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NUJ Submission to the Future of Media Commission

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NUJ Submission to the Future of Media Commission Professor Brian MacCraith Cathaoirleach Future of Media Commission Birmingham Tower West Dublin Castle Dublin D02 R866 8th January 2021 Dear Professor MacCraith, I am pleased to submit the submission of the National Union of Journalists (UK and Ireland) for consideration by the Commission. For your information I am including the details of the members of the Irish Executive Council. In my role as Irish Secretary, I look forward to co-ordinating further engagement with the Commission when you have considered the submission. Yours sincerely, Séamus Dooley Assistant General Secretary/Irish Secretary 2 NUJ Irish Executive Council Officers Joint Cathaoirligh: Dara Bradley, Journalist, Connacht Tribune, Galway Siobhan Holliman, Deputy Editor, Tuam Herald Leas Cathaoirleach: Carolyn Farrar, Freelance writer/Editor, Donegal Treasurer: Cearbhall Ó Síocháin, Journalist/Irish Language Producer, RTÉ* Ex Officio members Michelle Stanistreet General Secretary Séamus Dooley Assistant General Secretary/Irish Secretary Ian McGuinness Irish Organiser Members Bimpe Archer Journalist, Irish News, Belfast Noel Baker Journalist, Irish Examiner, Cork Ronan Brady Journalism Lecturer & Writer Carol Byrne Press Officer, Co Clare Gerry Carson Public Affairs/Media Consultant, Belfast Gerard Cunningham Freelance Journalist, Kildare Gerry Curran Media Relations Advisor, Dublin Connie Duffy Journalist, Donegal Democrat Michael Fisher Journalist, Northern Standard, Co Monaghan Kathryn Johnston Freelance Journalist/Author, Ballymena, Co Antrim Phil MacGiolla Bhain Online Journalist, Donegal Meraj Abid Mahmood Journalist, Dublin Anton McCabe Freelance Journalist, Tyrone Bernie Mullen Communications Manager, Derry Nuala Ní Chonghaile Journalist, Raidio na Gaeltachta, Galway Maidhc Ó Féinneadha Journalist, Raidio na Gaeltachta, Galway Ciarán O Maoláin Freelance Journalist, Armagh Susan O’Shea Journalist, Irish Examiner, Cork Norma Prendiville Journalist, Limerick Leader Lorna Siggins Freelance/Former Irish Times Western Correspodent, Galway *Currently on secondment as Secretary, RTÉ Trade Union Group. 3 4 Introduction 1 The National Union of Journalists, UK and Ireland, (NUJ) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Commission on the Future of Media. 2 We look forward to further engagement with the Commission and would welcome the opportunity to make a presentation to members of the Commission. 3 The Commission has been charged with charting the future at a time of unprecedented challenge for the media sector in Ireland. 4 Against the backdrop of a global pandemic the Commission must develop long term strategies to protect and nurture public interest journalism as economic, societal and governmental norms are shattered. 5 Throughout the pandemic Irish journalists have demonstrated their vital role in the spectrum of essential public services. 6 Media workers at local and national level are working around the clock to ensure the public has access to timely, reliable and accurate information. 7 On a daily basis public service broadcasting is informing, educating and entertaining a public hungry for authoritative information from trusted sources. 8 National and regional print journalists and broadcasters have reaffirmed the value of trusted news sources. 9 During uncertain times, the value of independent journalism, impartial news and trusted editorial content, is clearer than ever, standing as a bulwark against targeted misinformation and propaganda. Yet the media industry’s fragility is laid bare at this time of greatest need. 10 The work of the Commission will help shape the future of the media in Ireland and will have profound implications for the engagement of the public with the democratic life of the State. 5 National Union of Journalists 11 We wish to thank the Commission members and secretariate for their co-operation and to wish the Commission well in its important endeavors. 12 The NUJ is the trade union for professional journalists in Ireland, employees and freelance, working across all platforms. The union is affiliated to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and is a member of the International Federation of Journalists. 13 The NUJ Code of Conduct forms part of the rules of the NUJ and on joining the union journalists commit to adhering to the ethical framework set out in the code. 14 The NUJ is a founder member of the Press Council of Ireland. The NUJ is also a member of the RTÉ Trade Union Group (TUG) and is supportive of the submission of the TUG to the Commission in respect of RTÉ. 15 The NUJ is committed to protecting the terms and conditions of members engaged in journalism across all platforms, staff and freelance. 16 The union is a passionate defender of journalism as a public good. A vital component in the protection of democracy Is an informed and engaged citizenry. 17 It is worth noting that on 26th September 2014 the NUJ called for the establishment of a government commission on the future of the media in a submission to a BAI seminar “Ensuring Plurality in the Digital Age” in which the union warned of the crisis then facing the industry. 18 The establishment of a broad-ranging commission has long been an objective of the NUJ, supported by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. 19 We therefore view the establishment of The Future of Media Commission as a significant if belated response to the existential crisis in our industry. 20 The terms of reference are, in the view of the NUJ insufficient to deal with many of the urgent issues which confront the industry. 21 Interim measures are required from Government to ensure the survival of many media organisations now at risk of collapse due to the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. 22 The cornerstone of this submission is the union’s policy document, “From Health Crisis to Good News – A recovery plan for the news industry in Ireland”, published on World Press Freedom Day on 3rd May 2020. 6 23 Before tabling specific proposals drawn from the NUJ plan, it is useful to put the proposals in context. In doing so it is necessary to draw attention to issues which have contributed to the current crisis, but which are outside the explicit terms of reference of the Future of Media Commission, such as the issue of media dominance, ownership and control. Having set out our proposals we attempt to address the questions posed by the Commission. Role of the Media 24 The NUJ is committed to the maintenance and development of public service media (PSM)in Ireland, the role of public service broadcasting is critical to a functioning democracy. 25 Public service broadcasting is based on a set of principles which recognise the need for properly funded news and current affairs underpinned by editorial independence and objectivity, the provision of a publicly owned and regulated platform for diverse opinions, and the development of publicly funded programmes of public value 26 The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) 1 has affirmed core values which define Public Service Media in the document “Empowering Society. 27 The core values are; Universality Independence Excellence Diversity Accountability Innovation 28 The principle of Public Service Broadcasting is predicated on the concept of journalism as a public good. 29 Public Service Media (PSM) have a distinct role in ensuring that public interest journalism and, by extension, the public good is not subject to the vagaries of the market economy. 30 With the emergence of new platforms and what has been identified as “fake news” there is a growing appreciation of the value of professionally sourced verifiable and objectively presented news. 1 Empowering Society (ebu.ch) 7 31 Public interest journalism is not confined to public service media and we welcome acknowledgement of this reality by the Commission. 32 In this submission the NUJ has sought to highlight the vital role in democracy of both public service and commercial media. 33 The strong public service content provided by national and regional newspapers, niche or specialist publications, radio stations and commercial digital platforms complements the service provided by RTÉ and TG4 and ensures a range of sources of news and information in Ireland. Funding Principles 34 The Future of Media Commission must consider how the State can continue to develop and support Public Service Media while also promoting and assisting public service content providers. 35 This will require a reimagining of the role of journalism in society on the part of the State, media organisations and journalism. 36 The current PSM funding model is not fit for purpose and we seek to address this issue separately. 37 It is important to stress that redistributing the current allocation thinly across a wider range of media organisations is not the solution and would merely serve to diminish RTÉ and TG4. Public interest journalism will only be strengthened through enhanced investment. 38 Public service content generated by commercial media should be supported but not in a manner which undermines RTÉ or TG4. 39 Public interest journalism is about providing basic news and information, about asking awkward questions, shining a light into dark corners, about holding power to account. 40 The maintenance of editorial independence is vital to the integrity of the media. There are fears in some quarters that any State subventions to private media has the potential to compromise editorial independence. 41 These fears can be allayed through the development of appropriate and transparent structures. 42 There is no evidence to suggest that State aid would be detrimental to a free press or that funding automatically compromises or influences editorial content. 8 43 In Ireland funding from the Simon Cumbers Media Fund and the Mary Raftery Fund have enhanced public interest journalism. 44 The BAI Sound and Vison Fund is financed through the State broadcasting licence and a levy system and has enabled independent broadcasting of the highly quality. 45 UK based Trusts such as the Joseph Rowntree Trust have funded and enabled journalistic investigations without seeking to influence the outcome. Community journalism has been funded on the same basis by the Carnegie Trust.
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