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news


Journalists facing increased violence and intimidation


JOURNALISTS are suffering increased abuse and harassment and are facing physical and verbal attacks. NUJ members told a union safety survey that they have been punched, threatened with knives, forcibly detained, kicked and spat at. They are also being threatened with death and rape online. The results of the survey


come as journalists in Northern Ireland face continued threats from loyalist groups and as other UK reporters are targeted by far-right groups. Last month a journalist working for the Belfast Telegraph and Sunday Life was told by the police that he is at risk of attack from loyalist paramilitaries. Also in November, the far-right activist James


Goddard (pictured above) appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court after being prosecuted for threatening behaviour towards The Independent’s home affairs correspondent Lizzie Dearden. He was ordered to pay £780 in fines and costs and was given an indefinite restraining order preventing him from


contacting the journalist. The NUJ survey found that: • 98 per cent of


respondents agreed those in public office should maintain high levels of public discourse and shouldn’t dismiss journalism as fake news nor restrict media access • 97 per cent agreed that


disinformation and fake news undermines trust in journalism and increases hostility towards journalists • 96 per cent said that


abuse and harassment risks silencing journalists and censoring debate • 94 per cent agreed the


current polarisation of debate and public discourse in the UK has impacted adversely on the safety of journalists


Police accused, Page 7


No Stone Unturned pair win settlement The pair were arrested in August


NUJ members Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey have agreed a final settlement after suffering arrest, home raids and property seizure by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The settlement comes after a two-year battle by the journalists arising from


Local democracy recognition win


LOCAL democracy reporters working for Newsquest have won union recognition after a long campaign. Now that recognition has


been granted by the Central Arbitration Committee the company and the union will draw up a new recognition agreement. The deal covers 40 journalists and union organisers believe it will help in seeking recognition at other publishers.


The success comes as the BBC, which funds local democracy reporters across the country, said that it was extending the scheme for a further three years. It is also increasing the number of reporters by 15 to 165. The union has cautiously


welcomed the extension but is seeking further clarity on various aspects of the scheme including the terms of new contracts and the impact on those already employed.


their investigative and award-winning film No Stone Unturned. The documentary exposes the story of the 1994 Loughinisland murders. No figure has been disclosed but it has been reported that the police have paid £875,000 in damages.


2018 and their homes and offices were raided. In May 2019 Belfast appeal court judges quashed the warrants for their arrest. In July 2020, the PSNI chief constable Simon Byrne apologised to the journalists.





NUJ members say they have been punched, threatened with knives, forcibly detained, kicked and spat at


inbrief...


JOURNALISTS GET TRAVEL EXEMPTION Journalists have been exempted from the requirement to quarantine when returning from overseas. Other travellers have to self-isolate for 14 days if the country they are arriving from is not on the approved travel corridors. Business travellers and elite sports people have also been exempted.


DEMONSTRATION FOR JULIAN ASSANGE NUJ members and other supporters will demonstrate outside the Old Bailey on January 4 when the ruling is due on whether the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange should be extradited to the US. His lawyer Jen Robinson told an online meeting of 100 union activists that Assange would probably take his own life if he is extradited.


BOOST IN STAFF AT MYLONDON WEBSITE Reach is boosting staff on its My London website by half after reaching a monthly audience of almost five million. My London was launched last year with the merger of the Croydon Advertiser and Get West London websites and their extension into north, east and south London. Reach will add 24 new roles across My London and the sport website Football London.


Ian Bell award open for entries


The NUJ is inviting writers aged 30 or under


who live, work or study in Scotland to enter its Ian Bell award which commemorates the radical journalist who died five years ago. Entrants may submit up to two pieces, each between 1,500 and 2,000 words


which have not been published elsewhere. Email entries with your name, date of


birth and place of work/study to nickml@ nuj.org.uk by midnight January 10. Entrants don’t have to be NUJ members. The winner will be announced in February.


theJournalist | 03


GUY CORBISHLEY / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO


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