The publishers of three Belfast-based newspapers and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) have joined together to stand up for journalists and press freedom in Northern Ireland.
This initiative has attracted local and global endorsement, involving many prominent individuals and organisations.
The public statement will be published tomorrow (Wednesday 20 May) in the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News and News Letter and has been endorsed by political, trade union, industry, community, and religious leaders.
The statement’s signatories include the First Minister Arlene Foster, the Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill, and the majority of MLAs from the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Oliver Dowden, the UK’s secretary of state for digital, culture, media, and sport; and Brandon Lewis, the secretary of state for Northern Ireland have both signed the statement.
The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Institute of Directors, the NI Council for Voluntary Action, UK Trade Union Congress, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions have also offered their support.
International organisations such as the World Association of News Publishers, the International Federation of Journalists and the International Trade Union Confederation have also backed our calls.
This unprecedented joint initiative aims to highlight and challenge the increasing number of threats of violence inflicted on the media.
Under the banner “Stand Up for Journalism” the public statement strongly asserts the right of journalists to work without threats, intimidation, or harassment.
Séamus Dooley, NUJ assistant general secretary, said:
“In the past the trade union movement took to the streets in protest against the threats to workers. In the difficult circumstances in which we find ourselves today, we rely on newspapers to highlight the threats to journalists. By working with the publishers and our members affected, we have been able to secure the support of a cross-section of society in Northern Ireland. We warmly welcome the strong stand taken by political and community leaders and look forward to a renewed drive to ensure journalists can safely carry out their work on behalf of the public.”
Martin Breen, Sunday Life editor, said:
“Enough is enough. Some 26 years after the ceasefires terrorist organisations from both the loyalist and republican side are continuing to threaten journalists on an ongoing basis because we have been exposing their dirty deeds and criminal empires. We all have to stand up against these vile threats as their sole aim is to silence investigative journalism and curtail the public’s right to know about those gangsters operating in their communities across Northern Ireland. We hold everyone to account and will continue to expose criminality and all wrongdoing no matter where it originates.”
Brian Farrell, Sunday World editor, said:
“The recent threats issued to our journalists only serves to highlight the risk and importance of exposing the criminal menace that plagues our society. We will not be silenced nor intimidated and will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.”
Noel Doran, Irish News editor, said:
“The increase in the number of serious threats against Belfast-based journalists is a deeply alarming development, so the significant level of support behind today’s initiative is heartening. It sends out a strong message that all the attempts at intimidation will have no effect on our coverage, that the perpetrators need to be robustly pursued by the authorities and that civil society is firmly behind freedom of the press.”
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Threats against a free, honest, press corps should be witnessed and resisted everywhere. As you may know, some press members may be subsumed and subjugated by Lamb, served well and succulently. If ever there was a need for independent honest journalism it is now. 100% behind this letter
You could extend this to the MSM as I believe a great many of them have been threatened either directly or indirectly to leave certain subject matters alone.
I tip my hat to any Journalist who puts exposing the truth before their own wellbeing or safety.
Good,bad or indifferent the truth should always be available to the wider population.
It is from the truth that we can draw our own conclusions biased or unbiased.
I firmly believe that the current Club at Ibrox has presented yet another fabricated set of results in order to get a European License.
I also believe that certain members within the SFA are duty bound to facilitate them getting that License regardless of how wide of the mark these Results May turn out to be.
If last Season’s Interim Results are anything to go by then this Season’s will be well wide of the mark.
No journalist should ever feel threatened from telling the truth….. full stop.
However, as we know in Scotland the truth is not always what the sports media expound. They all have their own leanings and agendas and can be easily manipulated to suit outside sources. There is also the continued underlying threat from the Klan which prevents unfettered honest reporting, lest those journalists unwittingly stoke and arouse the pitch fork army into a paranoid, zombie-like marching, manic mob.
Remove your letter boxes for God’s sake in case they manage to find them. LOL
My good wishes go out to all journalist that are true to themselves and can deal with the ever present fear.
I dont see this catching on with Scottish football journalism – revisionism on behalf of the klan is what keeps them safe. So long as they toe the party line, they will never be subjected to threats and intimidation. However, their NI journalist brethren are brave enough to put their collective heads above the parapet in order to report on what really matters there.
Think I posted my comment twice. Please bin one if I did.
Personally I can think of a group of so called journalists who SHOULD be threatened.
Scottish football journalists should be threatened with the sack if they don’t start reporting the truth.
Aw right! I know you mean real journalists.
What was it you wrote once? Journalism is putting into the public domain that which the powerful want to keep hidden.
Bang on. As long as it serves the public interest.
Any journalist prying into someone’s private life for no reason other than to titillate a readership of sad bastards like himself deserves anything he gets. His camera rammed where the sun doesn’t shine is a good start.
The pen is indeed mightier than the sword.
Journalist’s are easy targets for minority groups that are devoid of any rational thought processes.
The arrest rates for offenders should be a total embarrassment for the Police.
Questions must be asked…..
Or is throwing shite on someone, parading around displaying flags that celebrate racism particularly aimed at Non Protestants and Non British ethnicity, so is it ok or not?
For a particular section of the North of Ireland society it clearly is.
It is time for the Police to take stock.
These journalists are the folk that they frequently turn to for help in many instances.
For example keeping a high profile narrative on a case where the Police are perhaps not getting any info at all.
It’s payback. Every journalist is entitled to protection and every crime is entitled to be
investigated.