In Journalism Matters Week, new plans are being set out to boost protections for reporters against rising threats and abuse.
Journalists from across the UK will gather at 10 Downing Street today for a special reception with the Culture Secretary to celebrate their contribution to UK democracy, as new plans are set out to boost protections for reporters against rising threats and abuse.
Journalists from all over the UK dedicated to exposing wrongdoing and holding power to account – as well as some who have faced abuse as a result of their reporting – have been invited to the event which marks the start of Journalism Matters Week, the News Media Association’s annual campaign recognising the important role journalism plays in a democratic society. Editors and senior leaders from the UK’s major publishers, broadcasters and industry bodies will also be in attendance.
Journalists are increasingly suffering violence and intimidation while going about their work. To tackle this problem, the Culture Secretary is launching a refreshed National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists, introducing new measures to protect journalists from harm and building on previous pledges to create a safe environment for them to operate.
The enhanced plan will see the creation of a new online tool where journalists can report abuse and help build greater understanding of safety issues affecting them.
New opportunities will be provided for police officers to undertake Public Order training to increase understanding of how journalists can report and observe protests. In addition, a new working group is being created for publishers and broadcasters to share learnings and best practices for safeguarding editorial staff.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
“Today we celebrate the vital work of our world-class journalists who keep our democracy alive through their investigations and ruthless scrutiny of the powerful.
“At a time when reporters are losing their lives while showing the world what is happening in the Middle East and Ukraine, and where misinformation about the conflicts is rife on social media, the importance of rigorous, fact-checked journalism has never been more apparent.
“As Culture Secretary I want to protect and enhance the freedom of our press. No journalist should be prevented from doing their job due to fear of violence, abuse or harassment. Our revamped national action plan will strengthen efforts to protect journalists working in the UK from harm, enhancing their freedom to hold the powerful to account without fear of abuse or harassment.”
Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors, said:
“At a time when accurate and verifiable news and information remains critical to the public’s understanding of world affairs, it is devastating that abuse and harassment of journalists remains so commonplace.
“The renewed action plan contains additional commitments aimed at prioritising journalists’ safety including broader police and industry engagement and a taskforce dedicated to exploring non-legislative means of combating SLAPPs.
“These measures should ensure that awareness-raising and regulation work hand-in-hand with legislation in this area. We look forward to working together to help create a safe and free environment for journalists to report on behalf of the public.”
The National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists aims to increase understanding of the abuse faced by some journalists, bolster the criminal justice response to crimes against journalists and support journalists and their employers to build resources to protect personal safety. It also sets out to help online platforms tackle wider online abuse and improve public recognition of the value of journalists to society.
Since the publication of the first Action Plan in 2021, significant progress has been achieved, including:
- The appointment of a Journalist Safety Officer at 22 police forces across the UK, including Police Scotland and Police Service Northern Ireland.
- New guidance to combat online harassment and abuse, published by the Media Lawyers Association.
- An online safety toolkit which covers a variety of issues such as physical and digital safety, mental health, as well as signposting a number of other helpful resources, launched by the National Union of Journalists and the Society of Editors.
- A free e-learning course created by the National Council for the Training of Journalists on journalism safety and resilience as part of its Journalism Skills Academy
The plan established collaborative working relationships with key industry partners like the National Council for Training of Journalists, the Media Lawyers Association, Meta and X, delivering targeted action to protect journalists safety online and in the field.
It follows the launch of a new dedicated taskforce in September to tackle Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), increasingly used by wealthy individuals to intimidate or silence journalists from reporting information in the public interest.
Photo credit: Redrec ©️ Pexels
