Threats
against journalists covering the Scottish independence referendum have
continued today, with Sky News presenter Kay Burley rounding on a
nationalist who had been trying to hit her cameraman live on air.
With
feelings approaching boiling point, campaigners have been accused of
targeting reporters trying to cover the campaign with harassment and
abuse.
It comes as half of all No voters said they have felt physically threatened by Yes supporters.
Tensions
have been running high between the media and many nationalists – with
Yes supporters accusing journalists of biased coverage.
Ms
Burley made her remark during a live broadcast from Aberdeen after she
was repeatedly heckled as she broadcast a series of reports.
At one point, unaware her mic was live, she was clearly heard to call one campaigner 'a bit of a k**b'.
The presenter later claimed she made the remark after a Yes campaigner tried 'to hit' one of her cameramen with a stick.
She
said in reply to a Twitter user who asked about the incident: 'no,
someone who wanted to hit my cameraman with a stick. Not acceptable.'
It is the latest in several incidents involving Yes campaigners causing problems for journalists trying to cover the referendum.
One journalist has gone to the police after No supporters made threats against his family following a blog he had written.
The BBC has also stepped up its security measures as its staff face repeated accusations and threats.
BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark apologised on air after a Yes campaigner interrupted the show by shouting and swearing
Police presence outside a No Campaign rally eve of the poll for the Scottish Independence Referendum
A
group of up to 1,000 protesters marched on the headquarters of BBC
Scotland, accusing the Corporation of bias in its referendum coverage.
Anger
has particularly focused on the BBC's political editor Nick Robinson,
who clashed with Alex Salmond in a fiery interview last week.
According to the Guardian, BBC journalists have received ‘hate mail and personal attacks’.
And at a Yes rally in George Square, hundreds of nationalist sang abusive chants aimed at the broadcaster.
The National Union of Journalists have criticised the intimidation reporters have faced in Scotland
BBC Newsnight presenter Kirsty Wark apologised on air after a Yes campaigner interrupted the show by shouting and swearing
Earlier
this week, BBC Newsnight presenter Wark had to issue an on air apology
after a live broadcast was interrupted by a heckler.
Ms
Wark was presenting Newsnight from an outdoor studio in Dundee when her
broadcast was interrupted by someone shouting and swearing.
The
interruptions took place throughout the programme, first when the
journalist was interviewing actor Brian Cox and later when she was on
air with a panel of industry experts.
Ms Wark told viewers: ‘We apologise for the swearing, I’m afraid it’s beyond our control.’
ITN
presenter Tom Brady has also complained about the behaviour of the Yes
campaign towards journalists, writing that the bullying and intimidation
he has been on the receiving end of is worse than he experienced when
covering the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
He
said: ‘My first major job as a correspondent was in Ireland in the
early nineties and, despite the fact that there was a bitter war going
on all round me that took many lives, I experienced virtually no
personal hostility at all from anyone.
They didn’t lob accusations of bias around every time you asked a question either.
The National Union of Journalists have earlier criticised the intimidation reporters have faced in Scotland
The National Union of Journalists have said reporters must be allowed to cover the independence debate without intimidation.
Scottish
organiser Paul Holleran said journalists in Edinburgh and Aberdeen had
been ‘abused over the weekend when simply turning up to report on events
organised by both sides’.
He added: ‘Robust debate is fine. Pointing out when journalists get their facts wrong is expected and welcomed.
‘But NUJ members believe in a free press, a fair media, with journalists allowed to do their jobs free of intimidation.’
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