inbox


Paul raises an interesting point – what does make a code of conduct? A code should be short and clear so it can be remembered and easily applied. The BBC’s editorial guidelines are great but I bet Paul doesn’t know them all – yet he should. Codes should be enforceable and ours


is. We take complaints and hearings are held – see union rule 24. Members in breach of the code can be fined or expelled. We can take complaints only from members and that limits how many we get. However, I am a great believer that encouragement is the best way forward and that that is done by education (virtue signalling, if you don’t believe in education), not punishment. Professor Chris Frost Chair, NUJ ethics council


Gardaí photography ban has many implications Re the article about photographing the police/gardaí (Minister supports ban on photographing gardaí, October/ November), I would like to add a few considerations. How would photographers and


broadcast members cover the ‘good news’ angle (like new appointments, promotions and award winners) if there were a ban on photographing police personnel? How could public servants, including the police/gardaí, have an expectation of privacy when they are working in the public forum as public servants?


What would prevent cameras and


broadcast equipment from being stolen/seized/confiscated and held indefinitely thus depriving members of their very livelihood? I’m sure there are other opinions that


would surface should such a daft proposal be entertained, including the freedom of the press and human rights protection that prevent the imposition of fascism by incompetent representatives. Ian McCabe County Cavan


Congratulations on crowdfunding coverage I am moved to write to you in the hope of £30 for consultancy from the Horrabridge Times, which is doing quite well by ignoring most advice on online publication and catering for people who miss a good read in their local paper. Congratulations to Nick Wallis for his


interesting idea of crowdfunding a court watch, and for picking up on the scandalous treatment of sub- postmasters, which I recall being a potential story back in the days when we were all still inclined to accept official assurances about the reliability of computerised identification of fraud. Another matter I would like to raise again, from the perspective of a retired hack who can no longer tear up a tenner’s worth of newsprint a day, is the poor quality of online services for Kindle readers.


twitter feed Tweet us your feedback: @mschrisbuckley Katie Mallinson (@ScribaPR) 28/10/2018, 12:57


A great Sunday read about the rise of trained #journalists working in #PR, by our own talented ex-journo & university lecturer @1JennyGibson (via the@NUJofficial magazine) https://content. yudu.com/web/3pylg/0A3pylh/TheJournalistOCT18/html/index.html


Francis Sedgemore (@hesgen) 22/10/2018, 15:57


Read this letter from photographer John Walmsley in the @NUJofficial magazine, and dare tell me that digital photos are free for the taking (and republishing without permission or payment). People’s livelihoods depend on #copyright protection. pic.twitter. com/s6GBgOPhhD


I complained about it on this page a while ago but the problem of missing pictures and poor picture presentation – especially of the cartoon of the day – continues. I could use a laptop, of course, but the Kindle is a useful reader and publishers all recognise it as a useful medium, so why has nobody yet explained, let alone addressed, this flaw in the product? Chris Benfield, Devon www.horrabridgetimes.net


Article sub-heading was misleading Thank you for printing my article Trial by Crowdfunding in the The Journalist


(October/November 2018). Unfortunately the sub-heading ‘Nick


Wallis thought the treatment of subpostmasters was scandalous’ was not a true reflection of the content of the piece. Other people have called the treatment of subpostmasters a national scandal and I have reported their words. I set up the crowdfunder because I think this is an important story that deserves as much public attention as possible. I am not in the business of taking sides. I would be grateful if you would publish this letter as a means of correction. Nick Wallis


STEVE BELL


THE OWNERS


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