Following CFOM’s workshop in October 2023 that focused on threats to media freedom in the United Kingdom, a special issue has been published in the Journal of Media Law that highlights the key legislative issues that journalists and journalism is facing. In particular, articles highlight issues around Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), the Online Safety Act 2023 and the changing role of journalism. Contributions include:
- Peter Coe, Rebecca Moosavian and Paul Wragg: Addressing strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs): a critical interrogation of legislative, and judicial responses
- Ricki-Lee Gerbrandt: Threatening & protecting press publishers and journalism in the UK’s regulation of social media platforms
- Beatriz Kira and Judith Townend: Defining the boundaries of journalism and news publishers: implications of the Online Safety Act 2023 for the public interest and media freedom
- Jingrong Tong and Gemma Horton: Judicial discourses about journalism in journalism-related judgments in the United Kingdom (UK) since Reynolds
The special issue builds on the work CFOM is undertaking with its legal hub, building on its report from the workshop that looked into how legislative developments in the UK has impacted journalism, including the passing of the amendment to the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023, the Online Safety Act 2023 and the National Security Act 2023. Following the workshop, CFOM’s Impact Fellow, Gemma Horton, had an article published in Communications Law.