Dale Farm a 'huge victory' for press freedom

The NUJ has today welcomed the Court of Appeal today overturning the decision forcing the media to hand over unbroadcast footage from last October's Dale Farm evictions to Essex Police.

ITN, the BBC, Sky, Hardcash Productions and the NUJ launched their appeal following the decision by Chelmsford Crown Court to grant the production order earlier this year.

The court’s decision was overturned in a judgment handed down by Mr Justice Eady and Lord Justice Moses at the Royal Courts of Justice this morning.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “Today is a huge victory for the cause of press freedom and the protection of sources and journalistic material. We are incredibly pleased that the NUJ and other media organisations have won the High Court battle against the police production order to force journalists to hand over their Dale Farm eviction footage.”

The NUJ supported  video journalist Jason Parkinson who along with the broadcasters fought the production order. 

Parkinson said: "This ruling to overturn the Crown Court's decision to grant the Dale Farm production order sends a very clear message to all police forces that these wide-ranging fishing trips will not be accepted by the UK courts and that we will not be forced into the role of unwilling agents of the state. We are not there as evidence gatherers to fill police intelligence databases with hours of material on activists or protestors, we are journalists and we are there to report the news and keep the public informed.

"In the last 18 months, every time one of these orders have been served it has put journalists in greater danger while trying to report on public order situations. I know this because I have been threatened and assaulted by people claiming my material will be used by the police. I am very happy to see Judge Moses has recognised the impact these orders have had on the safety and impartiality of all journalists and has made sure any future production order applications must take this into account, as was clearly not the case this time round."

Speaking last month, Parkinson said: "On Tuesday 1 November 2011 I received an email from Essex police stating I was being served an order to obtain all my footage from the first two days of the Dale Farm eviction. That came 38 minutes after a separate email from Essex police press office asking to use my footage for "training purposes". They even offered me a visit to their in-house television unit.

"The union's own code of conduct lists the protection of sources and all journalistic material as a fundamental part of journalist ethics and in turn a fundamental part of our democracy. The ability to report free from state interference and indeed report on the state and hold them to account is the corner stone of what makes our democracy. When this was raised at Chelmsford Crown Court during the application hearing, prosecuting counsel said I held a 'very extreme view' for defending that code of conduct. But it's not just the NUJ or myself, claiming to be holding these extreme views. Across the board - Sky News, the BBC and ITN - all have said enough is enough with these fishing exercises.

"That is why I have opposed this production order and stood to uphold the NUJ Code of Conduct and protect all journalist sources and all material."

NUJ welcomes judicial review of Dale Farm order

The NUJ has welcomed the decision to allow the union and broadcasting companies a judicial review of the production order forcing journalists, media organisations and broadcasters to handover film of the Dale Farm evictions to the police.

The union argues the Dale Farm case raises fundamental issues about the ability of the press to report matters of public interest impartially and without fear of intimidation.

The application is on behalf of NUJ member video journalist Jason N. Parkinson, the BBC, ITN, BskyB and Hardcash Productions.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “The NUJ welcomes the decision to allow the judicial review to proceed.

"The media played a critical public interest role in reporting on Dale Farm and the case will have significant implications for the whole of our industry.

"Journalists are put in danger if footage gathered whilst reporting events is seized and used by the police.

"The NUJ’s code of conduct compels the union – and our members - to defend a vital principle, the protection of journalistic sources and material.

“This case is a defence of press freedom - journalists are not evidence gatherers for the police.”

NUJ appeals against order to make media hand over film of Dale Farm evictions to Essex Police

The NUJ has submitted a legal appeal to challenge a production order forcing journalists and broadcasters to hand over all their film of the Dale Farm eviction to the police.

The union says the appeal raises fundamental issues about the ability of the press to report matters of public interest impartially and without fear of intimidation, with reference to Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The application is on behalf of NUJ member and video journalist Jason Parkinson and the BBC, ITN, BskyB and Hardcash Productions have also submitted appeals.

It follows a court judgment requiring the media to comply with a production order and hand over all the film gathered during the first two days of the Dale Farm eviction to Essex Police.

The police claim the film will help identify those guilty of violent disorder and attacks on the police.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “Journalists played a critical public interest role in reporting on Dale Farm, producing footage on the ground so the public were informed about exactly what was happening. Their reward is to be hounded and criminalised by the state simply for doing their job as journalists.

“The appeal launched by the NUJ will have significant implications for the whole of our industry and we are challenging this decision because the union’s code of conduct compels the union – and our members - to defend a vital principle, the protection of journalistic sources and material."

“Our members regularly face attack and intimidation whilst doing their jobs. The danger increases if footage gathered whilst reporting events is seized and used by the police. This is an attack on press freedom and turns photographers, videographers and journalists into potential targets. Journalists are not there to carry out investigatory work for the police.”

Jason Parkinson said: “The production order against me could have grave professional consequences and there is a danger it will have a serious impact on my ability to carry out my job in the future.

“I want to protect the integrity and impartiality of journalists on the frontline – journalists should not be forced to be evidence gatherers for the police. We are reporting in the public interest and there should be a clear distinction between police surveillance and the press.”

Roy Mincoff, NUJ legal officer, added: “If the order for production is not overturned by judicial review, the future safety of reporters and photographers will be at risk. They will be seen merely as evidence gatherers for the police, with major consequences for their ability to report objectively and impartially in the future. The vital role of the media as the public watchdog, so important to a democratic society, would be seriously undermined.”

Police in legal bids to force journalists to hand over film of Dale Farm evictions and rioting in Derry

Police will today try to force news broadcasters and documentary-makers to hand over film of the eviction of travellers from the Dale Farm site in Essex, the Independent reports.

It says journalists working for BBC News, Panorama, and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding are among those facing a production order that covers all film recorded during the two-day eviction in October. Essex police claim they need help to identify criminals who caused minor injuries to 11 officers.

The Independent says it has learned the force is keen to identify activists who wore orange boiler-suits at the eviction and that the order, made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, has been denounced as a "fishing exercise" which would sever trust between journalists and traveller communities.

Video journalist Jason Parkinson, an NUJ member, is resisting an order to hand over Dale Farm film in court today.

The NUJ has spoken out against the move by the chief constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland to make a legal application to have the BBC and UTV hand over video recordings of rioting in Derry.

The union said it was "appalled" that the police are trying to get journalistic film of news events as it puts journalists at risk.

NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: “Journalists play a critical role in informing the public and covering civil unrest is already difficult. Our members have been attacked whilst doing their jobs. The danger increases if the footage gathered whilst reporting events is seized and used by the police. It is an attack on press freedom and turns photographers, videographers and journalists into potential targets.”

In September, the NUJ condemned the courts for forcing media organisations to supply riot film and photographs to the police.