Dear Jamie Macaskill,
We, the undersigned, write to you today to condemn the persistent inflammatory reporting of Hull Live and ask that you acknowledge and rectify the harm that it causes to marginalised people and communities in Hull.
As theatre makers, writers, poets, artists, dancers, musicians and other arts and culture organisations and workers based in Hull, we commit ourselves to critically engaging with and interpreting the world around us, and bringing people together to better understand what it means to be human.
We recognise that journalists also hold these principles, and exist to speak truth to power and to report on the people, movements and events that make up the fabric of our city and drive the changes, for better or worse, that take place within it.
Given that we share a similar function in the public and civic sphere of Hull, it would therefore be remiss of us — and a failure of our duty to the audiences and people with whom we work — to remain silent while an institution such as Hull Live, with the power and reach that it has at its disposal, continues to punch down at the most marginalised in our city.
For too long Hull Live has eschewed its responsibility, as the city’s only daily newspaper, to shine a light on the powerful, and to highlight the good work across Hull, in favour of publishing content that drives people and communities apart. This all comes at a time when wider society has rarely been so divided, faces an existential threat in the form of climate catastrophe and continues to grapple with a global pandemic that has killed 127,000 people in the UK alone.
Four years ago Hull was catapulted onto the national and international stage as the UK City of Culture. Today, as the gaze of the world’s media fades, anybody turning to Hull Live for a glimpse of life in Hull would be faced with myriad stories and social media content that pit its residents against each other.
From the publication of a white supremacist manifesto in the letters pages in March 2020; the repeated mistreatment of the Traveller community; the constant dehumanising of homeless people with substance abuse issues as “zombies” and the platforming of anti-vaccination voices in the midst of a public health crisis; to publishing victim-blaming narratives in coverage of gendered violence; ignoring Samaritans guidelines on the reporting of suicide during a growing mental health crisis and, most recently, the dog whistle reporting of a young Asian woman’s criticism of media coverage of racist remarks by the Duke of Edinburgh, Hull Live has routinely shown a lack of care, curiosity and compassion in the way that it reports serious subject matter.
Throughout all of this, the Hull Live Facebook page comments section has become a lightning rod for bigots to share their contemptuous views, often with little moderation, further sowing division between people in the city. It is hard to believe that Hull Live covers such stories as those above in good faith, knowing as we do that the business plans of publishing companies today require a constant stream of clicks and comments to generate advertising revenue.
This is not the first time that concerns about content and comments have been raised with Hull Live. In the summer of 2020 two previous senior editors — Neil Hodgkinson and Jenna Thompson — joined a Zoom call with community leaders to discuss Hull Live’s coverage of race, pledging to do better. Despite these promises, little has changed.
The people targeted in such stories and comments are often the people we work with, who attend and enjoy our performances, who derive comfort, stimulation, education and more from our work. We wish to make it clear that we stand in solidarity with the people affected by your journalism. We do not condone the material that you publish or the comments from members of the public that you fail to appropriately moderate.
A city the size of Hull, with its countless human interest stories, complex social issues and of course thriving arts scene — which rarely warrants coverage on your pages — needs a daily newspaper with the resource, reach and expertise of Hull Live. A city such as ours also needs a daily newspaper that will take seriously this duty, that will observe the key journalistic principles of integrity and objectivity and that will also recognise its responsibility to cater for all of the people who live and work in the city, without further fanning the flames of hatred.
Sadly, it is evident that this is not the Hull Live with which we are currently blessed. However it’s never too late to arrest this decline, to correct its course and to begin to report on people and communities in Hull with care and attention. That’s why today we ask that you, Jamie Macaskill, acknowledge the harm your publication has caused and continues to cause, listen to those who offer constructive criticism and begin to report on Hull in a way that brings us all together, rather than drives us further apart.
Signed:
Abi Bell, volunteer programme manager
Adam Pownall, producer
Aimee Bant, filmmaker
Alan Dix, chair, Hull Truck Theatre
Alex Mitchell, artistic director and CEO, Silent Uproar
Alex Sach, graphic designer
Ali Middle
Alice Beaumont, actor
Alice Thomson, Form Shop & Studio
Alice I Welsh, artist
Alix Haynes, studio coordinator and tutor
Allison Cuthbertson
Andi Dakin, artist and director, Feral Art School
Andie Cropper, Andie’s Period Poverty Support
Angelo Irving, writer and actor
Anna Bean, artist
Anna Coromina, artist, Bite the Biscuit Neighbourhood Market
Anna Follows
Anna Hembury, community artivist
Anna Route
Annemarie Tickle, textile artist, Feral Art School
Annie Kirkman, theatre maker
Anita Akmentina
Aviv Kruglanski, artist, Bite the Biscuit Neighbourhood Market
Bankside Gallery
Becky Gee, curator
Bethany Davies, Makerspace assistant, Hull Culture and Leisure
Caroline Hunt
Carol Osgerby, local historian
Casey Stead, musician
Catherine Baker, lecturer
Charles Huckvale, artist and musician, Hull Carnival Arts & Apus Productions
Charlotte Holly Mabbett
Che Heywood, admin, One Hull Of A City
Cheaplife, artist
Chelsea Moore-Parker
Chris Johnson, art teacher
Chris Jordan, the Bard of Holderness
Chris Marsay, musician
Chris Speck, novelist and musician
Chris Twigg, creative director and CEO, Artlink
Chrissy Collinson, artist
Christopher Holmes, director, impACT theatre
Claire Bell
Cock of the Walk
Courtney Farrow, freelance writer
Dale Cavany, educator and musician
Dale Kay Daley, regional executive and relationship manager
Dani Noguera, Larkin Out
Daniel Swift, co-artistic director and CEO, Concrete Youth
Danielle McLoughlin
Danny Allen, filmmaker
Danny Coates
Darren Smythe, Nocturnal Flowers musician
Dave Ellis, promoter, Jazz in Hull
Dave Lee, filmmaker and writer
Dave Windass, writer, artist and producer
David Porter, director, Hull Jazz Festival
Diana Tanase
Dom Heffer, artist and director, Feral Art School
Dylan Allen, teacher
Eleanor Scott, artist and director, Feral Art School
Elizabeth Heywood
Ellen Brammar, writer
Emma Bright, actor
Emma Fee, musician
Emily Fratson, artist, marketing and communications manager, Artlink Hull
Emily Gray, performer and choreographer
Emily Welham, illustrator and designer
Emma Booth
Emma Palmer, blogger and university tutor
Esther Johnson, artist and filmmaker, SHIPS in the SKY
Eve Fullard
Feral Art School
Freddie Garland, dance artist and co-artistic director, Tenfoot Dance
Gary Hammond, percussionist
Georgina Garton, performer
Gisèle Pennington, artist
Glen Lee
Gordon Meredith, actor and writer
Graeme Small, comics editor
Hannah Woods, events manager
Harriet Beercock
Harvey Power, retail worker
Hayley Booth, artist
Henry Beercock
Holly Burton, founder, Pledge
Holly Cryan, parenting blogger and creative
Hope Roustoby, childcare worker
Ian Judson, playwright and producer
Isabelle Tracy, artist, curator and producer
Jackie Goodman, artist and director, Feral Art School
Jake Machen, artist
Jamie Potter, writer and DJ
James Frewer, composer and sound designer
James Grantham
James Stanyer, actor
James Tranmer, musician and entertainer
Jane Fare, architect and artist
Jane Inckle, community dance volunteer
Janine Crombie, marketing professional
Janthi Mills-Ward, executive director and joint CEO, Hull Truck Theatre
Jayne Jones, artist and director, Feral Art School
Jason Fanthorpe
Jason Shepley, musician and owner of Rehearsal Rehearsal Music Ltd
Jemima Mitra, writer and artist
Jenni Harrison, media director and events producer
Jenny Watts, lecturer
Jez Riley French
Jill Howitt, co-editor, The Critical Fish
Jim Tempest
Jimi Arundell, writer and journalist
Jo Ashbridge, dance artist, Tamar & Jo
Jo Winship, painter
Joe Hakim, writer and producer
John Brien, musician, songwriter, author, broadcaster and speaker
John Hinson, board member, Hull Truck Theatre
Jon Beeny, dancer, choreographer and movement director
Jonny Page
Jordan Metcalfe, actor
Josh Stafford
Josie Davies, theatre maker
Josie Morley, actor
Joseph Cox, illustrator, Form Shop & Studio
Josh Williams, graphic artist
Julie Ellam, J. E. Books
KaizzaB, artist and DJ
Kate Ogram, volunteer
Kate O’Mara
Kath Roe
Katie Harriman, filmmaker
Katie Rowe
Katie Waudby, Crafticated
Kay Challis
Kelsey Chambers, illustrator, Ur My Type
Kerry Joy Connor, artist
Kurt Hoyle, photographer
Kyra Piperides, lecturer, writer, and volunteer manager
Lana Green, creative designer
Laura Carmichael, environmental scientist
Laura Elsworthy, actor
Laura Smales
Leigh Bird, heritage researcher
Leila Sewell
Lee Humphries, tattoo artist
Leon Richards
Leon Welburn, teacher, artist and illustrator
Liz Dees, creative director, Apus Productions Limited
Lizi Perry, theatre maker and co-artistic director, The Roaring Girls
Lloyd Dobbs, musician and activist
Lola Richards, volunteer and retail worker
Louise Lavender, indie dyer, The Cryptozoologist
Lucy Atkinson
Lucy Beaumont, comedian
Lucy Joy Lines, event organiser and cabaret/burlesque performer
Luke Beech, artist and director, Feral Art School
Luke Ellerby, DJ
Lyn Acton, singer and performer
Lynette Cone, singer
Lynne Taylor, writer
Maddy Paterson, DJ
Magda Moses, producer and artistic director, NICE
Maisie Shearring, illustrator
Make Noise Hull
Mal Williamson, film director, Creator Coach
Marc Graham, actor
Dr Marianne M Gilchrist, freelance historian and art historian
Marianne Lewsley-Stier, freelance producer and curator
Mark Babych, artistic director and joint CEO, Hull Truck Theatre
Mark Kensett, photographer
Mark Page, festival director and venue owner
Mark Richardson, teacher and filmmaker
Martin Lewsley, graphic designer and producer
Martin Storey, community trainer
Matt Edible, musician
Matt Fratson, artist, teacher and freelance producer
Matt Nicholson, poet and performer
Matt Sutton, actor and voice over
Matt Whale, nurse and UNISON rep (personal capacity)
Matthew Kay, teacher and writer
Matthew May, theatre maker
Matthew Thompson, creative manager
Maureen Lennon, writer
Michael Howcroft, cultural researcher
Michele Noble, artist
Michelle Dee, writer and performer
Mike Chapman, songwriter and record producer
Mike Clark, coach
Mike Donaldson, illustrator
Mike Harman, illustrator
Mike Sprout, artist
Mikey Martins and Anthony Baker, joint CEOs, Freedom Festival Arts Trust
Miranda van Rossum
Mohammad Nawaz
Mungo Beaumont
The New Adelphi Club Community Interest Company
Naayaab Nawaz
Nazish Nawaz
Nicholas Broten, musician, artist, teacher
Nicola Dean, safeguarding adults in sport manager, Ann Craft Trust
Nicole Hollingsworth
Nick Boldock, curator, Hull Music Archive
Nick Quantrill, writer and festival director
Oliver Brown
Pant Amnesty
Paul Collinson, artist, Feral Art School
Paul Gibson, branch equality officer, Unite the Union
Paul Holloway
Paul Sarel, musician
Paul Smith
Paul Spooner, trustee, MaxLife Project
Paul Walsh, musician and CEO, ODDSOX studio
Paul Weymes, Weymesworld
Pete Robinson, musician
Pramod Subbaraman, poet
Rachael Abbey, theatre maker
Rachael Arundell, advisory teacher, LAC and UASC
Rachel Anderson, illustrator and textile designer
Rachel Bower, freelance singer
Rachel Elm, artist
Rachel Hogg
Rachel Waters, Unison Hull and East Riding Health Branch Secretary
Rebecca Hunt
Rebecca Moncaster, volunteer and writer
Rich A S Wilson, artist and creator of One Hull Of A City
Richard Pennington, artist
The Roaring Girls
Rob Lavender, page producer
Robbie Witchell, musician, teacher, venue owner, Robbie’s Rehearsal Rooms
Robyn O’Brien, illustrator
Rod Grimmer
Rosie Goodman, broadcast journalist
Cllr Rosie Nicola
Rowan Foster, musician
Ruby Deverell, photographer
Rupert Creed, writer and theatre director
Russ Litten, writer
Russell Plows, artistic director, Hull Urban Opera
Ruth Cooke
Ruth Getz, singer
Ruth Scott
Ryan Kitching
Sally Currie, musician
Sam Hawcroft, journalist and publisher
Sam Metz, artist development worker, Hull
Sara Featherstone
Sarah Hicks, actor, writer and director
Sarah Mole, artist curator
Sarah North, writer
Sarah Pennington, artist and producer
Scott Langthorp, youth worker, DJ and producer
Sean Azzopardi
Sergej Komkov, artist
Shaunagh McClean, theatre maker
Shellie Horst, author, critic and speculative fiction event organiser
Shona Kwiecien, photographer and content designer
Sophie Moncaster, dancer and dance teacher
Sydell Brigden, writer and chef
Silent Uproar
Stefan Ramsden, historian
Stephanie Broadley, educator and photographer
Steve Arnott, founder and CEO, Beats Bus
Susie Steel, artist and teacher
Suzie Nichols, garden designer
Tamar Draper, dance artist, Tamar & Jo
Tasha Pert, arts marketing and communications co-ordinator
Tim Turner
Tom Knapp, artist, musician and educator
Tom Saunders
Valerie L Pate
Vickie Bissett, arts evaluation and researcher
Vicky Foster, writer
Victoria Howard, teacher
Victoria Whincup, illustrator and dance teacher
Vince Matfin, creative director, On The Edge Community Arts and Drama
Webstarr, DJ
Show your support
Sign the letter — If you work in arts and culture in Hull and would like to co-sign the letter, please email nohateinthehulldailymail@gmail.com to add your name to the letter. We will continue adding names until Wed 5 May.
Send the letter — Please consider sending this letter, or your own version, to Jamie Macaskill via the Hull Live newsdesk: news@hulldailymail.co.uk
