Reporting the news put me in the news!

By Helen Russell

It started with a simple story about MSPs' allowances but, before long, brought a kind of notoriety to me and my newspaper.

All the details of the original Wishaw Press story of October 17 2001, about Lanarkshire MSPs' allowances were on public record.

However, after publication, a clearly displeased Jack McConnell, who represents Wishaw, demanded to speak to the Acting Editor.

The hand-delivered letter from Mr McConnell that arrived the next day demanded, among other things, a published apology.

The letter obviously had the desired effect as I was instructed to write a follow-up story, to be approved by Mr McConnell. I refused.

As every journalist knows, only the editor is allowed to vet copy before publication and I was not going to make this an exception.

At such critical times, the support of the NUJ is invaluable and Scottish Organiser, Paul Holleran, reassured me that I had at least one powerful ally.

There followed some negotiation with the acting Editor-in-Chief and we agreed an approach to the follow-up story on the assurance that neither Jack McConnell nor his colleague and fellow complainant, Karen Whitefield, would have any veto.

Threats of the Press Complaints Commission and of legal action were of no relevance. As I explained, whether you are a Minister of State or Joe Bloggs from the housing scheme, the same courtesies apply - show me the inaccuracies and I will make the appropriate corrections.

This presented a big problem for the MSPs whose gripes concerned a factually accurate, legally competent story.

A stony silence followed until the second story was written and filed. When, the Editor read the final story to Mr McConnell, the MSP was, shall we say, displeased.

However, with admirable political expediency, a joint statement arrived from Jack McConnell and Karen Whitefield, expressing their pleasure that the paper was correcting "misunderstandings" and that they expected the Wishaw Press to add that the story was being published at their behest.

To the Wishaw Press Chapel this was, to say the least, not acceptable. My instigation of official grievance procedures appeared to resolve the matter - but the story was not quite finished yet.

When giving evidence to the Justice Committee on Freedom of Information, in particular speaking against allowing the First Minister a right of veto, Paul Holleran recalled Jack McConnell's actions.

It was just unfortunate timing for the MSP that the committee and a national television audience heard of his behaviour the day before his election as Scotland's First Minister.

For a few hours, it seemed that the whole of the UK was talking about the Wishaw Press.

I didn't speak to anyone from the countless newspapers or television stations directly - the issue was not really about me or the Wishaw Press. This could have been any reporter on any newspaper in the country.

But when Scottish and Universal Newspapers Commercial Manager, Charlie Birrell, produced a statement refuting all allegations of undue pressure, I told him, by doing so, he would leave me no option but to break my silence.

He ignored my warning and the rest is now a matter of record.

The Wishaw Press Chapel put our case in our own statement. In adopting an unflinching stance, all of the members of the Chapel acted with a strength of spirit that was an example to Scottish and Universal Newspapers.

But it is easier to stand firm with the strength of the union around you and I am grateful to Paul Holleran and Scottish Council Chair, Frank Shennan, who were available throughout with advice and support.

In the end, the NUJ, the Wishaw Press chapel and, more importantly, freedom of the press were all winners.

Does it pay to be in the Union? Just ask the journalists at Wishaw Press.