On Monday 13 July, the Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM), as part of the ‘Media Under Threat’ series with the Foreign Policy Centre and the Centre for Journalism and Democracy at City, University of London hosted a Parliamentary Reception focusing on efforts towards tackling SLAPPs. The event was also supported by Wiggin and co-sponsored by Rt Hon Baroness Stowell of Beeston and Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP.
The reception highlighted the importance of anti-SLAPP legislation towards protecting not only journalists, but other speaking out in the public interest, such as whistleblowers, academics and campaigners. The reception also provided a chance to bring together parliamentarians, journalists, campaigners, experts and academics to examine the case for anti-SLAPP legislation.
The event was opened by Baroness Tina Stowell and Sir John Whittingdale who acknowledged that there was cross-party support towards tackling SLAPPs and discussed their private members bills that have been introduced in both the House of Commons and House of Lords respectively.
The reception then heard from Joshi Hermann (left), Founder & Editor at Mill Media who spoke about Mill’s Media’s experience with SLAPPs and the impact that they have on public interest journalism. Matthew Dando, a Partner a Wiggin LLP then spoke about his work as a media defence lawyer and the challenges that SLAPP targets face.
Pia Sarma, Chair of the Media Lawyers Association and Deputy General Counsel of News UK then spoke about the approach towards addressing SLAPPs and finding an effective mechanism towards tackling the issue. Gavin Millar KC, Barrister at Matrix Chambers spoke about why SLAPP legislative is imperative and also discussed the role that the ECCTA has played in attempting to do this, but how this approach is limited compared to specific anti-SLAPP legislation.
The event was part of the ‘Media Under Threat’ series organised by the Foreign Policy Centre, Centre for Freedom of the Media, Centre for Journalism and Democracy and Wiggin. The series has focused on how journalism is under threat through legal threats, transnational repression and a rise of authoritariansim.