Latest news with #NationalUnionofJournalists
Belfast Telegraph
17 hours ago
- General
- Belfast Telegraph
Journalist Barry McCaffrey and NUJ's Seamus Dooley react to the recent Amnesty International Report on threats to journalists
Journalist Barry McCaffrey and Seamus Dooley, Assistant General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ireland react to the recent Amnesty International Report on threats to journalists in NI. The report - Occupational Hazard? Threats and violence against journalists in Northern Ireland - features 26 interviews, including 22 with journalists in which they recounted their experiences of being told they will be shot or stabbed, and threatened with bombs under their car.
Belfast Telegraph
3 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Gerry Adams' ‘putting manners on BBC' remark ‘chilling', NUJ man says
©Press Association Gerry Adams' claim that his libel case against the BBC was about 'putting manners' on the broadcaster has been described as 'chilling' by a senior union figure. Seamus Dooley, the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), also said the high profile case showed the need for reform of Ireland's defamation laws, saying the public would never know why the jury made its decision.
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
RTÉ boss Kevin Bakhurst meets with Eurovision organisers over Israel's participation
He had earlier this week asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel's participation in Eurovision song contest later this month, after the National Union of Journalists in RTÉ wrote to management in protest at Israel's inclusion. Mr Balhurst confirmed yesterday that RTÉ will not be withdrawing from this year's Eurovision. "Kevin Bakhurst has confirmed that he, along with RTÉ's Director of Video, Steve Carson, had a meeting today with the EBU and raised RTÉ's concerns,' the broadcaster said in a statement today. It added: 'There is a commitment from the EBU to have a wider discussion amongst members in due course". On Wednesday, Mr Bakhurst said he was 'appalled' by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the 'horrific impact' on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages. "Notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest is membership of the European Broadcasting Union, RTÉ has nonetheless asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel's inclusion in the contest,' he said on Wednesday. 'In doing this, we are mindful of RTÉ's obligations as an independent, impartial public service news and current affairs provider, and of the need to maintain RTÉ's objectivity in covering the war in Gaza. "We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israel's public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government." The comments come as a protest is set to be staged outside RTÉ's studio in Donnybrook this evening over the broadcaster's refusal to withdraw from the contest, with the final to be staged on Saturday May 17. The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and members of the NUJ at RTÉ will attend a mini-concert calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025. Israel has killed around 52,000 people in Gaza since the October 7, 2023, surprise attack by Palestinian militants in which 1,200 Israelis were killed and around 250 abducted.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
RTÉ asks for discussion on Israel's Eurovision inclusion
Irish broadcaster RTÉ has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a discussion on Israel's inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest. Its director general Kevin Bakhurst said he was "appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages". Earlier, the director of the Eurovision Song Contest said no participating EBU member had publicly opposed Israeli broadcaster Kan's participation. The contest, which is hosted by the EBU, will begin on 13 May in Switzerland with the final on 17 May. Mr Bakhurst said RTÉ wanted a discussion "notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating" is membership of EBU. He added that he was mindful of RTÉ's obligations to maintain objectivity in covering the war in Gaza. "We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israel's public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government," he said. On Wednesday, over 70 former Eurovision contestants, including Ireland's 1994 winner Charlie McGettigan, signed a letter urging organisers to Israel and Kan from the event. Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at RTÉ had also called on the broadcaster to oppose Israel's participation in a letter. Members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) at RTÉ had also called on the broadcaster to oppose Israel's participation in a letter [PA Media] In a statement, Eurovision director Martin Green said: "No participating EBU member broadcaster, who have all been widely consulted, has 'publicly opposed' Israeli broadcaster Kan's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest - despite the claims in another letter from RTÉ journalists. "The broadcasters mentioned in the letter, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, requested a discussion and RÚV in Iceland has informed us of their foreign minister's comments on Kan's participation." Mr Green said the organisers of the song contest "understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East". He said EBU was not "immune to global events" but members together should endure the event remains a " universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music". Last year's Israeli entry Eden Golan was confined to her hotel room when she wasn't performing, due to threats of harm to the Israeli delegation. [Reuters] Israel is to be represented in the contest by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. She was at the Nova musical festival when Hamas attacked and killed 360 young partygoers and took 40 more hostage. There were several campaigns to block Israel from taking part last year, but the EBU ruled Israel was allowed to compete. Representing Israel last year, Eden Golan was booed whilst performing at a dress rehearsal for the competition, which took place in Malmo, Sweden and confined to her hotel room when she wasn't performing, due to threats of harm to the Israeli delegation. She placed fifth in the competition with here entry Hurricane. When is the Eurovision Song Contest? The grand final of the this year's Eurovision Song Contest will take place in St Jakobshalle, Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday 17 May. The semi-finals taking place on Tuesday 13 and Thursday 15 May. Thirty-seven countries will take part, with 10 winning through from each semi-final. Five countries - the UK, Spain, Germany, France and Italy are guaranteed places in the grand final, as is the host Switzerland.
