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Irish government pledges to look at the media’s future and finances


THE NUJ has welcomed the inclusion of a commission on the future of the media in the proposed programme for the new Irish government but added this was ‘long overdue’. Séamus Dooley, NUJ Irish secretary (pictured), said the union


warmly welcomed a commission and called for immediate steps to deal with both the financial crisis in the broadcaster RTÉ and difficulties in the struggling regional newspaper sector. He said: “The NUJ has long been


campaigning for a strategic review of the media industry in Ireland. We welcome the positive tone of the programme and the recognition of the need for a diverse, media sector. “As part of our rescue plan for the


industry, we have called for all areas of media policy to be transferred from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the Environment to a department covering arts, culture, heritage and the media. This would be similar to the model that existed from 1993 to 1997 under Michael D Higgins [the current Irish president and former arts and culture minister]. We hope that this proposal will be considered in government formation talks.”


However, the union is concerned about a lack of urgency on


the part of the outgoing government in dealing with the financial crisis in RTÉ. The original Commission on Public Service Broadcasting was announced last December by Richard Bruton, minister for communications, climate action and the environment, with a report promised by September 2020. Despite the appointment of a chair, no meaningful work has started. This means that, in the meantime, RTÉ is prevented from selling land or taking strategic decisions to address its worsening finances. Dooley said: “A broad-ranging


NUJ


commission should draw on international best practice, including funding models for assisting media organisations and journalists without compromising editorial independence. “There is also a need for urgent financial assistance for the ailing newspaper sector. Regional newspapers are on the brink of collapse and a


package of short-term measures is needed in order to protect local journalism. The scale of the threat cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, there is not time to wait for the report of the proposed commission.”


Reporter wins award for abuse investigation


RODNEY EDWARDS, deputy editor of County Fermanagh weekly the Impartial Reporter, has won the Regional Press Awards Weekly/ Sunday reporter of the year award for his work into historic child abuse. Edwards spoke to scores of victims


of abuse going back several decades after one of them walked into the newspaper’s office in Enniskillen. As the issue became public


knowledge following the long- running coverage by the Impartial Reporter, about 70 people came


forward to report that they were victims. Abuse is said to have taken place


in schools, care homes and houses and was an unspoken issue. The police service of Northern Ireland has been investigating the


claims and made a number of arrests.


Earlier this year, the Impartial


Reporter said the issue was being treated more seriously following the resumption of the Northern Ireland devolved government at Stormont.


“ Student awards honour Bob Norris


THREE journalism students at colleges in the Solent area have won a new award set up in memory of a champion of journalists’ rights. Gemma Wardle at Highbury College, James


Connolly at the University of Portsmouth and Jordan Wood at Solent University won the Bob Norris Award for Achievement. Awards go to one student at each of the three main journalism training institutions in the area. The scheme was setup by the NUJ’s Solent


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branch in tribute to the late Bob Norris, their former chair and a cherished colleague. His widow Pauline Norris, a former journalist and Solent NUJ chair, said: “Bob encouraged hundreds of students throughout the UK to achieve the highest standards to the best of their ability.” Norris spent the early years of his career on the Hampshire Chronicle before working tirelessly as NUJ assistant general secretary.


Regional newspapers are on the brink of collapse and a package of short-term measures is needed to protect local journalism


Séamus Dooley NUJ Irish secretary


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