Legislative threats to Media Freedom 

CFOM has been working on examining legislative threats to media freedom. In particular, researchers have examined the impact that legislative changes have had on media freedom in the United Kingdom alongside the threat that Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are posing to journalists across the world and how training on SLAPPs is an important step as part of a multi-faceted approach towards tackling them. They have also worked with the Law Commission surrounding their Contempt of Court reforms too. 

Research Team

Dr Gemma Horton

Dr Irini Katsirea 

Polly Rippon

Lindsay Pantry

Dr Peter Coe

Key Publications and Reports 

2025

BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF COMPARATIVE LAW BOOK DISCUSSION

A new book by CFOM Researcher and Reader in International Media Law, Dr Irini Katsirea, was the subject of an online discussion hosted by the British Association of Comparative Law (BACL). The event was chaired by Professor Jacob Rowbottom and featured panellists including Dr Peter Coe, Emeritus Professor Thomas Gibbons and Emeritus Professor Bernd Holznagel. Discussion centred on Irini’s new book ‘Press Freedom & Regulation in a Digital Era’ and the panel answered questions concerning how we regulate media outlets and citizen journalists in a digital age, alongside how we try to tackle mis/disinformation through regulation too. 

Publication of report focusing on legislative threats to media freedom in the UK

This report was written following the conclusion of a one-day workshop hosted in October 2023. The report examining threats to media freedom in the UK following concerns surrounding legislative changes, including the introduction of the Online Safety Act 2023 and the National Security Act 2023. The report also examines the impact that Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are having on journalism and how current legislation is ineffective at tackling them. Examination surrounding the self-regulatory landscape following the scrapping of section 40 of the Crimes and Courts Act 2013 is also discussed in the report. 

2024

Submission to Law Commission on Contempt of Court Reform

CFOM Researchers including Dr Peter Coe, Dr Gemma Horton, Dr Irini Katsirea, Polly Rippon and Emeritus Fellow Mark Hanna submitted a response to the Law Commission’s Contempt of Court consultation. The team worked together to answer the questions surrounding how contempt of court legislation should be amended in light of current challenges, including the development of technology and the role that the Attorney General should play. 

Workshop on SLAPPs, University of sheffield 

On 25 November, CFOM hosted a hybrid workshop focusing on training for journalists on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). The workshop saw representatives from news organisations, lawyers, civil society organisations and journalists attend. The workshop was hosted following funding being awarded via the ESRC IAA Rapid Learning Fund. Attendees discussed training needs for journalists and how this training can be developed. The legal hub at CFOM will work together to discuss next steps and how training can be developed.

CFOM Hosts Podcast on SLAPPs

The fifth episode of the CFOM podcast focused on the impact that Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are having on press freedom in the United Kingdom.

In this podcast episode, we spoke to: 

  • Fiona O’Brien – UK director of Reporters Without Borders 
  • Susan Coughtrie, director of the Foreign Policy Centre think tank and co-chair of the UK Anti-Slapp Coalition
  • Peter Coe – Associate Professor in Law at the University of Birmingham and a member of the Council of Europe’s Expert Committee on Slapps

We spoke about the impact that SLAPPs are having on press freedom, journalists and how we can tackle them moving forwards. 

Panel Event focusing on press freedom, Institute for Advanced Legal Studies

CFOM and the Institute for Advanced Legal Studies hosted a panel event focusing on press freedom and regulation in a digital era. The panel event discussed the issues that online news media is facing in a newly prevalent culture of control. The panel discussed the challenges that press freedom faces in the digital news ecosystem. Panellists included Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana (IMPRESS); Professor Jacob Rowbottom (University College, Oxford); Dr Sejal Parmar (Cardiff University); and Dr Irini Katsirea (CFOM, School of Journalism, Media and Communication, University of Sheffield). The UNESCO Chair on Media Freedom, Journalism Safety and the Issue of Impunity, Professor Jackie Harrison, delivered opening remarks at the event.

Online Panel Event to commemorate world press freedom day: SLAPPs and the Threat to Media Freedom

On 3 May from 13:00-15:00, CFOM and the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights hosted two online panel events that examined the threats that SLAPPs pose to media freedom and journalists. In the first panel, speakers included: Susan Coughtrie, Director of the Foreign Policy Centre and co-founder of the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition; Gill Phillips, lawyer; Michelle Stanistreet, General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists; Sayra Tekin, Director of legal, policy and regulation at the National Union of Journalists. The session was chaired by CFOM’s Dr Irini Katsirea.

In the second panel speakers included: Dr Peter Coe, Associate Professor at Birmingham Law School and independent member of the Council of Europe’s Expert Committee on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs); Charlie Holt, European Head of Global Climate Legal Defence (CliDef); Dr Rebecca Moosavian, Associate Professor in Law at University of Leeds School of Law; and Professor Paul Wragg, Professor of Media Law at University of Leeds School of Law. The session was chaired by Dr Damian Tambini, Distinguished Policy Fellow at London School of Economics.

2023

CFOM hosts workshop on threats to media freedom in the United Kingdom

On 24 October, CFOM hosted a workshop focusing on threats to media freedom in the United Kingdom. The workshop hosted 22 researchers from academia, civil society organisations and news media associations. The day focused on discussing particular legislative challenges to journalists, including the recently passed Online Safety Act, Public Order Act and the threats of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). Following the conclusion of the workshop, CFOM produced a report, alongside editing a special issue for the Journal of Media Law.