» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Terror Bill 'a threat to press freedom' says CPBF
21/11/05: The CPBF believes that the Terrorism bill currently before the UK parliament will do little to make Britain a safer place. Rather it threatens freedom of expression, endangers democracy and will have a chilling effect on journalists right to report and exercise their scrutiny of state power.
Parts of the bill which seek to outlaw information that could be said to 'encourage' terrorism are of particular concern. These provisions are extremely broad and include new offences of encouragement of terrorism and dissemination of terrorist publications. They do not require any intention to incite others to commit criminal acts.
This would be a direct threat to journalists reporting on the activities of political or armed groups and even individuals. The result could be either severe self censorship, or just not covering such issues at all for fear of prosecution. This in turn will alter the nature of public debate, by restricting the range of information and opinion available.The CPBF supports those organisations, including human rights groups, trades unions and other sections of civil society, campaigning against these measures.
The right to report and freedom of expression are essential in a democracy. Democratic rights that have been secured after decades of struggle and sacrifice should never be lightly set aside.
Last modified: Monday, November 21, 2005
Previous government policy stories
Inquiry into new media and the creative industries
OFT and Magazine Distribution
Sewn Up: Media Policy Excludes Public
Important Campaign pamphlets available...
Make the Media an Election Issue
Freedom of Information from the FoI Campaign
Their Lordships have their say on digital switchover...
Right of Reply and Press Standards Bill
Threats to the BBC
BBC Conference
IFJ condemns BBC threat to public service
Journalism and Trust
Save Public Broadcasting
The future of non-commercial local radio & tv
BBC Charter review hearings
DCMS review of BBC digital radio published
Is Wife Swap a public service programme?
Public Service Broadcasting Campaign: E-activism site launched
A new framework for Public Service Broadcasting
THE BBC’S FUTURE
Fox censured by Ofcom
ITV Franchise Fees Review
BBC Charter Renewal Debate - Winning a voice for licence fee payers
The Graf report on BBC Online
BBC CHARTER REVIEW (July 2004)
More from Ofcom
New Ofcom documents
CPBF Response to Ofcom Review of Public Service Broadcasting, Phase 1 – Is Television Special?
Defending Public Service Broadcasting
The danger of top-slicing
-
Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
-
Previous stories
Government Policy
Inquiry into new media and the creative industries
OFT and Magazine Distribution
Sewn Up: Media Policy Excludes Public
Important Campaign pamphlets available...
Make the Media an Election Issue
Freedom of Information from the FoI Campaign
Their Lordships have their say on digital switchover...
Right of Reply and Press Standards Bill
Threats to the BBC
BBC Conference
IFJ condemns BBC threat to public service
Journalism and Trust
Save Public Broadcasting
The future of non-commercial local radio & tv
BBC Charter review hearings
DCMS review of BBC digital radio published
Is Wife Swap a public service programme?
Public Service Broadcasting Campaign: E-activism site launched
A new framework for Public Service Broadcasting
THE BBC’S FUTURE
Fox censured by Ofcom
ITV Franchise Fees Review
BBC Charter Renewal Debate - Winning a voice for licence fee payers
The Graf report on BBC Online
BBC CHARTER REVIEW (July 2004)
More from Ofcom
New Ofcom documents
CPBF Response to Ofcom Review of Public Service Broadcasting, Phase 1 – Is Television Special?
Defending Public Service Broadcasting
The danger of top-slicing
