TAKING A STAND FOR WOMEN

SINEAD KELLEHER WAS IN BALLYBUNION TO MEET THE MEDIA MOVERS & SHAKERS

PHOTOGRAPHER with The

Kerryman Michelle Cooper Galvin says that her role as a photographer involves capturing perfect local moments across the county.

Michelle joined a panel of photographers for the final discussion at this year’s Women in Media Conference in Kilcooley’s House in Ballybunion at the weekend.

The conference closed on Sunday with a discussion on photography ‘A picture paints a thousand words’ chaired by INM’s head of news and visuals, Jane Last, and featuring Michelle, Stockbyte founder Jerry Kennelly, a leading stock photography agency, and INM award-winning photographer, Gerry Mooney.

Mr Kennelly told the conference that photojournalists have a huge role to play in society and that they must be allowed to do their work without censure.

The hugely successful Women in Media Conference once again bought together leading Irish women journalists, campaigners and politicians including RTÉ’s Miriam O’Callaghan and Katie Hannon, Mary Minihan from the Irish Times, campaigner and journalist Nell McCafferty, Former Tanaiste Mary O’Rourke, and Senator Alice Mary Higgins.

Mrs O’Rourke joined Nell McCafferty, Senator Higgins and Mary Minihan for a discussion on ‘Celebrating 100 years of the Vote for Irish women: Would the Irish Suffragettes be happy with the progress to date in securing equality?’.

Ms McCafferty also told the conference that she would voting yes in the Repeal the 8th referendum next month because she believes that abortion is necessary when it comes to non-consensual sex.

‘Rebuilding Trust in a Post Truth Era’ was another Saturday morning session which included speakers from across the media – including RTÉ’s Caitriona Perry, and Editor of the Journal Susan Daly, along with RTÉ Prime Time reporters – Katie Hannon and Miriam O’Callaghan, 96fm’s Deirdre O’Shaughnessy, and Ellen Coyne of The Times Ireland.

Two leading women journalists were honoured on the weekend, with Justine McCarthy of the The Sunday Times being presented with the Mary Cummins Award for Women of Outstanding Achievement in the Media and Ardfert’s Sinead Kissane from TV3 the inaugural Joan Kennelly Award.

The topic for discussion on Sunday morning was ‘Growing up in the 21st Century: The challenges it brings to today’s adolescents’ – a topic introduced by a local teenager, Briannagh O’Connor from Ballybunion who suffered bullying in her own life.

CEO of the Irish Society for the prevention of cruelty to children (ISPCC), Grainia Long, called for a similar body to the Road Safety Authority to be set up, for digital safety.

The social media ban in Blennerville National School, which made headlines in The Kerry- man, was also discussed and Ms Long said that it was a difficult decision for a principal to make but that children should be involved in making that decision.

This year marked the sixth year of the Women in Media conference and organisers are already planning a packed agenda for next year.

In the final conclusion of proceedings organiser Joan O’Connor summed it up simply as a ‘terrific’ weekend.

Photo By Domnick Walsh Enjoying the sixth Annual Women in Media Conference held in Kilcooly’s Restaurant in Ballybunion over the weekend .

Photos by Domnick Walsh Nell McCafferty Pictured at the sixth Annual Women in Media Conference held in Kilcooly’s Restaurant.

Photo by Domnick Walsh Gerry Mooney, Michelle Cooper Galvin and Jerry Kennelly on Sunday’s panel discussing photographic matters at the Women in Media Conference.

Miriam O’Callaghan RTÉ, Anne O’Leary CEO Vodafone Ireland, RTÉ presenter Katie Hannon from Duagh and Joan O’Connor, Women in Media organiser.

Photo By Domnick Walsh Caitriona Perry, RTÉ Six-One co-anchor, pictured with Kerryman journalist Sinead Kelleher, the sixth annual Women in Media Conference held in Kilcooly’s Restaurant Ballybunion .

Miriam O’Callaghan and Jimmy Deenihan.

Joan and John O’Connor, Women in Media Conference organisers.

Michelle shares a funny memory of life behind the lens during the INM chaired panel discussion on Sunday afternoon.