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Time to put an end to secrecy and protect the public's right to know
Media outlets are urging comprehensive anti-SLAPP legislation as journalists and local newsrooms face costly legal threats that can suppress reporting.
- On Wednesday, April 15, UK media outlets joined a coordinated Day of Action urging the Government to include anti-SLAPP protections in the forthcoming King's Speech. These abusive lawsuits, known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, aim to silence investigative reporting.
- The News Media Association and the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition warn that SLAPPs allow wealthy individuals to use costly legal threats to intimidate journalists and suppress public interest reporting. These tactics increasingly target local newsrooms, exploiting power imbalances to avoid accountability.
- "SLAPPs thrive in silence, using the threat of costly and intimidating legal action to shut down journalism in the public interest," News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said. Publishers are sending letters to MPs emphasizing this vulnerability.
- Beyond media, SLAPPs frequently silence survivors of sexual assault, local campaigners, and tenants seeking repairs, effectively removing critical information from the public domain. This legalized bullying prevents citizens from holding power to account across all societal sectors.
- The Government faces an opportunity next month to establish universal, meaningful anti-SLAPP protections during the King's Speech. Supporters argue this legislative step remains essential to safeguard freedom of expression and ensure legal costs do not dictate access to justice.
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72 Articles
72 Articles
Lancaster Post+4 Reposted by 4 other sources
How ‘legal bullying’ is silencing journalists and harming local democracy
Today (April 15) media outlets across the country are joining a Day of Action to call for the UK Government to include anti-SLAPP protections in the forthcoming King’s Speech ⚖️
·Lancaster, United Kingdom
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The Scotsman+11 Reposted by 11 other sources
Anti-SLAPP law: how ‘legal bullying’ lawsuit litigation is silencing UK journalists and harming democracy
Today (April 15) media outlets across the country are joining a Day of Action to call for the UK Government to include anti-SLAPP protections in the forthcoming King’s Speech ⚖️
·Scotland, United Kingdom
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Cambridge NewsReposted by 
Nottingham Post
Nottingham PostWe're calling for anti-SLAPP measures against journalists from 'legal bullies'
The UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition is an informal working group established in January 2021 comprising a number of freedom of expression, whistleblowing, anti-corruption and transparency organisations, as well as media lawyers, researchers and academics
·Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources72
Leaning Left2Leaning Right0Center61Last UpdatedBias Distribution97% Center
Bias Distribution
- 97% of the sources are Center
97% Center
C 97%
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