View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
March 20, 2014

NUJ condemns attack on Northern Ireland freelance photographer

By Press Gazette

The National Union of Journalists has condemned an attack on a freelance photojournalist in Belfast who was assaulted leaving a function at CIty Hall on St Patrick's Day.
The union said the member involved had been covering a reception and was confronted by a group associated with the Loyalist flag protest.
NUJ Irish secretary Séamus Dooley said in a statement:
Our member noticed that he was being followed by one of the group, who took his photograph. Two men followed him down the street and referred in a threatening manner to his association with the Irish News.
They told him they knew which gym he went to, accused him of working for Sinn Féin, being a dissident and subjected him to sectarian abuse. The behaviour was deeply disturbing. For a freelance photographer to be attacked in this way is unacceptable.
Like many freelances this man works for a variety of media organisations, including the Irish News. No one should be threatened or intimidated because of their association with any media organisations. Coming so soon after attempts to intimidate a court reporter this incident yet again highlights the difficulties faced by media workers in Northern Ireland.
The tone and language used is reflective of widespread sectarianism which can have no place in Northern Ireland.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Topics in this article : ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network