received more than 100 threats of death and physical harm.’ In mid July, the first meeting was held of the National


JESS HURD


Committee for the Safety of Journalists. The committee was first announced in July 2019 by the then secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport Jeremy Wright in response to


growing international concern about the treatment of journalists. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, is a member of the committee. During the Black Lives Matter protests, there were also


reports of police officers behaving aggressively towards photographers, which the NUJ raised with the National Police Chiefs Council. Far-right counter demonstrators


to the Black Lives Matter movement are thought to have been the perpetrators of violence against reporters and photographers at some protests, including breaking a photographer’s nose and grabbing mobile phones from reporters filming the violence. The aggression towards


journalists was such that some media organisations advised their staff not to try to seek interviews or engage with protestors. The NUJ is seeking government support for the International


Federation of Journalists’ draft UN Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and other Media professionals.


Story Behind the Picture, page 21 Tax move to support hard-hit French media


THE NUJ has praised the French government’s decision to introduce tax credits for subscriptions to newspapers and magazines. This is one of the measures that the NUJ is calling for in its news recovery plan, which outlines a series of measures to help media


organisations survive the coronavirus crisis. The NUJ’s plan is one of


many initiatives from journalists’ unions around the world and from the umbrella organisation the International Federation of Journalists. The French measure


includes a one-off deduction of up to €50 (£45) for households subscribing for the first time and for at least 12 months to a newspaper, magazine or online news service. Meanwhile, the Scottish


Conservatives have launched a newspaper recovery plan


Police apologise to the No Stone Unturned journalists


THE UNION has claimed a victory for investigative journalism following the publication of the full judgment quashing the arrest warrants issued last year against the No Stone Unturned journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey. The police have also apologised to the pair. The case concerned the circumstances in


04 | theJournalist


which the police can use the ex parte procedure in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1989 to obtain a search warrant in respect of journalistic material. Under the legislation, it is usual practice that journalists are issued with a production order and journalists can then challenge this request in an open court.


to support the long-term future of the industry. The plan was drafted following an online meeting with the NUJ’s Edinburgh Freelance Branch. The scheme looks to support local and regional journalism through additional funding streams,


and national media with additional Scottish government advertising expenditure. It also includes rates relief and a journalism foundation, which will invest in local journalism, innovative media projects, new star-ups and investigative journalism


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The aggression towards journalists was such that some media organisations advised their staff not to seek interviews or engage with protestors


BONZO / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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