Irish Journalist December 2014

Irish Journalist

DECEMBER 2014

Official newsletter for the NUJ in Ireland

UNION TO HOST FORUM ON MEDIA MERGER PROPOSALS THE Irish Executive Council is to hold a round table discussion on the government’s draft guidelines on media mergers published this month.

The seminar will be held in Jury’s Hotel, Custom House Quay at 10.30am on 15 January and will form the basis for the union’s response to the proposals put forward by Communications Minister Alex White.

Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley has given a guarded welcome to what he describes as “lamentably late draft guidelines” covering media mergers in Ireland.

The draft guidelines have been prepared under the Competition and Consumer Protection Act 2014, which came into effect last month and the NUJ warns the final guidelines will be too late to alter the media landscape in Ireland.

Under the guidelines the Minister will be able to apply a public interest test before approving media mergers. The guidelines have been published in draft form at http://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Broadcasting/Co nsultation+on+Media+Mergers+Guideline s.htm.

The Irish Secretary said: “The decision to transfer responsibility for media mergers

from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources was first announced by Pat Rabbitte at an NUJ conference in 2011. It has taken that long for the commitment to be honoured.

Since the acquisition of Independent Newspapers by Tony O’Reilly in 1974 the NUJ has been demanding greater vigilance by the State in ensuring media plurality, in terms of ownership and editorial control. While we welcome the publication of today’s consultation document the words ‘horse’, ‘door’ and ‘bolted’ spring to mind, notwithstanding the fact that Minister White has at least managed to publish the guidelines. We have witnessed the transfer of power from one baron to another in the face of appalling political cowardice.

The narrow time frame for consultation – and the release of the draft in the run-up to the Christmas period - is far from ideal but we will be responding to the document and examining how it can be strengthened.

From an initial reading there is little in the guidelines which will disturb the

tranquillity of dominant media players. In effect Mr White has been given the task of introducing checks and balances after the harm has been done. Successive governments have allowed a small group of powerful people to gain control of the media and the draft published today is incapable of undoing that damage. That said, the emphasis on the public interest and the recognition of the importance of plurality, diversity and editorial structures, rather than just competitive factors, is to be welcomed.

There is a need for a wider public debate on editorial control of the media – across all platforms. We need to look at editorial structures and how economic control is exercised, we need to look at training, at employment standards and at access to journalism, including the issues of gender and ethnic origin. This could best be achieved by an independent commission on the future of the media in Ireland.

In the limited time available we will respond to today’s draft but we will also be examining what measures can be taken to ensure greater editorial independence, even where the State has allowed dominant owners to emerge.

PRIME TIME FOR ORGANISING IN RTÉ ROBERT Shortt has been elected as Chair of the newly formed sub branch at RTÉ. Dublin Broadcasting branch recently decided to establish a sub-branch at RTÉ with members employed in independent commercial broadcasting organisatons remaining in the branch.

The IEC has approved establishment of the sub-branch. It is hoped that this will allow the branch, which is chaired by NEC member Emma O’Kelly, to concentrate on recruiting and organising outside RTÉ as well as supporting all members in the sector within Dublin.

The following are the officers of the bsub ranch: Robert Shortt (Chair) (FOC Current Affairs/TV Chapel), Cearbhall O Siochain - (Radio Centre), Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh - (TV Programmes) Sinead Morris/Sorcha Ní Riada (Joint MOC's Newsroom Chapel) Andrew O'Connor - (Sport), Brendan Cole - (Sport Online) Emma O Kelly (ex-oficio) - (Chair, Dublin Broadcasting Branch) Robert is pictured with committee members Sinead Morris, left and Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh at the recent recruitment day at Montrose.

Pic: NUJ

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IRISH JOURNALIST

DENIS O'BRIEN GETS TO HAVE HIS TURKEY AND EAT IT TOO

By Séamus Dooley

for Industry and Commerce Justin Keating decline in editorial investment and seeking urgent government intervention to standards.

The belated publication of draft guidelines curb the growth of a dominant media As a former Editor of the Roscommon on media mergers will not disturb the Champion I was saddened to witness the monopoly in Ireland. tranquil lives of those who control huge closure of that newspaper and completely The union had staged a week-long sit in swades of the Irish media and will not be seeking guarantees from the new proprietor perplexed by the decision of the enough to tackle the crisis within the Competition Authority to allow the owners Tony O’Reilly regarding the protection of industry. journalists and journalism. While the strike of its rival, the Roscommon Herald, to Since the Minister for Communications Mr was in many ways a success the union acquire the Champion title, thus eliminating Alex White has no retrospective powers recognised a need for formal State policy to any prospect of salvation. media barons are unlikely to be put off their prevent abuse of market dominance.

Up to now the State has stood back as Christmas dinner by the prospect of new John Devine, leader of the strike and future newspaper titles collapsed, employment guidelines on future mergers. declined and a small core of media groups NUJ President, placed high hopes in The guidelines have been prepared under Keating, himself a former journalist but the hovered up print and broadcasting the Competition and Consumer Protection Group Industrial Correspondent was to be companies. The most dramatic intervention Act 2014 and interested parties have until disappointed, despite Keating’s radical the Competition Authority could manage January 22nd 2015 to make submissions to reputation. was to limit the ability of freelance workers the Department of Communications, Energy "Tony O'Reilly is a rich and powerful man," to be collectively represented and Natural Resources.

Control of media organisations cannot be Keating told Devine, dismissing the Up to now responsibility for mergers has measures just by percentage share. The possibility that any government could rested with the Department of Enterprise, power to appoint editors, to determine the prevent O’Reilly or anyone else, from Trade and Innovation. securing so much control of the media that make-up of boards and to influence The transfer of responsibility for approving even governments would be afraid to editorial and commercial structures and mergers to the Minister for Communications challenge them. expenditure shape the end product and thus has been accompanied by the introduction The corpses of the Irish Press Group and the influence our democracy. of new tests. The Competition and That’s why media matters. It is sometimes Sunday Tribune are testimony to the Consumer Protection Commission will still political cowardice which characterised argued that, in the digital era, newspapers, have a role in determining if a merger or radio and television are becoming irrelevant. media policy over the past four decades. acquisition can proceed, on competition The Competition Authority and the BAI have But news and current affairs coverage grounds. respectively allowed transfer of newspaper influences how we receive information and While the introduction of a “public value” titles and radio stations in the face of clear more significantly, how news is mediated test is welcome the reality is that successive evidence of a negative impact on media and interpreted. governments have failed to tackle the issue diversity and plurality.

If we cannot unring the bell on of concentration of media ownership for so The draft guidelines are useful as a slide concentration of media ownership we need long that any limited measures now will rule. A stake of between 10 and 19 per cent to look at other ways of shaping media have little impact. may “constitute a significant interest” while policy.

In 2011 Mr White’s precedessor Pat Rabbitte a 20pc stake or higher “will generally Citizens have an interest in the media, which announced the transfer of responsibility for constitute a significant interest”. is why the NUJ has called for a public media policy at an NUJ conference in Croke The impact of general media “plurality” will commission on the future of the media to Park. Since then there have been many false also be considered in the future. examine not just ownership but editorial dawns. As Fiach Kelly reported in The Irish All this good stuff underlines past failures, control, employment standards, measures to Times on Monday departmental turf wars not just in the national media sector but in protect editorial independent, and whether have clearly played their part in delaying State supports may be appropriate to the regional press sector, where failure of progress. media regulation allowed for example the ensure a diversity of media across all Politicians have always been fearful of platforms. emergence and subsequent decline of media owners – and with good reason.

Johnston Press, whose entry to the Irish In 1973 the National Union of Journalists market caused devastation through the loss This piece first appeared in the Irish made representations to the then Minister of titles such as the Offaly Express and the Times on 11 November.

RTÉ RECRUITMENT OPEN DAY ON the initiative of the NUJ the RTÉ Trade Union Group held a series of open days in Montrose as part of the union’s recruitment drive at the station.

Newly elected sub branch chair Robert Shortt (Prime Time) is pictured with Ian McGuinness, Assistant Organiser and fellow officers.

Pictured (left to right): Cearbhall O Siochain, Radio Centre chapel, Andrew O’Connor, Radio Centre/Sport, Robert Short, Sinead Morris, Joint MoC, newsroom Chapel, Ian McGuinness, who is co-ordinating the recruitment drive.

Cearbhall is heading up re-organisation of the NUJ in the radio centre.

Pic: NUJ

IRISH JOURNALIST

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UNA MULLALLY SUFFERS CHILLING EFFECT OF BAI MARRIAGE EQUALITY RULING THE National Union of Journalists has called on the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) to carry out an urgent review of guidance notes issued to broadcasting organisations earlier this year, in light of the experiences of journalist and author Una Mullally in relation to on air discussion of her book “In the Name of Love.”

The union says the actions of the BAI are already having a chilling effect on public discourse around marriage equality.

The guidance note from BAI CEO Michael O’Keeffe, issued on 6 August last, coincided with the BAI’s Compliance Committee determination in a case taken against RTÉ arising from a discussion on the Mooney Show (RTÉ Radio 1).

Ms Mullaly has advised the union that she has been informed by several radio stations that she will not be allowed to discuss her book, an oral history on the movement for marriage equality in Ireland, without the presence of an opponent of marriage equality. She outlined her experience in The Irish Times.

“This is precisely the absurd consequence which the NUJ warned of in the wake of the original Mooney ruling”, said NUJ Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley. “We now have a situation where station managements, programme editors, and journalists are being forced to self-censor as a result of the requirement to second guess the BAI in relation to any issue which may or may

not be the subject of a referendum at an unspecified date in the future. This seems to arise from the BAI determination in the Mooney Show and the circular issued in relation to coverage of the referendum on marriage equality.

“This is precisely the absurd consequence the NUJ warned of" It is difficult to see how the public interest is best served by a mandatory adversarial type debate. There are circumstances where a one to one interview may be more appropriate, with the interviewer sometimes placing the role of devil’s advocate in order to tease out issues.

The Bishop of Elphin, for example, is entitled to set out the view of the Roman Catholic Church without automatically having to engage in direct argument with a spokesperson for GLEN. Una Mullally should be allowed to discuss her work without always having to run the gauntlet of an opponent.

No other topic would be treated in this way – even a controversial issue such as water charges would be subject to normal rules of engagement. This is not about the basic principles of balance, impartiality or fairness. Broadcasters are capable of a nuanced discussion on the topic of marriage equality within the accepted

framework of debate. This is about a new set of standards being applied in a manner which reduces all on air discussion to a gladiatorial contest in the name of fairness.”

Mr Dooley went on to point out that the BAI had expressly stated that this was not the intended effect of the ruling. “No one would have predicted that the BAI would have issued such a narrow set of guidance notes”, he said.

“It is therefore of little surprise that station owners should wish to tread doubly carefully as they look to their future licence renewals. Statements from the BAI about the intended consequences of their rulings are of little comfort, it is the substance of the rulings themselves which needs to be addressed.”

Mr Dooley concluded by calling on the BAI to issue a definitive policy statement clarifying how stations are to approach discussions on the wide range of issues including the voting age, the presidential term of office, the electoral system for the Dáil, the role of women in the home and politics, and blasphemy which may be the subject of referendums in the coming year and beyond.

“In the absence of such a clarifying statement and a change of mind and heart on the Mooney ruling the chilling effect on public debate on these and other issues will have serious consequences for our democracy”, Mr Dooley added.

BAI CHALLENGE CLAIM PLANNING FOR 2015 THE 2015 Biennial Delegate Conference takes place in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin on decision-making.”

THE Chief Executive of the BAI Michael Saturday November 7th with a preO’Keefe has moved to defend the record Responding Séamus Dooley, Irish conference open to non-delegates proposed Secretary said the BAI statement was of the authority in the light of criticism for the previous day in Dublin city centre. welcome “in so far as it seeks to clarify the from Una Mullaly and from the NUJ. The IEC is asking branches to note the date In an article in The Irish Times Mr O’Keeffe official position.” and to discuss possible topics for motions.

He added that Mr O’Keeffe was not in a strongly challenged the claim that the In addition it’s important to ensure full positon to deny that Una Mullally had Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) branch attendance, which should reflect the had insisted that discussions of news and encountered difficulties in securing gender balance of our membership. interviews without the automatic presence current affairs topics of current public 2015 will also see the election of a new Irish of an opposing viewpoint. debate need an automatic balance of Executive Council. Branches will receive a call “The BAI issued a guidance note in August views. for nominations next year but it’s never too Una Mullally stated that she had been told and stations have clearly interpreted that soon to encourage members to seek by national radio stations that in order to note to mean that any discussion on civil election. One issue highlighted at a recent marriage equality must be treated with discuss this history book, there must be meeting of the Equality Council was the someone present who opposes rights for special sensitivity. issue of gender imbalance in the union’s "Given the action of the BAI this is not gay people.” executive bodies.

Mr O’Keeffe said “The BAI has, at no time surprising.

"Hopefully the belated clarification will be issued any direction requiring that broadcasters must automatically “balance” of assistance to producers and presenters.

“It is not in the interest of proponents or a discussion with an opposing view. opponents of any proposed constitutional GERRY Curran has stepped down as Chair of Neither has the authority, at any stage, amendments that BAI guidance should be Dublin P&PR branch after a decade at the made a “ruling on marriage equality”. used to stymie debate.

It would be a matter of grave disquiet, helm.

"This is not about the marriage equality therefore, if “national radio stations” or The new chair is Peter Mullan, who is issue, per se, but about the manner in any other broadcasters, incorrectly used currently Press Officer in the INTO and has which broadcasters are allowed to do their been a long serving branch officer. the outcomes of recent complaint job.” decisions as a basis for their editorial

NEW P&PR CHAIR

IRISH JOURNALIST

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INDO CHAPEL FURY OVER ADAMS' NY COMMENTS AT the request of Independent Newspapers (Ireland) chapel Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley has written to Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams following his comments at a fund raising dinner in New York and subsequent comments on social media by senior Sinn Féin officials.

The Irish Secretary noted Mr Adams' clarification that the reference to an alleged death threat by Michael Collins against the editor of the Irish Independent was a joke but said NUJ members at Independent House still found the comments unacceptable.

Séamus Dooley has stated that he did not regard the Collins reference as a veiled death threat but that he shares the grave concern of members at INM at the tone

"I found the comment Iill judged and inappropriate in the context of the daily threats of violence against journalists across the globe, the number of journalists killed annually and the climate of fear in which so many colleagues work" adopted by the Sinn Féin leader.

The Irish Secretary says journalists must be prepared to accept a degree of criticism, especially those who engage in debate on social media. "We are not wilting violets and If we choose to engage in debate on social media exchanges we cannot expect nuanced discussion. At the same time we have a right to expect that as working journalist we are treated with respect and allowed to carry out our work without fear of intimidation".

He stressed that Sinn Féin was not the only party which had criticised media workers.

"What makes these incidents difference is the Adams 'joke', which cannot simply be dismissed as a crime against humour".

"I found the comment ill judged and inappropriate in the context of the daily threats of violence against journalists across the globe, the number of journalists killed annually and the climate of fear in which so many colleagues work.

A number of members, including those employed at Independent Newspapers, found the Collins reference sinister and intimidating. You need only speak to your colleague, former Lord Mayor of Belfast Máirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA to confirm that in Northern Ireland threats against journalists are a contemporary reality rather than a historic footnote," Séamus Dooley told Mr Adams.

Employees of Mr Ó Muilleoir's Belfast Media Group have been the subject of threats and intimidation in the past 12 months.

Séamus Dooley also drew attention to the hostile attitude of some Sinn Féin staff and

senior officials towards individual journalists.

Accepting that robust exchanges are part and parcel of political discourse he said some of the comments had been offensive.

He also defended Sinn Féin's right to defend the party from hostile media treatment.

"Let me make it absolutely clear that the NUJ does not seek to deny anyone the right to defend themselves from criticism or to respond to criticism from individual publications or media Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, organisations. consectetur adipiscing elit As a trade union we represent as shocking and disgraceful. diverse stands of journalism. We are not “Tony Gavin is a photographer of the required to agree with the views expressed highest integrity. Tony has since by our members but we do have an conclusively debunked the highly obligation to ensure that their right to erroneous and offensive accusations that freedom of expression is understood and photographs used on Independent.ie and respected by those who engage in the in the Sunday Independent were digitally political process, either as elected altered. Such falsehoods were circulated representatives or party officials." across social media at the weekend. The Daniel McConnell, Father of the Independent NUJ Chapel fully supports Independent NUJ Chapel also denounced our colleague in the face of such attacks.” inaccurate attacks on Sunday Independent A reply from Mr Adams is awaited. photographer Tony Gavin, describing them

EDITORS UNDER THREAT THE much published comments by Gerry Adams about the alleged death threat against the editor of the Irish Independent

by Michael Collins were off target in a number of respects.

Dublin branch chairman and historian Martin Fizpatrick points out that the Sinn Féin president may have been getting his icons mixed up when he referred to Collins.

The main threat to newspaper editors came from the anti-treaty IRA, according to Commander Ernie O'Malley, from Castlebar no less, a man quoted by Taoiseach Enda Kenny at the launch of the Press Council of Ireland annual report earlier this year.

Ernie had his own view of the media and was tempted to divert bullets to other powerful figures.

Martin Fitzpatrick points out that in his Civil War memoir The Singing Flame, O'Malley wrote: "Newspapers wrote romance about 'fierce battles' in which there were often no wounded and no objectives gained. I had been instructed by Liam Lynch to capture and execute the editors of the Irish Independent and the Irish Times, but I did not carry out that order.

"They were inflaming public opinion and ignoring the more brutal side of Free State methods... Yet I considered that the Free State Cabinet should be the first dealt with.

Why not the Cabinet or a few bishops?"

NUJ survey on Jobbridge THE union is conducting a brief and confidential survey of its members working in the Republic of Ireland, to find out which media organisations engage JobBridge workers.

The NUJ passed a motion at its Delegate Meeting this year opposing JobBridge, which exploits vulnerable and unemployed people.

The scheme provides employers with free labour, thereby blocking the creation of real jobs and taking work away from freelance journalists.

Whether you are employed by a media organisation or work for it on a freelance basis, the NUJ needs your assistance to find out which media organisations use JobBridge posts.

If the company you are employed by, or freelance for, employs JobBridge workers; please answer the questions in this short survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/jobbridge Please note that any information you give will be treated with the utmost confidentiality.

This survey will be part of an overall campaign to oppose JobBridge and press for real journalism jobs and work for freelances.

If you do not know the answer to any of the questions simply write 'don't know'.

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IRISH JOURNALIST

BRANCH PAYS TRIBUTE TO SLAIN JOURNALIST IRISH South East branch responded to a suggestion from Waterford woman Dolores O’Shea that the city should mark the murder of IrishAmerican journalist James Foley by organising a vigil in Waterford Cathedral. Ms O’Shea felt it would be appropriate to hold a service given Mr Foley’s ancestral roots in Waterford and Wexford.

Branch Chair Damian Tiernan told the attendance that the killing of James Foley was “a horrifying and cowardly act of violence against an unarmed man.”

He described the murder as “a wakeup call for action to protect journalists and civilians who are brutally targeted by armed groups, terrorists and various State governments.”

He added: “Barbarity in all its forms, whether it comes from individuals or governments, should be resisted, stood up to and shamed.

Of course in many cases that is easier said than done... but saying words, writing words, reporting words is sometimes the hardest thing to do.”

Expressing condolences to the Foley family Damien put the murder in an international context and pointed to the consist campaigns of the NUJ and IFJ in defence of journalists working in conflict zones.

“In recent years, the IFJ has deployed a vast programme for media safety across the Arab World, leading a worldwide campaign. Today, Syria remains the world’s most dangerous country for journalists, with over sixty killed and some twenty still missing.

Iraq remains an extremely difficult place for journalists to work. Only last weekend, an Iraqi journalist Muhammad Akidi was executed by ISIS and yet there was little or no coverage about him in the Western media.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the international community to hold those responsible for violence against journalists in Iraq accountable, but also we raise the failure by authorities to investigate killings of over 350 journalists who have died since 2003 at the hands of both armed groups and forces of members of the coalition,” the RTÉ regional correspondent said.

Retired Members Committee chair Louis McConnell steps down

The inscription on the candle holder (donated

by Waterford Crsytal) reads: “From the People of Waterford – For the family of James Foley – Never Forgotten.”

Louis McConnell has stepped down as Chair of the Retired Members Committee and as the committee’s representative on the IEC. Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley paid tribute to Louis and said that with Rosaline Kelly and Jim Eadie Louis, a member of Belfast and District branch, had been a Trojan representative of retired members.

2015 has been a difficult year for the committee, Séamus said, and he appealed to newly retired members and former activists to get involved in revitalising the committee in the New Year.

“We hope to have an open meeting in early February and to encourage more people to get involved.

Journalists love gathering to chat and to reminisce and the committee is a great social forum but it also plays a useful advisory role for the IEC on issues relating to retired members.

TRIBUTES TO VETERAN BROADCASTER AND ACADEMIC BRIAN FARRELL THE National Union of Journalists has extended sympathy to the family of veteran Irish broadcaster and political commentator Brian Farrell.

Mr Farrell (85) was a life member of the NUJ and a consistent supporter of press freedom.

Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary said: “Brian Farrell was the quintessential public service broadcaster. He was one of the finest interviewers of his generation, asking the questions the viewer wanted asked - always dogged, always determined but always courteous. Colleagues remember Brian for his generosity of spirit, his willingness to share information, ideas and wisdom and of course his sparking sense of humour. Brian believed in public service and brought to several posts, including the Commission on the Newspaper Industry, the Arts Council and the National Archives Advisory Council, common sense, academic rigour and a unique understanding of Irish society. His death, coming so soon after the death of another Current Affairs veteran John O’Donoghue, is a reminder of the legacy of which RTÉ is justifiably proud.

We extend sympathy to his family and to his many friends within the media industry.

IRISH JOURNALIST

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IEC BANNER RESERVED FOR UNION EVENTS ONLY

COUNCIL CONFIRMS POLICY

FOLLOWING a request from Dublin branch member Therese Caherty and a number of colleagues for use of the official NUJ banner on the March for Choice in September the General Purposes Committee of the IEC reaffirmed the long-standing practice that the official NUJ banner should only be used for events organised specifically by the NUJ or for other trade union events.

The GPC accepted a statement by IEC officers Gerry Curran, Cathaoirleach, Gerry Carson/Felicity McCall (j/s Leas Cathaoirleach) and Martin Fitzpatrick, Treasurer. They pointed out that the march was organised by the Abortion Rights Campaign and was not a specific trade union event.

“It is important that the role of the NUJ in political campaigns and plebiscites is fully understood”

NUJ member Therese Caherty pictured with a photographer of Rosie Hackett at the third annual March for Choice, organised by the Abortion Rights Campaign. For the first time the march featured a trade union bloc which included members of a number of unions, including Unite the Union, the TUI and the NUJ. The NUJ members, carried an unofficial banner made by members of Dublin Branch, Dublin Freelance and P&PR. Therese was one of a number of NUJ members involved in the Bridge for Rosie campaign.

In officers said: “We recommend the GPC not grant permission for use of the NUJ banner for this event and that the current policy be reaffirmed.

The long standing policy and practice of the IEC is that the banner is used only at

events organised by the NUJ, ICTU or other trade union bodies.” The recommendation was accepted.

The officers added: “Given that a number of referendums are to be held in the Republic of Ireland within the next 12 months it is

important that the role of the NUJ in political campaigns and plebiscites is fully understood.

Where NUJ representatives take part in political campaigns or meetings it is important that the impression is not given that they represent the NUJ at such events."

LEARN TO DO IT UNION STYLE

By Gerry Curran Cathaoirleach IEC NOT quite a 'make and do' session delivered in Blue Peter style, yet thoroughly hands on learning was experienced and enjoyed by those who recently attended representatives training, provided

by Assistant Organiser, Ian McGuinness of the NUJ's Dublin Office.

Reps training consists of a morning of familiarisation with the union and its mechanics, with an afternoon of experiential learning in representative functions such as recruiting, representing people, alleviating awkward moments and situations for members, defending locally won rights, as well as statutory rights of pay and conditions: along with an

introduction to the industrial relations apparatus of the state.

Even for a seasoned hand like myself, it was a refreshing reminder of what the core function of the union is about representing workers interests in the workplace and through independent avenues of conciliation or advocacy.

Following a couple of years as the union's Cathaoirleach in Ireland - of worrying about wider and more expansive agendas it was a timely renewal of the raison d'etre of trade unionism - to build oneself as one helps fellow workers - starting in the workplace and gathering strength through numbers and knowledge across sectors.

Securing people's rights on paper is a great thing. Ensuring delivery and an adherence to same by those who seek to escape responsibility for creating decent workplace conditions - is another. This training is a

great first step for anyone who wants to step up to the mark, and act with and on behalf of colleagues in the workplace. It is a tool-bag of basic information and confidence, for all of us who wish to make a difference in the workplace.

I understand it is to be followed up with training in negotiation and labour relations skills in the coming months. Please form a queue to the left, thank you...

This welcome emphasis on the basics of union representativeness is set to provide the union members with the skills to make the union a living body of those able to step in on behalf of colleagues, rather than members just signing up to what they might see as a service led, insurance provider.

I encourage all in the union to think about undertaking such training in 2015, or to discuss it with colleagues and nominate someone from your workplace to go for it.

Happy 2015 colleagues... and happy learning!

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IRISH JOURNALIST

TRAUMA A REALITY FOR JOURNALISTS

By Anton McCabe DAVID Bolton is an internationally recognised trauma expert, who has spoken at several meetings of the NUJ’s Derry North West Ireland Branch. He spoke to ‘The Irish Journalist’ because he believes the work of journalists is of “utmost value” in helping victims – and that some journalists suffer traumarelated conditions because of their work.

Such conditions develop when people undergo life-threatening or appalling experiences. Afterwards they, and those near them, are in danger of developing serious psychological problems.

“One of them is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, but people can also experience trauma-related depression and other anxiety disorders,” Bolton said. “These can be quite transient, and be overcome fairly rapidly, but are often likely to persist for some people.

We know for example that 15% of people involved in traumatic events in Northern Ireland have gone on to develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. And then if you add to that depression and other disorders you’re clocking up quite a number of people.” He stressed that “people suffer almost identical outcomes and risks when exposed to non-Troubles related traumatic events such as road traffic accidents, sexual assault, being held hostage in a bank robbery, or indeed things like a sudden and serious illness."

Through work, journalists meet sufferers. “One of the first reactions a journalist might get in approaching someone is a refusal to take part in an interview,” Bolton said. “That may well be because the very thing the person is trying to keep at bay is the last thing they want to talk to a journalist about – or indeed to anyone else, a doctor or whoever. And one of the most powerful symptoms of traumatic reactions is a desire not to deal with it, to keep it at bay, and that can be done by avoidance, by drinking a lot of alcohol, by working too hard, playing too hard."

Journalists can help because, like therapists, they tell the person it is safe to speak about a terrible experience. “One of the things a journalist might want to do as part of their care of a person who has been speaking to them is to suggest that

they seek help and maybe even suggest that they go and see their doctor,” Bolton said. “And they might even want to say that ‘in the course of our conversation it seems to me that this is a major worry to you and you are deeply upset by this experience and maybe it would be a good thing if you went and saw your own doctor’."

Bolton believes the work of journalists

"Journalists are there to pick up the pieces. There are sometimes seen as somehow immune from the consequences of these experiences" is “of utmost value. For the individual, it can be the beginning of doing something about their distress. But there’s a wider role here, and the wider role is that, through the telling of stories of traumatic experiences and their consequences, people out there who have had similar experiences, and have yet to seek help, and have yet to deal with their own experiences, are reading material and are hearing people speaking about a thing they can identify with. So what happens is that a person’s terrifying and lonely experience becomes one that is shared by others and is normalised in that way.” The rest of society benefits “because it allows us to be much more sympathetic as a society to the needs of those who have been through these types of experiences."

Because of their work, journalists also suffer. Journalists are “a bit like medical workers, health care workers, undertakers, who are there to pick up the pieces, to reflect the stories, but who are not thought of as being human and are seen as being somehow immune from the consequences of these experiences."

He explained that people often don’t make the link between a traumatic experience and their reaction “particularly if the reaction comes some time after the experience. Whatever kind of behaviours are going on they may not be able to link back to that particular event. If journalists find that they are not themselves, then one of the useful questions they might wish to ask is – is there something about the recent past that may somehow be linked to how I’m feeling at the moment. I’m down, I don’t have the energy I had, I’m not the person I was.

Or maybe more dramatic than that I’m having these nightmares, flashbacks to something I don’t fully understand."

The feedback at NUJ meetings has impressed Bolton. Members were interested in the general issue, and able to connect it to their lives. “Even though I was conveying how members of the public react in certain situations, many of the people in the meetings were saying ‘I’ve had those experiences in my work, in reporting events, being a witness to events’,” he said.

He said journalists, like other sufferers, should seek help rather than “walk into darkness. Often people feel highly isolated, alone, the only people who are suffering this problem because it’s so odd and so perverse that nobody else could ever feel like this or be like this.

And yet when people came to us and we said ‘Here’s what the problem is.

You’ve got Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, or you’re having a depression in reaction to a traumatic event,’ that information alone is highly reassuring for people, and was the basis from which people began to recover and make progress."

His final recommendation to journalists is to use clear language. “I would urge journalists to use the phrase ‘traumatic stress’, ‘traumatic experience’, ‘traumatic reaction’, so it’s a bit more precise, rather than just the word ‘trauma’,” he said.

Bolton’s expertise in trauma comes from experience. A social worker, his work on trauma began with victims of the Enniskillen bomb of 1987. After the Omagh bomb of 1998, he headed up the trauma team. He is currently a researcher with the Initiative for Conflict-Related Trauma. He is impressed by the work the NUJ in Ireland is doing, most recently the Journalist Safety Conference last year, seeing us as serious in facing the issue.

IRISH JOURNALIST

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GEMMA O'DOHERTY CASE IS SETTLED AT TRIBUNAL AN unfair dismissal case taken by former Irish Independent journalist and NUJ member Gemma O’Doherty against her former employer has been settled at the Employment Appeals Tribunal.

Ms O’Doherty was made redundant by Independent News and Media in August 2013 after more than 18 years working for the company. The NUJ had opposed the compulsory redundancy and had offered to represent Ms O’Doherty in negotiations at the EAT. Gemma O’Doherty decided to opt for legal representation but Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley was scheduled to give evidence on her behalf when the case was

settled prior to the second day of hearing.

At the outset of the hearing Independent Newspapers unreservedly apologised to the journalist for any stress and hardship caused to her. The case was settled with undisclosed damages to Ms O’Doherty.

A statement read after the settlement was announced said: “Independent Newspapers wish to acknowledge the exceptional work of multi-award winning investigative journalist Gemma O’Doherty for the Irish Independent during the course of a lengthy career.

“Independent Newspapers accept that Gemma O’Doherty has acted at all times in

a professional and diligent manner and in the best interests of Independent Newspapers.

“Independent Newspapers unreservedly apologise to Ms O ‘Doherty for the stress and hardship caused to her and her husband as a result of its actions.

“Independent Newspapers have agreed to pay to Ms O’Doherty undisclosed damages and to indemnify her in relation to her legal costs.”

Séamus Dooley congratulated Ms O’Doherty and said he hoped the company “would learn lessons from the way in which Ms O’Doherty had been treated.”

NUJ WEST OF IRELAND SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING

ATTENDING the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised by NUJ West were Ciara McCaughlan, Roscommon Herald, Maresa Fagan, Roscommon Herald, Bernie Ní Fhlatharta, Connacht Tribune and Mairead O’Shea, Roscommon Herald.

AT the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised by NUJ West were Ciara Galvin, The Mayo News, Garry Kelly of GK Media, Declan Tierney, Connacht Tribune and Ann Healy, freelance.

AT the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised by ATTENDING the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised by NUJ West were Garry Kelly of GK Media, Siobhán Holliman, NUJ West were Una Sinnott and Martina Nee of the Galway The Tuam Herald, Colman Garrihy, Shannon and Ron Advertiser with Garry Kelly of GK Media.

Kirwan, Limerick.

PAGE 9

IRISH JOURNALIST

2014: A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE UNION The editor's view - Phil Mac Giolla Bháin It’s been a hectic if grim year, with bad news across the industrial sectors.

2014 saw a focus on training with legal issues dominating a programme featuring seminars on family law reporting, digital media, and a World Press Freedom Day symposium organised by Dublin P & PR branch.

The Freelance Forum, organised by Dublin Freelance Branch, was another outstanding success.

In other parts of the world the danger to media workers was highlighted by the tragic case of James Foley.

Closer to home we again faced threats by paramilitaries to members in Northern Ireland.

The challenges of social media were on the mind of West of Ireland branch while meeting organisational challenges is the priority of the new RTÉ sub branch.

In Northern Ireland the year ended with a major seminar marking International Human Rights Day and hosted by Belfast and District branch.

It is fitting that the New Year will begin with a seminar on government guidelines on media mergers.

The struggle will continue in 2015.

AT the NUJ Activist Training Day on 15 May were [Back, Lto R] Owen Ryan, Anton McCabe, Ronan Brady, Ian McGuinness, Tony Galvin, [Front, L to R] Sinead Morris, Philip Bradfield, Paula Geraghty and Mary Caulfield. Pic: NUJ

IRISH MODEL FOR MOROCCO PRESS COUNCIL IRELAND may yet provide the framework for a new system of co-regulation of the media in Morocco, a country notorious for limitations on media freedom.

Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley chaired the opening forum on safeguarding the media at the Global Human Rights Forum in Marrakesh on the invitation of the IFJ and introduced Moroccan Communications Minter.

Mustapha El Khalfi, himself a former journalist and editor-in-chief of the "Attajdid" newspaper, is heading up reform of the law on criminal defamation and, despite belonging to the conservative ruling party, is seen as a positive influence within government. He requested a meeting with the Irish Secretary and

indicated support for the Irish model of press regulation. He was also impressed by the Press Council Code and has indicated that the Irish model will be explored at a meeting in early 2015.

At the close of the conference the Irish Secretary was invited by the Moroccan union to read the Marrakesh Principles, a significant statement agreed by the participants and reflecting the strong commitment of Moroccan journalists to promote freedom of expression in their country.

IFJ President and NEC member Jim Boumelha addressed the 5,000 members at the opening ceremony and outlined in stark terms the high price paid by journalists in a world where journalism is increasingly

under threat. The Irish Secretary coordinated the IFJ delegation of • Larry Goldbetter, National Writers Union, USA • Stanis Nkundiye, Syndicat national des professionels de la presse, RDC • Timur Shafir, Russian Union of Journalists • Alsadig Ibrahim Ahmed, Sudanese Union of Journalists • Marins Morim, Sindicato dos journalistas, Portugal • Omar Faruk, National Union of Somali Journalists, Somalia • Omar An Nazzal, Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, Palestine • Oivier da Lage, Syndicat national des journalistes, France Continued on page 11

IRISH JOURNALIST

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TRIBUTES AS PROF MOROCCAN HORGAN BOWS OUT PRESS REGULATION Continued from page 9

Mrs Justice Susan Denham and former Press Omubdsman Prof John Horgan with NUJ General Secretary Michelle Stanistreet at the seminar hosted by the Courts Service of Ireland and organized by the Dublin P&PR branch to mark World Press Freedom Day.

"We were lucky to have him as our first Ombudsman" PETER Feeney has taken up his post as Ombudsman following the retirement of Prof John Horgan.

Prof Horgan is a life member of the NUJ and at a reception hosted by the Chairman of the Press Council Daithi O Ceallaigh Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretary was asked to make a presentation to John and to pay tribute on behalf of the Irish newspaper industry.

In paying tribute to Prof Horgan he also paid tribute to a sometimes adversary, Frank Cullen, who, as Director of NNI, made an enormous contribution to the development of the Irish model of press regulation.

Séamus said it was as a measure of how relationships within the industry had developed that he had been asked on behalf of the industry groups: NNI, Local Ireland, Magazines Ireland and the NUJ, to pay tribute to John Horgan.

It would be hard to imagine such a gathering in the UK. He recalled that when John applied for a job at the fledgling Dublin City University (then NIHE Dublin) he nominated the distinguished Editor of The Irish Times, Douglas Gageby as a referee.

Gageby, with his legendary impatience, scrawled across the standard form demanding all manner of detailed information ‘You'll be lucky to have him’.

“It would be hard to improve on Gageby’s description of John and, like DCU, we were lucky to have him as our first Ombudsman, Séamus said, adding that it was John had retained and developed friendships across the industry without compromising the independence of the office of Ombudsman.

NUJ NEC member Donnacha DeLong and Sarah Kavanagh (Senior Campaigns and Communications Officer) assisted the local union as volunteers in the communications unit and made a significant contribution to highlighting the media element of the Global Forum on social media.

The following is the statement agreed at the media forum: The protection of journalists is essential to the promotion of human rights.

The right to freedom of expression, enshrined in Article 19 of the UN Declaration on Human Rights, confers special responsibilities on governments to ensure that journalists are entitled to work without fear, threat or intimidation and should not be subject to the violation of their rights by the State.

The protection of these rights is a solemn responsibility of governments and parliament.

Journalism is a public good and the violation of the rights of journalists is an attack on society.

Governments and parliamentary assemblies must act as a watchdog in defence of a free media and act always in defence of public interest journalism.

The protection of journalism requires legislative provisions for the protection of confidential sources of information, freedom from unwarranted surveillance, adequate measures for the safety and welfare of all journalists regardless of their employment, status, gender, ethnic or social status, along with respect for the dignity of workers through proper terms and conditions of employment and the right to trade union representation.

Employers have a special obligation to provide comprehensive safety training as part of their duty of care to workers.

The public interest can best be served by a diverse media, free of intolerance and discrimination on the basis of gender, race, nationality, religion or sexual orientation.

International Conventions and declarations can only be effective when respected at regional, national and international level.

Journalists must be aware of their responsibilities to uphold ethical standards and to honour the trust placed in them.

The Back Page

December 2014

OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE NUJ IN IRELAND

FREELANCE FORUM IS GO PITCHING SKILLS AND HOW TO BREAK INTO BROADCASTING AMONG THE KEY TOPICS

By Gerard Cunningham FREELANCE Forum, the one-day information and training event organised for freelancers and student journalists, enjoyed a successful 2015 with Spring and Autumn Forums both sold out.

The Forum is a one-day event, now held twice yearly, providing freelance journalists (and aspiring student journalists) with information to better do their jobs, reinforcing good habits. covering new industry developments and under-exploited areas, and providing practical information on areasfrom time management and credit control to tax returns.

Brought to you by Dublin Freelance NUJ branch, it is a highly regarded event, and has run since 2008.

So whether you’re an old school hack or student journalist, you owe it to yourself to check out the Freelance Forum.

Speakers at the Forum this year included commissioning editors Liam Collins (Sunday Independent), Aiden Corkery (Mail on Sunday), Aine Toner (Woman’s Way), Emmet Ryan (Sunday Business Post) and Peter Murtagh (Irish Times) talking about pitching skills and what they’re looking for.

Sue Leonard and Abigail Riley spoke on book writing and ghost writing.

The next Freelance Forum is scheduled for April 2015, so keep an eye on the Dublin Freelance website at http://dublinfreelance.org/ for announcements. Once the event date is announced, you can also book your spot at the Forum, which takes place in Buswells Hotel, using the website.

See you there.

Broadcaster Rebecca Lee and Sheila Ahern, Mary Raftery Fund, at Freelance Forum Autumn 2014 organised by Dublin Freelance NUJ Lenny Antonelli and Rebecca Lee on breaking into broadcasting, RTE broadcaster Richard Dowling and HSE assistant national director Ray Mitchell on the Freedom of Information Act, and Sinead Ahern outlined the Mary Raftery Journalism Fund. Malachy Browne (Storyful) and Sinead van Kampen (PRSlides.com) spoke on new media, and Lyra McKee outlined her experience of crowdfunding.

Would you like to see a particular topic covered? If so, drop an email to dublinfreelancenuj@gmail.com.

Life membership for Michael Fisher FORMER Northern Ireland committee Chair Michael Fisher has been presented with Life Membership of the NUJ. The presentation was made by Séamus Dooley at a function attended by Gerry Curran, Cathaoirleach, IEC and JIM Boumelha, President, International Federation of Journalists.

The presentation marks 40 years continuous membership of the union, which Michael has served with distinction as a chapel and branch officer, as a member and Cathaoirleach of the IEC and as long time DM delegate.

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