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David Cameron's press charter plan sends wrong message, says CPJ David Cameron's press charter plan sends wrong message, says CPJ
(6 months later)
David Cameron's plans to regulate the British press by royal charter run "counter to bedrock principles of a democracy," a US-based press freedom group has warned.David Cameron's plans to regulate the British press by royal charter run "counter to bedrock principles of a democracy," a US-based press freedom group has warned.
In a letter to the prime minister, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that tighter controls on British newspapers would send the wrong message to repressive regimes that want to "rein in irksome reporters".In a letter to the prime minister, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that tighter controls on British newspapers would send the wrong message to repressive regimes that want to "rein in irksome reporters".
The New York-based group conceded that the plans, which were agreed with cross-party support in March, do not run counter to international standards on press freedom – but warned that they could erode Britain's "moral authority" abroad.The New York-based group conceded that the plans, which were agreed with cross-party support in March, do not run counter to international standards on press freedom – but warned that they could erode Britain's "moral authority" abroad.
The letter by CPJ executive director, Joel Simon, said: "Prime minister, we urge you to take a step back from the current proposals, which do not take into account the implications for press freedom beyond Fleet Street. Online journalists and bloggers and those outside the London-based, national newspaper establishment need to have their voices heard too. The haste with which this deal has been put together leaves too many unanswered questions.The letter by CPJ executive director, Joel Simon, said: "Prime minister, we urge you to take a step back from the current proposals, which do not take into account the implications for press freedom beyond Fleet Street. Online journalists and bloggers and those outside the London-based, national newspaper establishment need to have their voices heard too. The haste with which this deal has been put together leaves too many unanswered questions.
"Journalists, especially those working under authoritarian regimes, are watching and hoping that their colleagues in Britain can find a better solution than regulation anchored in law. Mr Cameron, we think that in the interests of global press freedom, you should allow them the opportunity to do so.""Journalists, especially those working under authoritarian regimes, are watching and hoping that their colleagues in Britain can find a better solution than regulation anchored in law. Mr Cameron, we think that in the interests of global press freedom, you should allow them the opportunity to do so."
Directors of the CPJ include journalists from the Washington Post, the New York Times, ABC News, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, CBS News, Bloomberg, the Miami Herald, the New Yorker, the Nation and Getty Images.Directors of the CPJ include journalists from the Washington Post, the New York Times, ABC News, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, CBS News, Bloomberg, the Miami Herald, the New Yorker, the Nation and Getty Images.
Christiane Amanpour, the ABC News anchor, and Arianna Huffington, the Huffington Post founder, also sit on the CPJ board of directors.Christiane Amanpour, the ABC News anchor, and Arianna Huffington, the Huffington Post founder, also sit on the CPJ board of directors.
The group said it would be "highly regrettable" if foreign leaders could point to British parliament as precedent for introducing statutory media controls.The group said it would be "highly regrettable" if foreign leaders could point to British parliament as precedent for introducing statutory media controls.
It used the example of South Africa, where the African National Congress has proposed new laws to control errant newspapers. "Any move by Britain toward legislation can only be a source of encouragement to South Africa's would-be media regulators and of deep concern to its independent journalists," the journalists' letter said.It used the example of South Africa, where the African National Congress has proposed new laws to control errant newspapers. "Any move by Britain toward legislation can only be a source of encouragement to South Africa's would-be media regulators and of deep concern to its independent journalists," the journalists' letter said.
They told Cameron in the letter that self-regulation was the best option for an independent press, and added: "The so-called statutory underpinning that he proposes to enable self-regulation does not necessarily violate international standards on press freedom, but runs counter to bedrock principles of a democracy."They told Cameron in the letter that self-regulation was the best option for an independent press, and added: "The so-called statutory underpinning that he proposes to enable self-regulation does not necessarily violate international standards on press freedom, but runs counter to bedrock principles of a democracy."
The issue of potential interference by politicians has become a battleground since the royal charter plan was first mooted.The issue of potential interference by politicians has become a battleground since the royal charter plan was first mooted.
Cameron's coalition government has sought to answer those concerns by ensuring that the charter's terms cannot be altered without a two-thirds minority vote in parliament.Cameron's coalition government has sought to answer those concerns by ensuring that the charter's terms cannot be altered without a two-thirds minority vote in parliament.
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