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Meet the media: Sally Hayden
Meet the ”
Sally Hayden
With a primary focus on migration, conflict, and humanitarian crises, Sally Hayden is an awardwinning freelance journalist who has had stories and photojournalism republished on six continents. Currently working as the Africa correspondent for The Irish Times, Hayden’s new book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned: Seeking Refuge on the World’s Deadliest Migration Route was published in March 2022.
How did you get into journalism?
I studied law and international politics, but did a few internships during university, in the BBC and the Santa Barbara Independent, and I wrote for the university newspapers. In 2013, I won the Simon Cumbers student award, which pays for student journalists to travel to a developing country to report (I went to Malawi) and assigns you a mentor (I got Paddy Smyth at The Irish Times). Since then, I’ve been working for The Irish Times as well as a range of other places including VICE, The Guardian, the Thomson Reuters Foundation, The Washington Post, the Financial Times, CNN, BBC, TIME, and the New York Times. My first staff job was at VICE News in London, right when it was being set up, which was very interesting.
How do you think the profession is evolving?
Rates are going down and the industry is largely reliant on the contribution of young freelancers who often work alone, without much support or oversight. But
I’m hoping that readers continue to realise that the more they pay for news the better the quality will be, and I’m grateful for publications, like The Irish Times, that continue to invest in foreign coverage. The internet has given us huge opportunities as reporters too; both to hear from people that were previously much harder to contact and to have our reporting consumed across the world.
What are the challenges of working freelance?
I don’t think people realise how alone you are most of the time. I research and pitch stories; organise my own logistics; take my own photos; sometimes pay for travel myself. You have to rely a lot on your own sense of what is important, and sometimes that means keeping on a story even when you can’t find somewhere to publish it. You also don’t have defined work days and non-work days. I only rarely have a full day off.
Who do you admire most within the industry and why?
There are far too many people to name, but among the inspiring female journalists I’ve been lucky enough to work directly with are Becky Anderson, Christiane Amanpour, Hannah Strange, and Paola Totaro. In The Irish Times, I hugely appreciate my editors Chris Dooley and Dave McKechnie, who are smart with a good news sense, but also kind, which is very important when you’re doing this kind of work. I was lucky to get endorsements for my book from another set of heroes, including Jon Lee Anderson, Michela Wrong, Mark Bowden, Miriam O'Callaghan, Fintan O'Toole, Lindsey Hilsum, John Sweeney, Oliver Bullough, and Christina Lamb.
What has been your most significant story or project to date?
My book, My Fourth Time, We Drowned, relies on almost five years of reporting on refugees and migrants attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. It is centred around years of communication with some of the tens of thousands of refugees and migrants who were locked up indefinitely in Libyan detention centres which have been compared to concentration camps, after they attempted to cross the Mediterranean Sea but were intercepted by the EUsupported Libyan coastguard. While reporting for it I travelled to countries including Sudan, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Malta, Luxembourg, Sweden, and Tunisia, and spent time on a rescue ship patrolling off the Libyan coast. It is published by 4th Estate, HarperCollins, and available in bookshops or as an eBook from March 31.
How do you spend your time outside of work?
I read a lot (both nonfiction and novels), go to the gym, and see friends. Nothing very exciting. I’m travelling a lot for work at the moment and usually when I get time off, I’m pretty exhausted.
Political Platform
Christopher O’Sullivan TD
After serving as a county councillor for 13 years, in which time he served as Mayor of County Cork, Christopher O’Sullivan was elected as Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West in February 2020. A keen birder and volunteer whale watching guide, the Clonakilty native is his party’s spokesperson on environment, climate action, and biodiversity as well as the parliamentary party’s Ógra liaison.
How did your political career begin?
I became a county councillor in June 2007 when I was coopted to membership of Cork County council.
What are your most notable achievements in the Oireachtas to date?
The work that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action committee does is incredibly important, and I am happy with the role I have played in that work to date. Most notably the passing of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021. This is for me perhaps the most important piece of legislation that has been passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas in decades. Climate change is and will be the biggest issue for this and future generations. This legislation enshrined in law carbon emission reduction targets for the first time. We embarked on hours upon hours of pre-legislative scrutiny in in order to produce legislation that has been very highly regarded internationally. Earlier this year I requested in the Dáil chamber the establishment of a Citizens’ Assembly on biodiversity. The assembly has already held its first meetings. The rate of biodiversity loss in this country is alarming and this will be a key tool in reversing this loss.
What is unique about representing the Cork South-West constituency?
Certainly, the size for one. For example, it would take twoand-a-half hours to drive from Kinsale in the east of the constituency to the Dursey Sound in the west of the constituency. Also, I doubt if anywhere else boasts such a rich number of talented musicians and artists. It is an absolute pleasure to represent such a mixture of people, from farming backgrounds to those who work as IT professionals, alongside some of the most talented musicians and artists in the country.
What are your priorities going forward?
The entire west coast of Ireland, including the coast of Cork, has the potential to provide solutions to both Ireland and Europe’s energy needs. The potential for floating offshore wind, in particular, will see a situation where the west coast of Ireland will provide not only Ireland’s energy needs but we could potentially become a global super power in renewable energy. One of my priorities will be ensuring the correct policies, legislation and measures are in place to let this transition to green energy happen as soon as possible.
I cannot forget my constituency either though. Cork South West is already a flourishing tourist destination; however I believe it has the potential to become the outdoor activity and adventure capital of Europe. Between our mountains in the west and our incredible coastline; I would love to see it become a mecca for hillwalkers, kayakers, whale watchers, and surfers.
How can Fianna Fáil maximise its impact during the lifetime of the current government?
It is often said in our parliamentary meetings in Leinster House that in the 1950s and 1960s, Fianna Fáil was the party that took people out of the slums and out of poverty and built social houses and communities. I believe that we can be part of another housing revolution through the provision of public houses on public land, while also making homes available at an affordable price for first time buyers, in particular. If we achieve this, then it will have a massive positive societal impact. We should also continue to be leaders in climate action.
What are your interests outside the political sphere?
I am a keen birder/birdwatcher and on Sundays in spring and autumn you can find me on headlands and islands looking for rare migrant birds. I also volunteer as a whale watching guide with Atlantic Whale and Wild Life tours from Courtmacsherry and this really helps me escape the world of politics from time to time.
