NUJ northern organiser Chris Morley has sent a protest letter to his local paper for carrying BNP ads, saying the party intimidates journalists, HoldtheFrontPage reports today.Morley has written as a "Halesowen resident" to Newsquest's Halesowen News, saying he is "appalled that the Halesowen News has published an advert on behalf of the British National Party, not only in its print edition but also prominently on the front page of its website.
"That Newsquest, the American-owned company that publishes the News, could stoop so low as to accept cash from a fringe racist political party is extremely worrying."
Morley adds: "What is particularly worrying about the News giving the BNP an uncritical platform to promote itself is that it serves to bring down the good name of a reputable newspaper, while at the same time helping to instil fear among some parts of the community in which the paper circulates.
"The BNP are fundamentally undemocratic because they use bullying tactics against opponents and seek to intimidate journalists that scrutinise and challenge their activities. The names of NUJ members who have done so, have appeared on right wing websites associated with the BNP, such as Red Watch, giving personal details and inviting them to be attacked."
A number of Newsquest weeklies in the Midlands have taken BNP banner ads on their websites.
The "uncritical platform to promote itself" that the BNP has been afforded is democracy itself, not Newsquest's website. Yes the BNP is odious, but all of the above references to illegality must be funnelled through the proper legal channels, and dealt with case-by-case. They do not give the NUJ a green-light to start ordaining which political parties are allowed to advertise in the UK, and which are not.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm extremely grateful for all the good work the NUJ does in promoting journalism, I believe it's going beyond its remit in this affair.