NUJ launch 'Stand Up For Journalism' campaign after threats issued

UTV
World
Politics
Derry
Wednesday 20 May 2020 at 2:37pm

The statement has been signed by most NI MLAs and MPs Credit: NUJ

A statement has been published on behalf of the National Union of Journalists in Northern Ireland's three biggest newspapers.

The Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News and The Newsletter joined together to condemn threats made against journalists by paramilitary organisations.

The public statement calls for support and solidarity for press freedom after threats from a loyalist paramilitary were issued to journalists from the Sunday World and Sunday Life newspapers, as well as a threat by dissident republicans to an Irish News journalist.

Threats were also issued by the South Antrim UDA to several Northern Irish politicians including SDLP MLA Patsy McGlone, UUP leader Steve Aiken, UUP MLA Doug Beattie, and Alliance Party deputy leader and MP Stephen Farry.

The statement has been supported by most Northern Irish MLAs and MPs, including First Minister Arlene Foster and Deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill as well as Secretary of State Brandon Lewis.

NUJ members believe 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."

Attempts to intimidate journalists are attempts to hinder the media from doing our job, which is to investigate corruption, to expose criminality and to report our findings. It is our job to shine a light into dark corners, wherever they may be, without fear or favour. Threats and intimidation have no place in our society. The public do not support them. > Business, industry and civic society do not support them. Elected politicians do not support them. On the contrary, they all stand up for journalism. And when politicians supported journalists and condemned paramilitary threats against us, these very threats were turned against them. 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. >

An online petition is also available for members of the public to sign.

The statement has been signed by The NI Secretary of State, as well as the editors of major newspapers. Credit: NUJ

An NUJ statement said,

"Attempts have been made to silence public representatives for defending the right to freedom of expression.Public support has sustained journalists during the dark days of the past.

Today 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."