Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE NATIONAL UNION of Journalists (NUJ) has said it has “grave concerns” about reports that hard drives and emails of senior staff at Independent News and Media (INM) were searched without their permission.
The Sunday Business Post yesterday reported that INM’s former CEO Robert Pitt ordered a search of hard drives and emails of up to six editors, after a memo from his personal assistant was published in The Phoenix magazine.
Earlier today the Irish Independent reported that the NUJ has requested an urgent meeting with representatives from INM.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie this evening, the NUJ’s Irish Secretary Séamus Dooley said the union “will be writing to the company seeking further clarification following publication of new information in the Sunday Business Post”.
“We have grave concerns about the threat to confidential sources of information and the privacy of INM staff,” Dooley added.
The Sunday Business Post said the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner is investigating the alleged search, which is believed to have happened in June 2015.
INM is Ireland’s largest media company and comprises the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent and the Herald among other outlets.
With reporting by Stephen McDermott
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
All they found were screenshots of comments from Twitter accounts.
@Markonline: don’t knock it, that’s their full body of research. Probably out of date too, given they took three years to raise an eyebrow about the search.
How could any citizens give information to INM journalists, depending on the issue they could be putting their lives in danger when private information can be accessed at the whim of the major shareholder.
Would these be hard drives on the employer owned PC’s ? Like every single workplace, data stored on company hardware is the property of the company. If you don’t want your employer to view personal content, then don’t browse or store the content on their property.
@D walsh: actually, unless it specifically says that in some kind of official company policy, check no, 6ouvare incorrect.
@D walsh: property of the company not a specific shareholder. Journalist sources need to be protected. This company got a massive write down of debt by state owned banks. It needs to be managed correctly.
The paper is certainly not worth reading, question is, will it be worth saving?
So if what I’m reading from here and other sources are correct the people in question illegally obtained private conversations between two people and are no crying foul when the shoe is on the other foot
The journalists there seem to have to low the party line. and hand picked. apart from gene and collette.
No grave concerns about journalists invading other people’s privacy it seems… Funny that.
If they have nothing to hide….shouldn’t be an issue so !!!
@: Ah yeah, the good old Joseph Goebbels train of thought. Why would journalists want to keep sources private, sure we need the likes of DOB and others to shut those bloody whistleblowers?? Let’s keep the corruption going lads!!
When you lie down with dogs etc.. no sympathy for anyone who works for that wretched company..
@Bart Teeling: please, continue.
Grave concerns!!they should be demanding the people that did it are arrested and charged.
@@mdmak33: cowardly shower of wasters.. terrified of the big boss man..
Permission is not required.
There employees, permission isn’t needed.
So looks like Gemma O’Doherty was right all along…
have your say