Former Dumbarton-based reporter Eric Wishart discusses the mistreatment of journalists.
by Democrat reporter
The importance of solidarity among journalists was a key theme in the discussions former Dumbarton-based journalist Eric Wishart had with Committee to Protect Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg, Suhasini Raj from The New York Times, and Jin Ding from Hybrid Media Stack at the AAJA Asia’s annual conference in Bangkok.
The reality is that journalists are often verbally abused, excluded from news conferences, and subject to other forms of mistreatment (such as Bill Heaney’s ban from asking important questions to West Dunbartonshire Council’s spin doctors) while their colleagues stand idly by and then continue as if nothing had happened.
Which is exactly what happened when Bill Heaney asked for assistance from the NUJ and others in dealing with West Dunbartonshire Council’s incommunicative communications department.
Apart from the Community Party’s Jim Bollan, no councillor from any of the political parties has come out in support of Heaney, who says he has been unjustly treated by the Council.
Eric Wishart said: “The N3CON conference is always a great opportunity to hear fresh ideas about the industry in Asia and beyond. I was delighted to meet up with my former AFP News Agency colleague Beh Lih Yi, who oversees CPJ’s research and advocacy in Asia.”
The conference was held in Bangkok for the second time this year, and will probably move to a new location in 2027. A big thanks to the AAJA Asia’s director Gilles Demptos and the Asian president A Zela Chin for their organization of the event. Zela chaired an enlightening fireside chat with Anjali Kapoor, head of AI Innovation and Growth at the BBC.
The importance of solidarity among journalists was a key theme in the discussions I had with Committee to Protect Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg, Suhasini Raj from The New York Times, and Jin Ding from Hybrid Media Stack at the AAJA Asia’s annual conference in Bangkok.
The reality is that journalists are often verbally abused, excluded from news conferences, and subject to other forms of mistreatment while their colleagues stand idly by and then continue as if nothing had happened.
One reporter, Dave Clemens, said: “Where we see our profession at its most gutless is at functions involving the president of the United States, where abuse of one or some of the journalists present has become nearly routine.
“The usual failure of those journalists’ colleagues to remonstrate with the abuser fills me with shame and disgust. But I understand: When you have a job with a big paycheck attached, and your employer is part of the corporate media, telling that abuser off must feel like an unacceptable risk.”
The N3CON conference is always a great opportunity to hear fresh ideas about the industry in Asia and beyond. I was delighted to meet up with my former AFP News Agency colleague Beh Lih Yi, who oversees CPJ’s research and advocacy in Asia.
The conference was held in Bangkok for the second time this year, and will probably move to a new location in 2027.
A big thanks to the AAJA Asia’s director, Gilles Demptos and the Asian president, A Zela Chin, for their organization of the event. Zela chaired an enlightening fireside chat with Anjali Kapoor, head of AI Innovation and Growth at the BBC.
Bill Heaney said: “After catching up with this debate and listening to all that has gone on here in Scotland with the Sturgeon and Mandelson revelations, I think maybe it is time for real journalists to distance themselves from the Spin Doctors and PR persons who, putting it mildly, are being more than economical with the truth.
“They are at the heart of so many of the cover-ups and distortions which emanate from those who have jumped the dyke to the dark side and believe that misleading their former colleagues and ultimately the media reading public from the truth.
“Refusing to comment on important matters of public interest is not something that should be tolerated, and there should be sanctions taken against the people who do that.
“The NUJ needs to take a long, hard look at itself and the resources they employ in reining in companies and public institutions that twist the facts on an unprecedented scale and expect to get away with it.
“It’s high time we threw a cat among the pigeons at Holyrood and Westminster.”