news


Uniting to stand up for the media in Northern Ireland


THE NUJ, politicians and newspaper editors in Northern Ireland have joined together to stand up for journalists threatened by the loyalist group the South East Antrim Ulster Defence Association. Threats have been made to the safety of journalists at the


Belfast-based Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers. The threats have been treated as serious by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). A large number of union members and politicians signed a


statement which ran on the same day in three Belfast newspapers – the Belfast Telegraph, which is owned by Independent News and Media which publishes the Sunday World and Sunday Life; the Irish News and News Letter. Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general


secretary, said: “The initial reaction to the vile threats against journalists appeared to be one of resigned acceptance but the reaction to the statement reflects a real awakening. From right across the community but especially in the trade union movement the message is clear – threats to journalists are unacceptable and should never be tolerated. The response, locally, nationally and from international supporters was unambiguous. The political response cannot be ignored by the PSNI, who have a clear obligation to deal with the sources of these threats.” The statement said: “Over the past 12 months we have


witnessed with alarm an increase in the number of violent threats against journalists in Northern Ireland. This month (May) Loyalist paramilitaries have threatened all journalists working at the Sunday Life and Sunday World newspapers in Belfast. This follows recent threats against journalists working for the Irish News. Attempts to intimidate journalists have come from dissident


Republican and Loyalist paramilitary groups and are intended to prevent the media from investigating their activities and exposing criminality. Threats against journalists and media organisations have no


place in our society. It is vital that such behaviour is not tolerated. No worker should be exposed to threats for doing their job. At a time when the media is playing such an important role


in covering the terrible Covid-19 pandemic the recent, blanket threat is especially worrying. Elected politicians who criticised the threats have now


become the subject of intimidation from groups without any mandate. Attempts have been made to silence public representatives


06 | theJournalist


for defending the right to freedom of expression. Public support has sustained journalists during the dark days of the past. We assert the right of our communities to be informed by journalists operating without fear or intimidation. It is the function of the media to ask difficult questions, to speak truth to power, to expose corruption, to shine a light into dark corners. Journalists in Northern Ireland will continue to do so. A free, independent media is a cornerstone of democracy. No group can be allowed to undermine the freedom of the


press. Every effort must be made to ensure that those who are guilty of intimidation are brought to justice. We call for the immediate withdrawal of all threats against journalists in Northern Ireland and for the freedom of the press to be respected and protected.”


Peter Vandermeersch, Independent News & Media, publisher of the Belfast Telegraph Martin Breen, Editor, Sunday Life Brian Farrell, Editor, Sunday World Eoin Brannigan, incoming Editor in Chief, Belfast


Telegraph and Sunday Life Sarah Little, Publishing Director, Independent News & Media, Northern Ireland Noel Doran, Editor, Irish News Alistair Bush, Editor, News Letter National Union of Journalists, UK & Ireland: Sian Jones President Michelle Stanistreet: NUJ General Secretary Seamus Dooley: Assistant General Secretary Bernie Mullen: Irish Executive Council Bimpe Archer: Irish Executive Council Gerry Carson: Irish Executive Council Kathryn Johnson: Irish Executive Council Anton McCabe: National Executive Council Ciarán O Maoláin: National Executive Council Anthony Bellanger: General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists Younes M’Jahed: President, International Federation of Journalists Public Representatives MLAs: Arlene Foster: Fermanagh and South Tyrone, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party and First Minister of Northern Ireland Michelle O’Neill: Mid Ulster, Sinn Féin, Deputy First Minister.


For a full list of signatories and how you can help see https://www.nuj.org.uk/news/northern-ireland- unites-journalism/


“


Threats against journalists and media organisations have no place in our society. It is vital that such behaviour is not tolerated


Joint statement


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25