IrishJournalist

Official newsletter for the NUJ in Ireland

DECEMBER 2014

THE Irish Executive Council is to hold around table discussion on thegovernment’s draft guidelines on mediamergers published this month.The seminar will be held in Jury’s Hotel,Custom House Quay at 10.30am on 15January and will form the basis for theunion’s response to the proposals putforward by Communications Minister AlexWhite.Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley has given aguarded welcome to what he describes as“lamentably late draft guidelines”covering media mergers in Ireland.The draft guidelines have been preparedunder the Competition and ConsumerProtection Act 2014, which came intoeffect last month and the NUJ warns thefinal guidelines will be too late to alter themedia landscape in Ireland.Under the guidelines the Minister will beable to apply a public interest test beforeapproving media mergers. The guidelineshave been published in draft form athttp://www.dcenr.gov.ie/Broadcasting/Consultation+on+Media+Mergers+Guidelines.htm.The Irish Secretary said: “The decision totransfer responsibility for media mergers

UNION TO HOST FORUM ONMEDIA MERGER PROPOSALS

from the Department of Jobs, Enterpriseand Innovation to the Department ofCommunications, Energy and NaturalResources was first announced by PatRabbitte at an NUJ conference in 2011. Ithas taken that long for the commitmentto be honoured.Since the acquisition of IndependentNewspapers by Tony O’Reilly in 1974 theNUJ has been demanding greatervigilance by the State in ensuring mediaplurality, in terms of ownership andeditorial control. While we welcome thepublication of today’s consultationdocument the words ‘horse’, ‘door’ and‘bolted’ spring to mind, notwithstandingthe fact that Minister White has at leastmanaged to publish the guidelines. Wehave witnessed the transfer of power fromone baron to another in the face ofappalling political cowardice.The narrow time frame for consultation –and the release of the draft in the run-upto the Christmas period - is far from idealbut we will be responding to thedocument and examining how it can bestrengthened.From an initial reading there is little in theguidelines which will disturb the

tranquillity of dominant media players. Ineffect Mr White has been given the task ofintroducing checks and balances after theharm has been done. Successivegovernments have allowed a small groupof powerful people to gain control of themedia and the draft published today isincapable of undoing that damage. Thatsaid, the emphasis on the public interestand the recognition of the importance ofplurality, diversity and editorial structures,rather than just competitive factors, is tobe welcomed.There is a need for a wider public debateon editorial control of the media – acrossall platforms. We need to look at editorialstructures and how economic control isexercised, we need to look at training, atemployment standards and at access tojournalism, including the issues of genderand ethnic origin. This could best beachieved by an independent commissionon the future of the media in Ireland.In the limited time available we willrespond to today’s draft but we will alsobe examining what measures can be takento ensure greater editorial independence,even where the State has alloweddominant owners to emerge.

PRIME TIME FOR ORGANISING IN RTÉROBERT Shortt has been elected as Chair of the newly formed subbranch at RTÉ. Dublin Broadcasting branch recently decided toestablish a sub-branch at RTÉ with members employed inindependent commercial broadcasting organisatons remaining in thebranch.The IEC has approved establishment of the sub-branch. It is hoped that thiswill allow the branch, which is chaired by NEC member Emma O’Kelly, toconcentrate on recruiting and organising outside RTÉ as well as supportingall 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 andBlathnaid Ni Chofaigh at the recent recruitment day at Montrose.Pic: NUJ

ON the initiative of the NUJ the RTÉ Trade UnionGroup held a series of open days in Montrose aspart of the union’s recruitment drive at thestation.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, RadioCentre/Sport, Robert Short, Sinead Morris, JointMoC, newsroom Chapel, Ian McGuinness, who isco-ordinating the recruitment drive.Cearbhall is heading up re-organisation of theNUJ in the radio centre.Pic: NUJ

RTÉ RECRUITMENT OPEN DAY

By Séamus Dooley

The belated publication of draft guidelineson media mergers will not disturb thetranquil lives of those who control hugeswades of the Irish media and will not beenough to tackle the crisis within theindustry.Since the Minister for Communications MrAlex White has no retrospective powersmedia barons are unlikely to be put off theirChristmas dinner by the prospect of newguidelines on future mergers.The guidelines have been prepared underthe Competition and Consumer ProtectionAct 2014 and interested parties have untilJanuary 22nd 2015 to make submissions tothe Department of Communications, Energyand Natural Resources.Up to now responsibility for mergers hasrested with the Department of Enterprise,Trade and Innovation.The transfer of responsibility for approvingmergers to the Minister for Communicationshas been accompanied by the introductionof new tests. The Competition andConsumer Protection Commission will stillhave a role in determining if a merger oracquisition can proceed, on competitiongrounds.While the introduction of a “public value”test is welcome the reality is that successivegovernments have failed to tackle the issueof concentration of media ownership for solong that any limited measures now willhave little impact.In 2011 Mr White’s precedessor Pat Rabbitteannounced the transfer of responsibility formedia policy at an NUJ conference in CrokePark. Since then there have been many falsedawns. As Fiach Kelly reported in The IrishTimes on Monday departmental turf warshave clearly played their part in delayingprogress.Politicians have always been fearful ofmedia owners – and with good reason.In 1973 the National Union of Journalistsmade representations to the then Minister

for Industry and Commerce Justin Keatingseeking urgent government intervention tocurb the growth of a dominant mediamonopoly in Ireland.The union had staged a week-long sit inseeking guarantees from the new proprietorTony O’Reilly regarding the protection ofjournalists and journalism. While the strikewas in many ways a success the unionrecognised a need for formal State policy toprevent abuse of market dominance.John Devine, leader of the strike and futureNUJ President, placed high hopes inKeating, himself a former journalist but theGroup Industrial Correspondent was to bedisappointed, despite Keating’s radicalreputation."Tony O'Reilly is a rich and powerful man,"Keating told Devine, dismissing thepossibility that any government couldprevent O’Reilly or anyone else, fromsecuring so much control of the media thateven governments would be afraid tochallenge them.The corpses of the Irish Press Group and theSunday Tribune are testimony to thepolitical cowardice which characterisedmedia policy over the past four decades.The Competition Authority and the BAI haverespectively allowed transfer of newspapertitles and radio stations in the face of clearevidence of a negative impact on mediadiversity and plurality.The draft guidelines are useful as a sliderule. A stake of between 10 and 19 per centmay “constitute a significant interest” whilea 20pc stake or higher “will generallyconstitute a significant interest”.The impact of general media “plurality” willalso be considered in the future.All this good stuff underlines past failures,not just in the national media sector but inthe regional press sector, where failure ofmedia regulation allowed for example theemergence and subsequent decline ofJohnston Press, whose entry to the Irishmarket caused devastation through the lossof titles such as the Offaly Express and the

decline in editorial investment andstandards.As a former Editor of the RoscommonChampion I was saddened to witness theclosure of that newspaper and completelyperplexed by the decision of theCompetition Authority to allow the ownersof its rival, the Roscommon Herald, toacquire the Champion title, thus eliminatingany prospect of salvation.Up to now the State has stood back asnewspaper titles collapsed, employmentdeclined and a small core of media groupshovered up print and broadcastingcompanies. The most dramatic interventionthe Competition Authority could managewas to limit the ability of freelance workersto be collectively representedControl of media organisations cannot bemeasures just by percentage share. Thepower to appoint editors, to determine themake-up of boards and to influenceeditorial and commercial structures andexpenditure shape the end product and thusinfluence our democracy.That’s why media matters. It is sometimesargued that, in the digital era, newspapers,radio and television are becoming irrelevant.But news and current affairs coverageinfluences how we receive information andmore significantly, how news is mediatedand interpreted.If we cannot unring the bell onconcentration of media ownership we needto look at other ways of shaping mediapolicy.Citizens have an interest in the media, whichis why the NUJ has called for a publiccommission on the future of the media toexamine not just ownership but editorialcontrol, employment standards, measures toprotect editorial independent, and whetherState supports may be appropriate toensure a diversity of media across allplatforms.

This piece first appeared in the IrishTimes on 11 November.

IRISH JOURNALISTPAGE 2

DENIS O'BRIEN GETS TO HAVEHIS TURKEY AND EAT IT TOO

THE National Union of Journalists hascalled on the Broadcasting Authority ofIreland (BAI) to carry out an urgent reviewof guidance notes issued to broadcastingorganisations earlier this year, in light ofthe experiences of journalist and authorUna Mullally in relation to on airdiscussion of her book “In the Name ofLove.”The union says the actions of the BAI arealready having a chilling effect on publicdiscourse around marriage equality.The guidance note from BAI CEO MichaelO’Keeffe, issued on 6 August last,coincided with the BAI’s ComplianceCommittee determination in a case takenagainst RTÉ arising from a discussion onthe Mooney Show (RTÉ Radio 1).Ms Mullaly has advised the union that shehas been informed by several radiostations that she will not be allowed todiscuss her book, an oral history on themovement for marriage equality in Ireland,without the presence of an opponent ofmarriage equality. She outlined herexperience in The Irish Times.“This is precisely the absurd consequencewhich the NUJ warned of in the wake ofthe original Mooney ruling”, said NUJ IrishSecretary Séamus Dooley. “We now have asituation where station managements,programme editors, and journalists arebeing forced to self-censor as a result ofthe requirement to second guess the BAIin relation to any issue which may or may

not be the subject of a referendum at anunspecified date in the future. This seemsto arise from the BAI determination in theMooney Show and the circular issued inrelation to coverage of the referendum onmarriage equality.

It is difficult to see how the public interestis best served by a mandatory adversarialtype debate. There are circumstanceswhere a one to one interview may be moreappropriate, with the interviewersometimes placing the role of devil’sadvocate in order to tease out issues.The Bishop of Elphin, for example, isentitled to set out the view of the RomanCatholic Church without automaticallyhaving to engage in direct argument witha spokesperson for GLEN. Una Mullallyshould be allowed to discuss her workwithout always having to run the gauntletof an opponent.No other topic would be treated in thisway – even a controversial issue such aswater charges would be subject to normalrules of engagement. This is not about thebasic principles of balance, impartiality orfairness. Broadcasters are capable of anuanced discussion on the topic ofmarriage equality within the accepted

framework of debate. This is about a newset of standards being applied in a mannerwhich reduces all on air discussion to agladiatorial contest in the name offairness.”Mr Dooley went on to point out that theBAI had expressly stated that this was notthe intended effect of the ruling. “No onewould have predicted that the BAI wouldhave issued such a narrow set of guidancenotes”, he said.“It is therefore of little surprise that stationowners should wish to tread doublycarefully as they look to their futurelicence renewals. Statements from the BAIabout the intended consequences of theirrulings are of little comfort, it is thesubstance of the rulings themselves whichneeds to be addressed.”Mr Dooley concluded by calling on the BAIto issue a definitive policy statementclarifying how stations are to approachdiscussions on the wide range of issuesincluding the voting age, the presidentialterm of office, the electoral system for theDáil, the role of women in the home andpolitics, and blasphemy which may be thesubject of referendums in the coming yearand beyond.“In the absence of such a clarifyingstatement and a change of mind and hearton the Mooney ruling the chilling effect onpublic debate on these and other issueswill have serious consequences for ourdemocracy”, Mr Dooley added.

UNA MULLALLY SUFFERS CHILLING EFFECTOF BAI MARRIAGE EQUALITY RULING

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THE Chief Executive of the BAI MichaelO’Keefe has moved to defend the recordof the authority in the light of criticismfrom Una Mullaly and from the NUJ.In an article in The Irish Times Mr O’Keeffestrongly challenged the claim that theBroadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI)had insisted that discussions of news andcurrent affairs topics of current publicdebate need an automatic balance ofviews.Una Mullally stated that she had been toldby national radio stations that in order todiscuss this history book, there must besomeone present who opposes rights forgay people.”Mr O’Keeffe said “The BAI has, at no timeissued any direction requiring thatbroadcasters must automatically “balance”a discussion with an opposing view.Neither has the authority, at any stage,made a “ruling on marriage equality”.It would be a matter of grave disquiet,therefore, if “national radio stations” orany other broadcasters, incorrectly usedthe outcomes of recent complaintdecisions as a basis for their editorial

decision-making.”Responding Séamus Dooley, IrishSecretary said the BAI statement waswelcome “in so far as it seeks to clarify theofficial position.”He added that Mr O’Keeffe was not in apositon to deny that Una Mullally hadencountered difficulties in securinginterviews without the automatic presenceof an opposing viewpoint.“The BAI issued a guidance note in Augustand stations have clearly interpreted thatnote to mean that any discussion on civilmarriage equality must be treated withspecial sensitivity."Given the action of the BAI this is notsurprising."Hopefully the belated clarification will beof assistance to producers and presenters.“It is not in the interest of proponents oropponents of any proposed constitutionalamendments that BAI guidance should beused to stymie debate."This is not about the marriage equalityissue, per se, but about the manner inwhich broadcasters are allowed to do theirjob.”

“This is precisely theabsurd consequence theNUJ warned of"

BAI CHALLENGE CLAIMTHE 2015 Biennial Delegate Conferencetakes place in the Gresham Hotel, Dublin onSaturday November 7th with a pre-conference open to non-delegates proposedfor the previous day in Dublin city centre.The IEC is asking branches to note the dateand to discuss possible topics for motions.In addition it’s important to ensure fullbranch attendance, which should reflect thegender balance of our membership.2015 will also see the election of a new IrishExecutive Council. Branches will receive a callfor nominations next year but it’s never toosoon to encourage members to seekelection. One issue highlighted at a recentmeeting of the Equality Council was theissue of gender imbalance in the union’sexecutive bodies.

PLANNING FOR 2015

NEW P&PR CHAIRGERRY Curran has stepped down as Chair ofDublin P&PR branch after a decade at thehelm.The new chair is Peter Mullan, who iscurrently Press Officer in the INTO and hasbeen a long serving branch officer.

PAGE 4

AT the request of IndependentNewspapers (Ireland) chapel IrishSecretary Séamus Dooley has written toSinn Féin president Gerry Adamsfollowing his comments at a fundraising dinner in New York andsubsequent comments on social mediaby senior Sinn Féin officials.The Irish Secretary noted Mr Adams'clarification that the reference to analleged death threat by Michael Collinsagainst the editor of the Irish Independentwas a joke but said NUJ members atIndependent House still found thecomments unacceptable.Séamus Dooley has stated that he did notregard the Collins reference as a veileddeath threat but that he shares the graveconcern of members at INM at the tone

adopted by the Sinn Féin leader.The Irish Secretary says journalists must beprepared to accept a degree of criticism,especially those who engage in debate onsocial media. "We are not wilting violetsand If we choose to engage in debate onsocial media exchanges we cannot expectnuanced discussion. At the same time wehave a right to expect that as workingjournalist we are treated with respect andallowed to carry out our work without fearof intimidation".He stressed that Sinn Féin was not the onlyparty which had criticised media workers."What makes these incidents difference isthe Adams 'joke', which cannot simply bedismissed as a crime against humour"."I found the comment ill judged andinappropriate in the context of the dailythreats of violence against journalistsacross the globe, the number of journalistskilled annually and the climate of fear inwhich so many colleagues work.A number of members, including thoseemployed at Independent Newspapers,found the Collins reference sinister andintimidating. You need only speak to yourcolleague, former Lord Mayor of BelfastMáirtín Ó Muilleoir MLA to confirm that inNorthern Ireland threats against journalistsare a contemporary reality rather than ahistoric footnote," Séamus Dooley told MrAdams.Employees of Mr Ó Muilleoir's Belfast MediaGroup have been the subject of threats andintimidation in the past 12 months.Séamus Dooley also drew attention to thehostile attitude of some Sinn Féin staff and

senior officials towardsindividual journalists.Accepting that robustexchanges are part and parcelof political discourse he saidsome of the comments hadbeen offensive.He also defended Sinn Féin'sright to defend the party fromhostile media treatment."Let me make it absolutelyclear that the NUJ does notseek to deny anyone the rightto defend themselves fromcriticism or to respond tocriticism from individualpublications or mediaorganisations.As a trade union we representdiverse stands of journalism. We are notrequired to agree with the views expressedby our members but we do have anobligation to ensure that their right tofreedom of expression is understood andrespected by those who engage in thepolitical process, either as electedrepresentatives or party officials."Daniel McConnell, Father of theIndependent NUJ Chapel also denouncedinaccurate attacks on Sunday Independentphotographer Tony Gavin, describing them

IRISH JOURNALIST

"I found the comment Iilljudged and inappropriate in thecontext of the daily threats ofviolence against journalistsacross the globe, the number ofjournalists killed annually andthe climate of fear in which somany colleagues work"

EDITORS UNDER THREATTHE much published comments by GerryAdams about the alleged death threatagainst the editor of the Irish Independentby Michael Collins were off target in anumber of respects.Dublin branch chairman and historianMartin Fizpatrick points out that the SinnFéin president may have been getting hisicons mixed up when he referred to Collins.The main threat to newspaper editors camefrom the anti-treaty IRA, according toCommander Ernie O'Malley, from Castlebarno less, a man quoted by Taoiseach EndaKenny at the launch of the Press Council ofIreland annual report earlier this year.Ernie had his own view of the media andwas tempted to divert bullets to otherpowerful figures.Martin Fitzpatrick points out that in his CivilWar memoir The Singing Flame, O'Malleywrote:"Newspapers wrote romance about 'fiercebattles' in which there were often nowounded and no objectives gained. I hadbeen instructed by Liam Lynch to captureand execute the editors of the IrishIndependent and the Irish Times, but I didnot carry out that order."They were inflaming public opinion andignoring the more brutal side of Free Statemethods... Yet I considered that the FreeState Cabinet should be the first dealt with.Why not the Cabinet or a few bishops?"

Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,consectetur adipiscing elit

INDO CHAPEL FURY OVERADAMS' NY COMMENTS

THE union is conducting a brief andconfidential survey of its members workingin the Republic of Ireland, to find out whichmedia organisations engage JobBridgeworkers.The NUJ passed a motion at its DelegateMeeting this year opposing JobBridge, whichexploits vulnerable and unemployed people.The scheme provides employers with freelabour, thereby blocking the creation of realjobs and taking work away from freelancejournalists.Whether you are employed by a mediaorganisation or work for it on a freelance basis,the NUJ needs your assistance to find outwhich media organisations use JobBridgeposts.If the company you are employed by, orfreelance for, employs JobBridge workers;please answer the questions in this shortsurvey:www.surveymonkey.com/s/jobbridgePlease note that any information you give willbe treated with the utmost confidentiality.This survey will be part of an overall campaignto oppose JobBridge and press for realjournalism jobs and work for freelances.If you do not know the answer to any of thequestions simply write 'don't know'.

NUJ survey onJobbridge

as shocking and disgraceful.“Tony Gavin is a photographer of thehighest integrity. Tony has sinceconclusively debunked the highlyerroneous and offensive accusations thatphotographs used on Independent.ie andin the Sunday Independent were digitallyaltered. Such falsehoods were circulatedacross social media at the weekend. TheIndependent NUJ Chapel fully supportsour colleague in the face of such attacks.”A reply from Mr Adams is awaited.

IRISH South East branch respondedto a suggestion from Waterfordwoman Dolores O’Shea that the cityshould mark the murder of Irish-American journalist James Foley byorganising a vigil in WaterfordCathedral. Ms O’Shea felt it wouldbe appropriate to hold a servicegiven Mr Foley’s ancestral roots inWaterford and Wexford.Branch Chair Damian Tiernan told theattendance that the killing of JamesFoley was “a horrifying and cowardlyact of violence against an unarmedman.”He described the murder as “a wakeupcall for action to protect journalists andcivilians who are brutally targeted byarmed groups, terrorists and variousState governments.”He added: “Barbarity in all its forms,whether it comes from individuals orgovernments, should be resisted, stoodup to and shamed.Of course in many cases that is easiersaid than done... but saying words,writing words, reporting words issometimes the hardest thing to do.”Expressing condolences to the Foleyfamily Damien put the murder in aninternational context and pointed tothe consist campaigns of the NUJ andIFJ in defence of journalists working inconflict zones.“In recent years, the IFJ has deployed avast programme for media safetyacross the Arab World, leading aworldwide campaign. Today, Syriaremains the world’s most dangerouscountry for journalists, with over sixtykilled and some twenty still missing.Iraq remains an extremely difficultplace for journalists to work. Only lastweekend, an Iraqi journalistMuhammad Akidi was executed by ISISand yet there was little or no coverageabout him in the Western media.The International Federation ofJournalists (IFJ) has called on theinternational community to hold thoseresponsible for violence againstjournalists in Iraq accountable, but alsowe raise the failure by authorities toinvestigate killings of over 350journalists who have died since 2003 atthe hands of both armed groups andforces of members of the coalition,” theRTÉ regional correspondent said.

IRISH JOURNALIST PAGE 5

BRANCH PAYS TRIBUTETO SLAIN JOURNALIST

TRIBUTES TO VETERANBROADCASTER ANDACADEMIC BRIAN FARRELLTHE National Union of Journalists has extended sympathy to the family of veteran Irishbroadcaster 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 servicebroadcaster. He was one of the finest interviewers of his generation, asking the questions theviewer wanted asked - always dogged, always determined but always courteous. Colleaguesremember Brian for his generosity of spirit, his willingness to share information, ideas andwisdom and of course his sparking sense of humour. Brian believed in public service andbrought to several posts, including the Commission on the Newspaper Industry, the Arts Counciland the National Archives Advisory Council, common sense, academic rigour and a uniqueunderstanding of Irish society. His death, coming so soon after the death of another CurrentAffairs 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.

The inscription on the candle holder (donatedby Waterford Crsytal) reads: “From the Peopleof Waterford – For the family of James Foley –Never Forgotten.”

Retired MembersCommittee chairLouis McConnellsteps down

Louis McConnell has stepped downas Chair of the Retired MembersCommittee and as the committee’srepresentative on the IEC.Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley paidtribute to Louis and said that withRosaline Kelly and Jim Eadie Louis, amember of Belfast and Districtbranch, had been a Trojanrepresentative of retired members.2015 has been a difficult year for thecommittee, Séamus said, and heappealed to newly retired membersand former activists to get involvedin revitalising the committee in theNew Year.“We hope to have an open meetingin early February and to encouragemore people to get involved.Journalists love gathering to chatand to reminisce and the committeeis a great social forum but it alsoplays a useful advisory role for theIEC on issues relating to retiredmembers.

FOLLOWING a request from Dublinbranch member Therese Caherty and anumber of colleagues for use of theofficial NUJ banner on the March forChoice in September the GeneralPurposes Committee of the IECreaffirmed the long-standing practicethat the official NUJ banner should onlybe used for events organised specificallyby the NUJ or for other trade unionevents.The GPC accepted a statement by IECofficers Gerry Curran, Cathaoirleach, GerryCarson/Felicity McCall (j/s LeasCathaoirleach) and Martin Fitzpatrick,Treasurer. They pointed out that the marchwas organised by the Abortion RightsCampaign and was not a specific tradeunion event.

In officers said: “We recommend the GPCnot grant permission for use of the NUJbanner for this event and that the currentpolicy be reaffirmed.The long standing policy and practice ofthe IEC is that the banner is used only at

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IEC BANNER RESERVEDFOR UNION EVENTS ONLY

IRISH JOURNALIST

COUNCILCONFIRMSPOLICY

“It is important that the roleof the NUJ in politicalcampaigns and plebiscites isfully understood”

NUJ member Therese Caherty pictured with a photographer of Rosie Hackett at thethird annual March for Choice, organised by the Abortion Rights Campaign. For thefirst time the march featured a trade union bloc which included members of anumber of unions, including Unite the Union, the TUI and the NUJ. The NUJmembers, carried an unofficial banner made by members of Dublin Branch, DublinFreelance and P&PR. Therese was one of a number of NUJ members involved in theBridge for Rosie campaign.events organised by the NUJ, ICTU or othertrade union bodies.” The recommendationwas accepted.The officers added: “Given that a number ofreferendums are to be held in the Republicof Ireland within the next 12 months it is

important that the role of the NUJ in politicalcampaigns and plebiscites is fully understood.Where NUJ representatives take part in politicalcampaigns or meetings it is important that theimpression is not given that they represent theNUJ at such events."

NOT quite a 'make and do' sessiondelivered in Blue Peter style, yetthoroughly hands on learning wasexperienced and enjoyed by thosewho recently attendedrepresentatives training, providedby Assistant Organiser, IanMcGuinness of the NUJ's DublinOffice.Reps training consists of a morning offamiliarisation with the union and itsmechanics, with an afternoon ofexperiential learning in representativefunctions such as recruiting,representing people, alleviatingawkward moments and situations formembers, defending locally wonrights, as well as statutory rights of payand conditions: along with an

introduction to the industrial relationsapparatus of the state.Even for a seasoned hand like myself, it wasa refreshing reminder of what the corefunction of the union is about -representing workers interests in theworkplace and through independentavenues of conciliation or advocacy.Following a couple of years as the union'sCathaoirleach in Ireland - of worryingabout wider and more expansive agendas -it was a timely renewal of the raison d'etreof trade unionism - to build oneself as onehelps fellow workers - starting in theworkplace and gathering strength throughnumbers and knowledge across sectors.Securing people's rights on paper is a greatthing. Ensuring delivery and an adherenceto same by those who seek to escaperesponsibility for creating decent workplaceconditions - is another. This training is a

great first step for anyone who wants tostep up to the mark, and act with and onbehalf of colleagues in the workplace. It is atool-bag of basic information andconfidence, for all of us who wish to makea difference in the workplace.I understand it is to be followed up withtraining in negotiation and labour relationsskills in the coming months. Please form aqueue to the left, thank you...This welcome emphasis on the basics ofunion representativeness is set to providethe union members with the skills to makethe union a living body of those able tostep in on behalf of colleagues, rather thanmembers just signing up to what theymight see as a service led, insuranceprovider.I encourage all in the union to think aboutundertaking such training in 2015, or todiscuss it with colleagues and nominatesomeone from your workplace to go for it.Happy 2015 colleagues... and happylearning!

LEARN TO DO IT UNION STYLEBy Gerry CurranCathaoirleach IEC

The feedback at NUJ meetings hasimpressed Bolton. Members wereinterested in the general issue, and ableto connect it to their lives. “Eventhough I was conveying how membersof the public react in certain situations,many of the people in the meetingswere saying ‘I’ve had those experiencesin my work, in reporting events, being awitness to events’,” he said.He said journalists, like other sufferers,should seek help rather than “walk intodarkness. Often people feel highlyisolated, alone, the only people who aresuffering this problem because it’s soodd and so perverse that nobody elsecould ever feel like this or be like this.And yet when people came to us andwe said ‘Here’s what the problem is.You’ve got Post-Traumatic StressDisorder, or you’re having a depressionin reaction to a traumatic event,’ thatinformation alone is highly reassuringfor people, and was the basis fromwhich people began to recover andmake progress."His final recommendation to journalistsis to use clear language. “I would urgejournalists to use the phrase ‘traumaticstress’, ‘traumatic experience’,‘traumatic reaction’, so it’s a bit moreprecise, rather than just the word‘trauma’,” he said.Bolton’s expertise in trauma comesfrom experience. A social worker, hiswork on trauma began with victims ofthe Enniskillen bomb of 1987. After theOmagh bomb of 1998, he headed upthe trauma team. He is currently aresearcher with the Initiative forConflict-Related Trauma. He isimpressed by the work the NUJ inIreland is doing, most recently theJournalist Safety Conference last year,seeing us as serious in facing the issue.

DAVID Bolton is an internationallyrecognised trauma expert, who hasspoken at several meetings of theNUJ’s Derry North West IrelandBranch. He spoke to ‘The IrishJournalist’ because he believes thework of journalists is of “utmostvalue” in helping victims – and thatsome journalists suffer trauma-related conditions because of theirwork.Such conditions develop when peopleundergo life-threatening or appallingexperiences. Afterwards they, andthose near them, are in danger ofdeveloping serious psychologicalproblems.“One of them is Post-Traumatic StressDisorder, but people can alsoexperience trauma-related depressionand other anxiety disorders,” Boltonsaid. “These can be quite transient,and be overcome fairly rapidly, but areoften likely to persist for some people.We know for example that 15% ofpeople involved in traumatic events inNorthern Ireland have gone on todevelop Post-Traumatic StressDisorder. And then if you add to thatdepression and other disorders you’reclocking up quite a number ofpeople.” He stressed that “peoplesuffer almost identical outcomes andrisks when exposed to non-Troublesrelated traumatic events such as roadtraffic accidents, sexual assault, beingheld hostage in a bank robbery, orindeed things like a sudden andserious illness."Through work, journalists meetsufferers. “One of the first reactions ajournalist might get in approachingsomeone is a refusal to take part in aninterview,” Bolton said. “That may wellbe because the very thing the personis trying to keep at bay is the last thingthey want to talk to a journalist about– or indeed to anyone else, a doctor orwhoever. And one of the mostpowerful symptoms of traumaticreactions is a desire not to deal with it,to keep it at bay, and that can be doneby avoidance, by drinking a lot ofalcohol, by working too hard, playingtoo hard."Journalists can help because, liketherapists, they tell the person it issafe to speak about a terribleexperience. “One of the things ajournalist might want to do as part oftheir care of a person who has beenspeaking to them is to suggest that

they seek help and maybe even suggestthat they go and see their doctor,”Bolton said. “And they might even wantto say that ‘in the course of ourconversation it seems to me that this isa major worry to you and you aredeeply upset by this experience andmaybe it would be a good thing if youwent and saw your own doctor’."Bolton believes the work of journalists

is “of utmost value. For the individual, itcan be the beginning of doingsomething about their distress. Butthere’s a wider role here, and the widerrole is that, through the telling ofstories of traumatic experiences andtheir consequences, people out therewho have had similar experiences, andhave yet to seek help, and have yet todeal with their own experiences, arereading material and are hearingpeople speaking about a thing they canidentify with. So what happens is that aperson’s terrifying and lonelyexperience becomes one that is sharedby others and is normalised in thatway.” The rest of society benefits“because it allows us to be much moresympathetic as a society to the needs ofthose who have been through thesetypes of experiences."Because of their work, journalists alsosuffer. Journalists are “a bit like medicalworkers, health care workers,undertakers, who are there to pick upthe pieces, to reflect the stories, butwho are not thought of as being humanand are seen as being somehowimmune from the consequences ofthese experiences."He explained that people often don’tmake the link between a traumaticexperience and their reaction“particularly if the reaction comes sometime after the experience. Whateverkind of behaviours are going on theymay not be able to link back to thatparticular event. If journalists find thatthey are not themselves, then one ofthe useful questions they might wish toask is – is there something about therecent past that may somehow belinked to how I’m feeling at themoment. I’m down, I don’t have theenergy I had, I’m not the person I was.Or maybe more dramatic than that I’mhaving these nightmares, flashbacks tosomething I don’t fully understand."

IRISH JOURNALIST

"Journalists are there to pickup the pieces. There aresometimes seen as somehowimmune from theconsequences of theseexperiences"

PAGE 7

By Anton McCabe

TRAUMA A REALITY FOR JOURNALISTS

PAGE 8

NUJ WEST OF IRELANDSOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING

IRISH JOURNALIST

ATTENDING the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised byNUJ West were Ciara McCaughlan, Roscommon Herald, MaresaFagan, Roscommon Herald, Bernie Ní Fhlatharta, ConnachtTribune and Mairead O’Shea, Roscommon Herald.

AT the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised byNUJ West were Ciara Galvin, The Mayo News, Garry Kelly ofGK Media, Declan Tierney, Connacht Tribune and AnnHealy, freelance.

ATTENDING the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised byNUJ West were Una Sinnott and Martina Nee of the GalwayAdvertiser with Garry Kelly of GK Media.

AT the Social Media Training Day in Tuam organised byNUJ West were Garry Kelly of GK Media, Siobhán Holliman,The Tuam Herald, Colman Garrihy, Shannon and RonKirwan, Limerick.

GEMMA O'DOHERTY CASEIS SETTLED AT TRIBUNALAN unfair dismissal case taken by formerIrish Independent journalist and NUJmember Gemma O’Doherty against herformer employer has been settled at theEmployment Appeals Tribunal.Ms O’Doherty was made redundant byIndependent News and Media in August2013 after more than 18 years working forthe company. The NUJ had opposed thecompulsory redundancy and had offered torepresent Ms O’Doherty in negotiations atthe EAT. Gemma O’Doherty decided to optfor legal representation but Irish SecretarySéamus Dooley was scheduled to giveevidence on her behalf when the case was

settled prior to the second day of hearing.At the outset of the hearing IndependentNewspapers unreservedly apologised tothe journalist for any stress and hardshipcaused to her. The case was settled withundisclosed damages to Ms O’Doherty.A statement read after the settlement wasannounced said: “IndependentNewspapers wish to acknowledge theexceptional work of multi-award winninginvestigative journalist Gemma O’Dohertyfor the Irish Independent during the courseof a lengthy career.“Independent Newspapers accept thatGemma O’Doherty has acted at all times in

a professional and diligent manner and inthe best interests of IndependentNewspapers.“Independent Newspapers unreservedlyapologise to Ms O ‘Doherty for the stressand hardship caused to her and herhusband as a result of its actions.“Independent Newspapers have agreed topay to Ms O’Doherty undisclosed damagesand to indemnify her in relation to herlegal costs.”Séamus Dooley congratulated MsO’Doherty and said he hoped the company“would learn lessons from the way in whichMs O’Doherty had been treated.”

IRISH JOURNALIST PAGE 9

2014: A CHALLENGING YEAR FOR THE UNIONThe editor's view - Phil Mac Giolla Bháin

It’s been a hectic if grim year, withbad news across the industrialsectors.2014 saw a focus on training withlegal issues dominating aprogramme featuring seminars onfamily law reporting, digital media,and a World Press Freedom Daysymposium organised by Dublin P& PR branch.The Freelance Forum, organised byDublin Freelance Branch, wasanother outstanding success.In other parts of the world thedanger to media workers washighlighted by the tragic case ofJames Foley.

Closer to home we again facedthreats by paramilitaries to membersin Northern Ireland.The challenges of social media wereon the mind of West of Irelandbranch while meeting organisationalchallenges is the priority of the newRTÉ sub branch.In Northern Ireland the year endedwith a major seminar markingInternational Human Rights Day andhosted by Belfast and Districtbranch.It is fitting that the New Year willbegin with a seminar on governmentguidelines 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

IRELAND may yet provide the frameworkfor a new system of co-regulation of themedia in Morocco, a country notorious forlimitations on media freedom.Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley chaired theopening forum on safeguarding the mediaat the Global Human Rights Forum inMarrakesh on the invitation of the IFJ andintroduced Moroccan CommunicationsMinter.Mustapha El Khalfi, himself a formerjournalist and editor-in-chief of the"Attajdid" newspaper, is heading up reformof the law on criminal defamation and,despite belonging to the conservativeruling party, is seen as a positive influencewithin government. He requested ameeting with the Irish Secretary and

indicated support for the Irish model ofpress regulation. He was also impressed bythe Press Council Code and has indicatedthat the Irish model will be explored at ameeting in early 2015.At the close of the conference the IrishSecretary was invited by the Moroccanunion to read the Marrakesh Principles, asignificant statement agreed by theparticipants and reflecting the strongcommitment of Moroccan journalists topromote freedom of expression in theircountry.IFJ President and NEC member JimBoumelha addressed the 5,000 members atthe opening ceremony and outlined in starkterms the high price paid by journalists in aworld where journalism is increasingly

under threat. The Irish Secretary co-ordinated the IFJ delegation of• Larry Goldbetter, National Writers Union,USA• Stanis Nkundiye, Syndicat national desprofessionels de la presse, RDC• Timur Shafir, Russian Union of Journalists• Alsadig Ibrahim Ahmed, Sudanese Unionof Journalists• Marins Morim, Sindicato dos journalistas,Portugal• Omar Faruk, National Union of SomaliJournalists, Somalia• Omar An Nazzal, Palestinian Journalists’Syndicate, Palestine• Oivier da Lage, Syndicat national desjournalistes, France

IRISH MODEL FOR MOROCCO PRESS COUNCIL

Continued on page 11

TRIBUTES AS PROFHORGAN BOWS OUT

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

PETER Feeney has taken up his post as Ombudsman following the retirement ofProf John Horgan.Prof Horgan is a life member of the NUJ and at a reception hosted by theChairman of the Press Council Daithi O Ceallaigh Séamus Dooley, Irish Secretarywas asked to make a presentation to John and to pay tribute on behalf of theIrish newspaper industry.In paying tribute to Prof Horgan he also paid tribute to a sometimes adversary, FrankCullen, who, as Director of NNI, made an enormous contribution to the developmentof the Irish model of press regulation.Séamus said it was as a measure of how relationships within the industry haddeveloped that he had been asked on behalf of the industry groups: NNI, LocalIreland, 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, DouglasGageby as a referee.Gageby, with his legendary impatience, scrawled across the standard form demandingall 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 werelucky to have him as our first Ombudsman, Séamus said, adding that it was John hadretained and developed friendships across the industry without compromising theindependence of the office of Ombudsman.

"We were lucky to have him as our firstOmbudsman"

NUJ NEC member Donnacha DeLongand Sarah Kavanagh (Senior Campaignsand Communications Officer) assistedthe local union as volunteers in thecommunications unit and made asignificant contribution to highlightingthe media element of the Global Forumon social media.The following is the statement agreed atthe media forum:The protection of journalists is essentialto the promotion of human rights.The right to freedom of expression,enshrined in Article 19 of the UNDeclaration on Human Rights, confersspecial responsibilities ongovernments to ensure that journalistsare entitled to work without fear, threator intimidation and should not besubject to the violation of their rights bythe State.The protection of these rights is asolemn responsibility of governmentsand parliament.Journalism is a public good and theviolation of the rights of journalists is anattack on society.Governments and parliamentaryassemblies must act as a watchdog indefence of a free media and act alwaysin defence of public interest journalism.The protection of journalism requireslegislative provisions for the protectionof confidential sources of information,freedom from unwarranted surveillance,adequate measures for the safety andwelfare of all journalists regardless oftheir employment, status, gender, ethnicor social status, along with respect forthe dignity of workers through properterms and conditions of employmentand the right to trade unionrepresentation.Employers have a special obligation toprovide comprehensive safety trainingas part of their duty of care to workers.The public interest can best be servedby a diverse media, free of intoleranceand discrimination on the basis ofgender, race, nationality, religion orsexual orientation.International Conventions anddeclarations can only be effective whenrespected at regional, national andinternational level.Journalists must be aware of theirresponsibilities to uphold ethicalstandards and to honour the trustplaced in them.

MOROCCANPRESSREGULATION

PAGE 10IRISH JOURNALIST

Continued from page 9

TheBack Page

The next Freelance Forum is scheduledfor April 2015, so keep an eye on theDublin Freelance website athttp://dublinfreelance.org/ forannouncements. Once the event date isannounced, you can also book yourspot at the Forum, which takes place inBuswells Hotel, using the website.See you there.

Lenny Antonelli and Rebecca Lee onbreaking into broadcasting, RTEbroadcaster Richard Dowling and HSEassistant national director RayMitchell on the Freedom ofInformation Act, and Sinead Ahernoutlined the Mary Raftery JournalismFund. Malachy Browne (Storyful) andSinead van Kampen (PRSlides.com)spoke on new media, and Lyra McKeeoutlined her experience ofcrowdfunding.Would you like to see a particulartopic covered? If so, drop an email todublinfreelancenuj@gmail.com.

December 2014

By Gerard CunninghamFREELANCE Forum, the one-dayinformation and training eventorganised for freelancers andstudent journalists, enjoyed asuccessful 2015 with Spring andAutumn Forums both sold out.The Forum is a one-day event, nowheld twice yearly, providing freelancejournalists (and aspiring studentjournalists) with information to betterdo their jobs, reinforcing good habits.covering new industry developmentsand under-exploited areas, andproviding practical information onareasfrom time management andcredit control to tax returns.Brought to you by Dublin FreelanceNUJ branch, it is a highly regardedevent, and has run since 2008.

So whether you’re an old schoolhack or student journalist, you owe itto yourself to check out the FreelanceForum.Speakers at the Forum this yearincluded commissioning editors LiamCollins (Sunday Independent), AidenCorkery (Mail on Sunday), Aine Toner(Woman’s Way), Emmet Ryan (SundayBusiness Post) and Peter Murtagh(Irish Times) talking about pitchingskills and what they’re looking for.Sue Leonard and Abigail Riley spokeon book writing and ghost writing.

PITCHING SKILLS AND HOW TO BREAK INTO BROADCASTING AMONG THE KEY TOPICS

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Broadcaster Rebecca Lee and SheilaAhern, Mary Raftery Fund, at FreelanceForum Autumn 2014 organised byDublin Freelance NUJ

Life membershipfor Michael FisherFORMER Northern Ireland committeeChair Michael Fisher has beenpresented with Life Membership of theNUJ.The presentation was made by SéamusDooley at a function attended by GerryCurran, Cathaoirleach, IEC and JIMBoumelha, President, InternationalFederation of Journalists.The presentation marks 40 yearscontinuous membership of the union,which Michael has served withdistinction as a chapel and branchofficer, as a member and Cathaoirleachof the IEC and as long time DMdelegate.