for diverse, democratic and accountable media
Outrage as court orders secret trial of journalists
blog posts
Friday 25 March was a bleak day for journalism, the rule of law and the public’s right to know, when an Istanbul court ruled that the entire trial of Can Dündar and Erdem Gül should be held behind closed doors. Earlier scores of their supporters turn up to the court to show their solidarity with the two journalists who face charges of espionage, aiding a terrorist organisation and disclosing classified documents and reporting the supply of weapons to rebels in Syria by the Turkish security services. They could face life imprisonment if found guilty. The case resumes on 1 April.
Entertainment unions launch alternative vision for BBC
campaigns | BBC
The Federation of Entertainment Unions (FEU) launched its BBC Alternative White Paper in the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday 15 March. The FEU's Alternative White Paper calls on the BBC to: • Renegotiate its agreement to fund free TV licences for the over-75s, which could mean a loss of 20 per cent of its budget; • Be independent of government interference, by extending the Charter period to 11 years to take it out of the political cycle; • Have a governance structure which is not filled with government appointees and includes representatives of its staff and licence fee payers; • Continue to be a universal broadcaster making a full range of popular drama and entertainment programmes; • Provide news free of bias and maintain standards of accuracy and integrity in its journalism.
State hackers and spies could intercept journalist communication
news
Tomorrow, Tuesday, 15th March, the Investigatory Powers Bill is to get its second reading in Parliament – and it contains proposals to limit the ability of all journalists to protect their sources and whistleblowers, posing a severe threat to press freedom in the UK.
The Bill allows the state to snoop on journalists and their sources... “A lack of safeguards for all journalists will have profound consequences for the public's right to know in the UK" says NUJ General Secretary, Michelle Stanistreet.
Read more at http://salfordstar.com/article.asp?id=3165
Government accused of using charter renewal to diminish BBC
campaigns | BBC
BBC charter renewal is being used by the Government to diminish the broadcaster and boost its competitors, Labour has claimed. “Eviscerating" the BBC is the only thing the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and the Culture Secretary agree on, shadow culture secretary Maria Eagle claimed in a swipe over divisions about the EU. She accused Culture Secretary John Whittingdale of ignoring public satisfaction with the broadcaster and using the BBC charter renewal as a way of cutting its output.