NUJ seeks crisis forum on Coronavirus threat to media jobs in Ireland
The NUJ's Irish Secretary warned many journalists in Ireland are fearful for their livelihood as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The Irish Secretary of the National Union of Journalists has warned that many journalists in Ireland are fearful for their livelihood as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The statement comes in the wake of the announcement by the Celtic Media Group that it is to lay off an unspecified number of journalists in its titles across the country. The NUJ is also worried about the plight of freelance workers whose earnings have been slashed.
Séamus Dooley said that at a time when the public is dependent upon professional journalists for reliable, verifiable, independent news and information the media industry is in turmoil and must be supported. He called on the government to examine "imaginative means" of supporting vulnerable sectors of the industry and to provide adequate funding for public service broadcasting.
The NUJ has called for a crisis forum involving Government, the BAI, trade unions and media industry representatives to examine how the media, as a vital service can be protected. He said one of the key priorities of any rescue package must be to ensure that workers remain in employment so that the best possible service is provided to readers and listeners:
"Across Ireland and the UK professional journalists are providing information across all platforms. The NUJ has long championed the concept of public service broadcasting and its value has been evident in these grim days. Throughout Ireland, North and South, our members are fearful for their future.
"We have consistently called for a Commission on the Future of the Media in Ireland to examine how the State can assist news organisations to survive and flourish and it is extremely regrettable that these calls have gone unheeded.
"Regional and national media, newspapers and broadcasters, play a vital role in serving the community. Their importance in this unique crisis is underlined by the damage caused by the abuse of other platforms by keyboard warriors and conspiracy theorists posing as experts.
"This is not special pleading but a call on act on the acknowledgement by An Taoiseach that journalists have a key role to play in this period. While the concentration is rightly on the massive challenges to the health services it is vital that media organisations are equipped to play their role in the provision of information.
"RTÉ, as the national public service broadcaster, has shown that the organisation can meet the challenge of a national emergency and has done so across all platforms. Public interest journalism is vital in times of crisis yet many journalists are deeply apprehensive about their future as a result of the decline in advertising revenue, barriers to circulation and the precarious financial position of many companies.
quot;While many media organisations may be tempted to introduce lay-offs or redundancies we believe that in the current emergency newsrooms must be fully staffed. The time when readers and listeners require a service is not the time to reduce resources and such measures should always be the last resort. Employers should consult with the workforce and the NUJ and seek to protect employment to the greater extend possible.
"This is an especially difficult time for all freelance workers. Freelance journalists and photographers are in an especially precarious position and the NUJ will do everything to assist these members.
"We call on publishers and broadcasters to avail of all the supports available in order to ensure continuity of production. The government should explore imaginative means of supporting media organisations under financial pressure as a result of the virtual collapse in income."
The joint chairs of the NUJ's Irish Executive Council, Siobhan Holliman and Dara Bradley, have called on the public to support journalism by buying newspapers, in their shops or online.
Siobhan Holliman, who is also NUJ nominee to the Press Council of Ireland, said:
"Our members are working flat out in challenging circumstances. If journalism is to survive we need the public to buy newspapers. It's not enough to "like" a headline on Facebook or retweet a picture on Twitter."
Dara Bradley stressed the role of the media, especially regional newspapers and regional stations, in promoting a sense of community and social cohesion:
"The link between the public and the media is best illustrated by local newspapers and radio. In this time of crisis people rely on us for information. We are the community notice board, the sound post and the mirror which reflects community life and our industry cannot be allowed to sink under the weight of this crisis."
Meanwhile Séamus Dooley has supported the call by Newsbrands for the key role of the media to be formally recognised by the Irish government.:
"The NUJ believes that media organisations should be granted "essential service status" in the event of further movement restrictions, including keeping publishers, retailers and wholesalers operating and able to deliver newspapers. The free movement of journalists should be facilitated to allow NUJ members to fulfil their role in the public interest. Our members are aware of their responsibilities to carry out their duties in a responsible manner.
"It is vital that existing newspaper retailers continue to stock newspapers at current level and that the supply chain to printing plants and for the supply to retailers and home delivery customers is not impeded. I would also like to see the major supermarket chains, including the larger European chains, stock local papers."