An Open Letter to Guild Members
As Guild members, we’re all part of an international community of journalists and communicators.
Journalism, press freedom, freedom of speech and democracy are under ever-growing threat. Lives of fellow journalists, publishers, photographers, video-makers, bloggers, podcasters and citizen communicators are being lost; others are operating at enormous risk.
What is happening in Ukraine puts a huge spotlight on this.
As humans, we can support humanitarian efforts. As Guild members, our interest in truth and freedom of expression should also lead us to support fellow journalists and communicators putting their lives at risk to tell the outside world what is actually happening.
These organisations all support our contemporaries and our freedoms:-
- Reporters Sans Frontières (Reporters Without Borders): https://rsf.org/
- Open Democracy: https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/
- Committee to Protect Journalists: https://cpj.org/
The liberty to communicate, even with the relatively benign nature of our subject matter – beer and pubs – can’t be taken for granted. The past two weeks have made clear the speed at which change can happen. The Reporters Sans Frontières slogan sums it up: “Don’t wait to be deprived of news before defending it”.
I’m not advocating that the Guild take a public stand, although I would also support that. I just wish to appeal to members to support our colleagues everywhere. Defending journalists, publishers, photographers, video-makers, bloggers, podcasters and citizen communicators in other countries is not only an act of solidarity: it is also an act of self-preservation.
There are links to make donations if you are able and willing:-
- Reporters Sans Frontières: https://donate.rsf.org/uk/donate/~my-donation
- Open Democracy: https://support.opendemocracy.net/project/home?source=website-header-donate-button/
- Committee to Protect Journalists: https://support.cpj.org/site/Donation2?1400.donation=form1&df_id=1400&mfc_pref=T
Thank you,
Frances Brace
Member, BGBW
frances@redflamecommunications.co.uk
07432 692309
@FrancesBrace