by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, Jan 23 – Does the UN corrupt everyone that goes to work for it?
Given the inflated salaries it pays its officials, the UN can collect and try to buttress its credibility with for example name-brand journalists. But what freedoms do they give up, and how low do they go?
In 2023 the UN hired Ian Phillips, once the Associated Press' head of (get this) journalist safety. His LinkedIn profile, after moving to the UN, states that his "role includes advisory and policy work, with particular focus on press freedom."
So Inner City Press, having been roughed up by UN Security and then banned from entering or getting even its written questions asked, last week wrote to Ian Phillips at the UN - and through his LinkedIn profile:
Hello Mr. Phillips. I am writing to you as a journalist who covers the UN, but for now cannot enter the building, nor get written questions answered. These days I cover the SDNY Federal Courthouse... I am asking you to look into this and ensure that the UN Media and Accreditation Unit fairly process, and rule on, my pending application for (re) accreditation. Two separate law firms have written the UN pro bono on my behalf, without answer. I ask for you to get involved and resolve this, and allow Inner City Press and me back into the UN. I am available to discuss this and answer any questions, by email, phone, DM or in person."
No answer at all. Is the money too good? Does journalist safety and free press only count when it is not the UN doing the roughing up, and the censoring?
In the past few days, we've sent our daily press questions to Mr. Phillips as well, since he's the head of the UN's "News and Media Division." Questions about Gaza and the Secretary General's finances. And no answers at all.
So again: Does the UN corrupt everyone that goes to work for it? We will continue to report on this.
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