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Freedom of Expression

The Newspaper Society and its members have been very involved in media representations on press freedom issues to Cabinet Ministers, Government Departments, Parliamentary Committees, members of both Houses of Parliament and regulators. The Newspaper Society has also lobbied on EU legislation and initiatives on freedom of expression, press freedom and freedom of information. The Society has received awards for its work on freedom of information and press freedom.

The Newspaper Society continues to provide lobbying services to the Society of Editors.

Examples of editorial issues pursued by the Society are set out below

Press self-regulation: The regional newspaper industry supports press self-regulation, through the industry's code and the Press Complaints Commission. The Newspaper Society played a key role in the establishment of the Press Complaints Commission. It nominates directors of PressBof, the regional press members of Press Complaints Commission and regional newspaper editors who sit on the Editors' Code Committee. The Society opposed any extension of statutory controls over press and Internet content through OFCOM or otherwise during the passage of the Communications Act 2003. It opposes any EU and Council of Europe initiatives on broadcasting, new media or the press that might lead to such restrictions over newspaper print content and their websites.

Safeguards against prior restraint under the Human Rights Act 1998.

Media exemptions under the data protection directive and Data Protection Act 1998 to enable media investigation, media reports and assist release of information to the public.

Introduction of pre-legislative Government freedom of expression audits at the NS’s suggestion, and endorsement by the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown at his speech ‘On Liberty’. (When Home Secretary, Rt Hon Jack Straw adopted the Newspaper Society's suggestion of the freedom of expression audits of legislative proposals. He informed the Newspaper Society that he had instructed the Home Office to alert and consult the media if proposals for new legislation might impact on the press. Furthermore, any such implications in new legislation should be made clear in accompanying documentation.)

Freedom of information. The regional press campaigned for improvements to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. It secured amendments to the Local Government Act 2000 and related legislation on public rights of access to meetings and information to promote the public scrutiny of policy and decision-making process. The Society was a member of the Lord Chancellor's/Information Commissioner's Advisory Committee on implementation of the Freedom of Information Act. The Newspaper Society was a member of the Government's Review Group on current information rights. This is examined the legal framework governing the public's right of access to information held by local authorities and consider how a culture of openness can be promoted. The Newspaper Society has contributed to ENPA's representations on EU access to information proposals. The Newspaper Society supports reform of the Official Secrets Acts 1911- 1989.

Open Justice,court reporting and crime reporting. As a result of an initiative by Lord Justice Judge, the Judicial Studies Board together with Lord Justice Kay and Mrs Justice Hallet, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Newspaper Society and the Society of Editors worked together to produce guides to court reporting restrictions in the Magistrates (pdf file) and Crown Courts. These were distributed to judges, magistrates, clerks to the courts and editors. The Judicial Studies Board has also circulated to magistrates a laminated version of the guide's checklist 'Media and public access to proceedings in the Magistrates' Court- advice and guidance for magistrates' which became part of the Bench Book. 

The Newspaper Society has also successfully opposed or modified proposals for new restrictions on court reporting and identification of those involved in court proceedings and investigation.  We have pursued open justice issues relating to the family courts, coroners courts, courts-martial, public inquiries, youth courts and those involved in criminal courts and criminal investigations.

Protection of Sources: The NS has lobbied on protection of journalistic information and sources which have been threatened by diverse legislation.

Defamation Law Reform: The NS has contributed to the press freedom  lobbying on the forthcoming Defamation Bill, reform of the cfa regime and cross- border liability under reviews of  Brussels I and Rome II Regulation.

Ensure that bona fide financial and consumer journalism is not jeopardised by the financial regulatory regime under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, EU Market Abuse directive and EU and UK implementation.

Vigilance against unintended or unnecessarily onerous consequences of legislation eg exemptions were obtained to prevent journalists requiring licences under legislation intended to regulate the private security industry; obtained changes to political and election funding controls that affect advertising and editorial.

Protection of commercial freedom of speech. Regional newspapers have been described as the cornerstone of the self-regulatory system for advertising, upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority. The Newspaper Society is a member of the Committee of Advertising Practice and contributed to the recent revision of the British Code of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Direct Marketing.

The Society is lobbying on a very wide range of UK and EU legislative proposals on commercial and editorial issues.