The following is the motion passed at the National Union of Journalist’s Delegate Meeting (DM) in Newcastle at the week end.
The motion was submitted by the New Media Industrial Council (NMIC) and was then amended by the National Executive Council (NEC).
All of the NEC amendments were accepted by NMIC.
I spoke to this amended motion and it was passed unanimously by DM.
LNM 14 (Far right attacks on journalists)
This Delegate Meeting notes with concern the growing targeting of journalists including threats of violence against them and their families by far right groups in the UK using blogs, Facebook, message boards and Twitter.
These attacks have grown in the context of the publication on 8th September 2012 of NUJ member Phil Mac Giolla Bhain’s book ‘Downfall’.
DM notes that the abusive tone of much of the abuse was underpinned by the racism and sectarianism that too often can be heard on Scottish football terraces. This conference instructs the NEC to work with the SEC to examine organising a training programme for NUJ members in Scotland to heighten their awareness of anti-Irish and other forms of racism amongst Scottish football supporters.
DM further notes the statement in September 2012 from the Scottish Executive Council on this matter.
This DM believes that any attack on a journalist is an attack on journalism and an assault on democracy. DM notes that this campaign of abuse follows threats against and actual physical attacks on journalists by the EDL and associated groups and, chillingly, death threats against a journalist covering loyalist paramilitaries in Northern Ireland.
DM notes that many of these campaigns have engaged the tactic employed by many contemporary far right groups of attempting to portray those who seek to expose racism and hatred as being racist themselves, for example, the video on Youtube posted by a UKIP supporter purporting to expose “Anti-white racism at the National Union of Journalists”.
DM recalls the long-running NUJ campaign seeking to close the far right Redwatch hate site. DM instructs the NEC to examine whether lessons can be learnt from that campaign and to redouble efforts to seek to force the police to take seriously the issue of online targeting of journalists in all jurisdictions in which the NUJ works.
John from Essex
Bought your book from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. Now at page 39 – a very slow reader but savouring every word.
While back in Lanarkshire at the weekend I bought another copy for my brother in law at a branch of Waterstones. I lifted the last copy on the shelf and engaged in a bit of banter with the Sales Assistant.
I was asked if I wanted a bag for the book and I replied that I did adding that I intended to plant it under my ‘jaiket’ for reasons of additional security and personal safety – given the locality that I was in at the time.
The Assistant went on to tell me that the book was very popular – a very brave statement to make I thought.
All this said you will note that I avoided making specific mention of the town where I bought the book and the gender of the Sales Assistant. It’s a sad commentary on life in the West of Scotland that anyone should feel the need to protect identities to avoid the risk of “reprisals” against people doing their job selling a book to an old Celtic diehard like me.
Am I being paranoid – is such a scenario so unlikely in this day and age? Don’t all shout “No” at once.
October 10, 2012 at 3:50 pm
robertg
Not sure how many people have picked up on this one. Guessing STV won’t be getting an invite to the press conference!
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/194041-rangers-bidder-bill-millers-advisor-warns-club-could-go-bust-again/
I caught it out the corner of my eye on the rolling Sky Sports News this morning, but haven’t seen it anywhere else and had to spend a bit of time looking for it on t’internet.
Guessing that this section of the article will have a few arses twitching at Duff and Duffer….
“He stated that as a result of the newco switch allowing players to opt out of transferring their contracts to Sevco Scotland Ltd (now The Rangers Football Club Limited), the purchasers lost out on between £9m to £15m in “player asset value”. He stated: “So, in exchange for a savings of £3m this spring, Rangers lost three to five times that.” ”
Also, sad to note the Brechin manager has paid with his job for the failure to beat Bustco in the Ramsden Cup. At the time it was seem as reasonable. Now, in the wake of the Stirling Albion debacle, the brechin board obviously realised they’d lost to a herd of diddies.
the gift that keeps on giving…..
October 10, 2012 at 12:46 pm
robertg
And the link to the Article, from Monday.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sportsmoney/2012/10/08/what-can-we-learn-from-the-financial-meltdown-of-glasgow-rangers-fc
Nothing unduly controversial in truth, juwt what has been aired here and CQN and other places: unless somebody is straight about the situation and takes the relevant action (cut wage bill for all employees; find and develop talent rather than buying it in; accept a period of (relative) failure; and accept the unpopularity that goes with it) they will repeat the actions of the past and end up in the same place.
October 10, 2012 at 1:15 pm
tommo
Excellent work Phil, It seems threatening behaviour can raise it’s ugly head even by the very people who took an oath to defend free speech journalist’s. remember the incident against Alex Thomson, a perfect example of a people afraid to embrace the 21st century afraid of the very thing they cannot see,or hear fear itself. Let them live in the past as hatred for hatred’s sake is a road to disaster. Need I give you an example. respect to you sir,
October 10, 2012 at 12:33 pm
tony d
These stories are no use to the Scottish MSM, if it is not true then it is a good story here in honest Scotland, never let the truth spoil a good story, as in Phils case his book can not be bought from a display shelf they are all under the counter, and the people destroying and making markings on Phils book when it was on display? well they had not even read it, sais it all really I suppose.
October 10, 2012 at 11:43 am
Ben mcginlay
I think any motion that is passed in any organisation that exposes the goings on from extremists who have got away with scare tactics and violence towards their so called enemies has to be good for society. But we are talking about Scotland here. I will reserve my judgement. Little example of what we are up against, I have photo of Jock Stein on the front of my locker at work and some ignoramus wrote beside it ‘I Knew’. That is the level of peepul we are unfortunate to live beside. The scary thing is they probably don’t think they are doing anything wrong
. Put it down to workplace banter. Not from where I’m sitting. I really support you Phil, but you don’t get the recognition you deserve. I admire your search for the truth.
October 10, 2012 at 8:11 am
Katanes
Phil,
There are some rather disgusting accusations in posts on Amazon reviews relating to your book Downfall. You are likely aware but felt I should mention it.
Hail Hail.
October 10, 2012 at 4:00 am
hang 'em high
the great man MARTIN LUTHER KING once said and i quote there comes a time when man can no longer remain under the Iron feet of oppression, let freedom reign,let freedom reign, thank god ALMIGHTY let freedom reign, excellent piece brother PHIL ,you are most certainly a champion in free speech GOD BLESS IRELAND CRIED THE HERO
October 10, 2012 at 3:26 am
The Wallace
Well done to you Phil and your NUJ colleagues ( I was going to say comrades, but I don’t want to be accused of having an agenda).You’ve done us all proud, sir. Jabba is really gonna hate you now. Brilliant work over the past few years, another of our days cometh, all thanks to you and the few like you. I have been witness to wonders that I could never have dreamed of in the past.
Hail, Hail.
October 10, 2012 at 1:35 am
Kevin
Noticed that this story seems to have ommitted from most of the MSM:
http://local.stv.tv/glasgow/194041-rangers-bidder-bill-millers-advisor-warns-club-could-go-bust-again/
Also noticed that the Journalist who wrote it has refrained from adding his name.
October 10, 2012 at 1:18 am
SamBrowneBelt
A caller to Clyde’s SuperScoreboard asked about this earlier tonight, but neither Jim Delahunt, nor Darrell King knew anything about it – or so they said.
The caller challenged Darrell to look into it, and he said he would – we shall see.
October 10, 2012 at 12:38 am
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Only people who were at DM would know about this.
There will be a DM report in the fullness of time and this motion will be in that document.
DM reports go up on the NUJ website, but that doesn’t happen immediately.
October 10, 2012 at 1:09 am
SamBrowneBelt
Phil, fair enough. He said a colleague of his was at the meeting; he had already had a half-hour chat with him about the meeting but the colleague hadn’t mentioned this topic. He said he would ask him about it.
October 11, 2012 at 12:59 am
Thomas
This is outrageous news! Beyond Scottish MSM boundaries and their control.I hope this grows into a forensic dissection of this great country riddled with anti Irish racism, Its late but Im pouring a Rum for you! WELL DONE PHIL!
The McShanes,Gallaghers, Devlins & Mcpakes from The Brigg, Salute you!
October 10, 2012 at 12:07 am
Phil Mac Giolla Bhain
Slainte ;0)
October 10, 2012 at 12:19 am
Lisbonlion72
Hope Jim Traynor attends!
October 9, 2012 at 11:54 pm
Kenny McCaffrey
Thanks for posting that Phil. I endorse 100%, as should every sane citizen.
I may be reading too much into it, but it seems to me there is something more sinister happening here than just irate bears threatening people who are trying to tell them the truth.
Is the NUJ finding evidence – anecdotal or otherwise – of any organised ‘far-right groups’ getting a little more involved in the Ibrox situation? Have there been any info (informal or otherwise) from the authorities that monitor these sort of connections?
October 9, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Paddybhoy
People who are exposing the truth should not be intimidated or threatened by ‘the mob culture’
You people are doing a great job Phil! and we really all appreciate it!
‘Keep Digging Away’ mate!
October 9, 2012 at 11:45 pm