NUJ condemns intimidation of journalist at protest in Derry
The NUJ has condemned attempts to stop a journalist from filming a public protest in Derry's Waterside last night.
The union has been informed by one of its member that they were told not to film the protest 'if they wanted to get out of the area safe and sound'. The photographer was also sworn at and told they had no right to be in the public street. Photos from the event show that some of the people at the protest were wearing dark clothes and masks.
The loyalist protest took place last night outside a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) station in the Waterside area of the city.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
"Those organising and taking part in public protests - regardless of what they are protesting in favour of or against - have no right to intimidate any journalist from doing their job. All journalists, be they photographers, videographers, camera personnel or reporters, perform a vital role in our democracies. They inform the general public about what is happening within society, without fear or favour to any sector of the community.
There has been a huge rise in recent years of threats to, and intimidation of, journalists and the NUJ will always defend the right of a working journalist to carry out their role and to do so safely and without fear of intimidation or threats."
Any journalist who is threatened or intimidated can report the incident to the union via the Journalists' Safety Tracker.
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