All four motions under the heading of media freedom passed this morning at the National Union of Journalists’ (NUJ) Annual Delegate Meeting (ADM) in Southport.
Motion 10 was raised in response to the blasphemy law currently being tabled by the Irish Government as part of their Defamation Act. The NUJ has publicly opposed this law and instructed the NEC and IEC to campaign for the repeal of this law. The motion was carried.
In Motion 11 the ADM instructed the NEC to liaise with the trade unions and federations of journalists’ based in Europe, and around the world. They are concerned that certain privacy related policies in some EU countries prevent or deter identification of adult defendants appearing in court. This poses a threat to press freedom. The motion was carried.
Indymedia
Police seizure, without a warrant, of a UK Indymedia server in Manchester, has prompted the ADM to call for better legal safeguards for all online content. In Motion 12, the NEC has been instructed to provide support for Indymedia through members working with the site. Charley Allan of the Morning Star said: “They need our help – they’re under attack. Indymedia are vulnerable to the police.”
The British Chiropractic Association’s decision to pursue a libel action against Dr Simon Singh was condemned in Motion 13. They fully back the ‘Keep Libel Laws out of Science’ campaign. ADM instructs the NEC to circulate information and encourage support.
Anna Wagstaff from Oxford and District who tabled this motion said: “The people with the money who want to suppress free speech win. He (Dr Singh) is doing us a favour - he is challenging libel laws.”
There was oppositionfrom Larry Neild of Provincial Newspapers, Merseyside branch, who said: “I’m rather concerned that we’re giving someone carte blanche to say what they want. Science writers aren’t above the being challenged.”
Despite these concerns being raised motion 13 was carried unamimously.
Links (all open in new windows):
http://www.indymedia.org/en/index.shtml
http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/333/
