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NUJ: HUTTON REPORT IS A “THREAT TO INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM”, ATTACKS ON ANDREW GILLIGAN ARE “UNFOUNDED”
NUJ RESPONSE TO HUTTON
January 28 2004
The Hutton report’s criticisms of Andrew Gilligan and the BBC are “unfounded”, the NUJ said today.
The union’s General Secretary Jeremy Dear said that blaming the BBC and its reporter for the trouble his broadcasting caused the government was “a threat to independent journalism.”Jeremy Dear said: “I have spoken to Andrew Gilligan today and I believe the report does him and his story a grave injustice.
“Whatever Lord Hutton may think, it is clear from the evidence he heard that the dossier was ‘sexed up’, that many in the intelligence services were unhappy about it, and that Andrew Gilligan’s story was substantially correct.
“From Andrew Gilligan’s 19 broadcasts on that first morning, Lord Hutton has taken a single sentence barely noticed at the time and has used it to condemn the entire story.
“He has taken an unwarranted sideswipe at Andrew Gilligan’s notetaking, when other reporters recorded David Kelly as saying very similar things.
“The report is selective, grossly one-sided and a serious threat to the future of investigative journalism.
“We understand the BBC governors are meeting to decide their response to Lord Hutton and we call on them to stand firm, defend their reporter and the essential truth of their story.”
Earlier today the NUJ warned that the BBC could face an industrial dispute if it sacked or disciplined Andrew Gilligan. Jeremy Dear said the NUJ would take "whatever action is necessary” to defend its member".
The union is representing Andrew Gilligan in the Hutton report process.
Contact:
Jeremy Dear 07855 384 287
Tim Gopsill 0207 843 3701
Last modified: Thursday, January 29, 2004
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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.
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Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
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Previous stories
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