Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers, Climate Camp, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Freedom, Home Office, Human Rights, Investigation, Kent Police, Marc Vallée, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, Paul Lewis, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police Surveillance, Police Violence, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Media Workers, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Surveillance Team
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 15.06.08. A police photographer, in full riot gear films and photographs protesters, during a demonstration against George W Bush during the U.S President’s visit to London on Sunday 15 June 2008, London, England. Protesters had been “banned” by the police from demonstrating outside 10 Downing Street to protest against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
“Revealed: police databank on thousands of protesters” – The Guardian.
“Caught on film and stored on database: how police keep tabs on activists” – The Guardian.
“Under surveillance: police target environmental protesters and journalists” – The Guardian.
“Police surveillance: ‘They’re focusing on the press more than the protesters’” – The Guardian.
For the last 3 months I have been working on an investigation about police surveillance of journalists and protesters for The Guardian with Paul Lewis. Click on the links above to see what we found out.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Association of Chief Police Officers, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Free Press, Freedom, Home Office, Human Rights, Jason N. Parkinson, Mark Thomas, Media Event, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police Federation, Police Violence, Press Clippings, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Media Workers, Section 43, Section 44, Section 76, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, Terrow Law and Photography, War on Terror
“I’m A Photographer… Not A Terrorist” – Jason N.Parkinson, Current TV.
Here is a short film from my good friend and colleague Jason N.Parkinson about the mass photo taking event that took place outside New Scotland Yard last Monday. Enjoy!
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Free Press, Freedom, Home Office, Human Rights, Mark Thomas, Media Event, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police Federation, Police Violence, Press Clippings, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Media Workers, Section 43, Section 44, Section 76, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, Terrow Law and Photography, War on Terror
Here are a few more press clipping (in no particular order) from the media event “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist” from early in the week. If I have missed anything good feel free to post a comment with a link.
“VIDEO: Hundreds demonstrate their freedom to photograph” - National Union of Journalists.
“EFJ Supports UK Photographers in Counter Terrorism Act Protest” – International Federation of Journalists.
“Law threatens news photographers” – Roy Greenslade, The Guardian.
“AUDIO: Drivetime News” – BBC Radio Wales.
“AUDIO: Drivetime News” – BBC Radio Scotland.
“AUDIO: News” - BBC Radio Scotland.
“Why the ex-boss of MI5 is now standing up for press freedom” – Roy Greenslade, Evening Standard.
“Photographer Not a Terrorist” - londonist.com
“Press gang takes to the streets” - British Journal of Photography.
“Counter Terrorism Act 2008 : new provisions set to “limit” photography in a public place” – gcnchambers.co.uk
“BROADCAST” - aljazeera.net
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ, News | Tags: ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Free Press, Freedom, Home Office, Human Rights, Mark Thomas, Media Event, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police Federation, Police Violence, Press Clippings, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Media Workers, Section 43, Section 44, Section 76, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, Terrow Law and Photography, War on Terror
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 16.02.09. Photographers stage a mass photo taking event outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 in London, England. The event, called by the National Union of Journalists, marked the enforcement date of section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which could prevent the media and public from taking pictures of the police . (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.
Well done for the big turn out for “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist” media event outside New Scotland Yard yesterday. Here are a few press clipping (in no particular order) from the day. If I have missed anything good feel free to post a comment with a link. Also, it would be great if you posted a link to your pictures of the event as well.
“Police share photographers’ worries about terror law” - National Union of Journalists.
“Hundreds demonstrate their freedom to photograph” - National Union of Journalists.
“Journalists protest photo law” – BBC London Tonight.
“Is it a crime to take pictures?” - BBC News.
“Photographers angry at terror law” - BBC News.
“Photographers protest outside Scotland Yard over new anti-terror law” – telegraph.co.uk
“Calling the police to account” – Henry Porter, The Guardian.
“New law making it an offence to photograph a policeman should worry us all” - telegraph.co.uk
“Police protest over terror law ban on holiday snaps” – The Standard.
“Photographers stage protest outside Scotland Yard against anti-terror laws” – The London Paper.
“London News: Around 150 photographers hold mass photo shoot outside Scotland Yard in protest at new anti-terror law” – The London Paper.
“300 join police picture protest” – The Morning Star.
“Photographers converge on new Scotland Yard” - British Journal of Photography.
“400 photographers in Scotland Yard police terror protest” – Press Gazette.
“Met Police: Terror law ‘a real risk’ to photographers” - Press Gazette.
“Do not make us the ’secret’ police” – Metropolitan Police Federation.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Free Press, Freedom, Home Office, Human Rights, Mark Thomas, Media Event, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police Federation, Police Violence, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Media Workers, Section 43, Section 44, Section 76, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, Terrow Law and Photography, War on Terror
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 16.02.09. Photographers stage a mass photo taking event outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 in London, England. The event, called by the National Union of Journalists, marked the enforcement date of section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 which could prevent the media and public from taking pictures of the police . (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.
Clients : Click on the link below to view more images for rights managed editorial licensing. High resolution images are available on request.
Images: “Photographers stage a mass photo taking event outside New Scotland Yard – 16.02.09.
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers, BBC, BBC Wales, Comment Is Free, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Free Press, Freedom, Guardian, Guardian Unlimited, Home Office, Human Rights, Media Event, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Media Workers, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police Federation, Police Surveillance, Police Violence, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Section 43, Section 44, Section 76, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, Terrow Law and Photography, The Guardian, War on Terror
“Documenting dissent is under attack” – The Guardian.
“Photographers fear they are target of new terror law” – The Guardian.
The Guardian reports on section 76 of the Counter Terrorism Act 2008 today here and with a comment is free post from me here. See you all on Monday!
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: ACPO, Association of Chief Police Officers, Chris Atkins, Counter-Terrorism, Counter-Terrorism Act 2008, Counter-Terrorism Bill 2008, Crime and Security, FIT, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Freedom, Home Office, Human Rights, Jeremy Dear, Joint Committee on Human Rights, Mark Thomas, Media Event, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Media Workers, Metropolitan Police, Minister of State for Policing, National Policing Improvement Agency, National Union of Journalists, New Scotland Yard, NUJ, PACE, Photographers, Photography, Police, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Police Federation, Police Surveillance, Police Violence, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, Section 43, Section 44, Section 76, Special Procedure Material, State Repression, Surveillance, Terrorism, Terrorism Act, Terrow Law and Photography, Vernon Coaker MP, War on Terror
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 24.07.08. New Scotland Yard the Headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, London, England on Thursday 24th July 2008. The Metropolitan Police have come under increasing pressure from National Union of Journalists due to numerous complaints about how the police deal with the media, particularly at public events and demonstrations. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2008.
Media Event: “I’m a Photographer … not a Terrorist”
Hosted by the National Union of Journalists and supported by the British Journal of Photography and the British Press Photographers’ Association.
New Scotland Yard, Broadway, Westminster, London SW1H, UK. (Map)
Monday 16 February 2009.
11am.
“NUJ, activists and BJP calls for photography rights event” - British Journal of Photography.
Monday 16th February 2009 is the enforcement date for Section 76 of the Counter-Terrorism Act 2008. As the British Journal of Photography (BJP) wrote last month,
“The relationship between photographers and police could worsen next month when new laws are introduced that allow for the arrest – and imprisonment – of anyone who takes pictures of officers ‘likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism’.”
To read the full BJP article, click here.
So with that the National Union of Journalists has teamed up with Mark Thomas (writer, broadcaster, comic and political activist), Chris Atkins (the BAFTA nominated director and writer of the feature film documentary Taking Liberties), Marc Vallée (Photojournalist – that’s me by the way), The British Journal of Photography and many more for a “media event” outside New Scotland Yard on Monday 16 February 2009 at 11am.
The plan is simple, turn up with your camera and exercise your democratic right to take a photograph in a public place.
Here is a link to a Fackbook page for the event. Please note that this event is NOT a Protest! It’s just photography!
See you on the 16th folks!
Update – 06.02.09: NUJ Media Release:
“Photographers snap into action over new law” – National Union of Journalists.
“Comedian Mark Thomas is to join with NUJ members in an event to highlight the threat of a new UK law that could be used against press photographers taking pictures of the police.”
Click on the image, link above or here to read more.
Filed under: Friends Work, Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Camp for Climate Action, Climate Camp, Climate Change, Covering Climate Camp, Environment, Environmental, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Jason N. Parkinson, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Media Workers, Metropolitan Police, National Union of Journalists, Photography, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Police Surveillance, Press Freedom, Press Freedom Collateral Damage, State, State Repression, Surveillance
KINGSNORTH, KENT, UNITED KINGDOM – 05.8.08. Police stop and search Jason N. Parkinson, Video & Print Journalist, outside the main gates of the Camp for Climate Action Kingsnorth, Kent, England on Tuesday 5th August 2008. Published here by kind permission of Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk. (c) Jess Hurd, 2008.
“Covering Climate Camp: Part One” – Current TV.
“Covering Climate Camp: Part Two” – Current TV.
My good friend and colleague Jason N. Parkinson has made a film about journalists covering Climate Camp in Kent last summer. Click on the links above to watch the film and this is what Jason had to say about the film.
“In August 2008, environmental protestors set up camp in Kent, England, to protest the current and newly proposed E-On coal-fired power stations at Kingsnorth. Part one of the film documents not the protest movement, but the journalists trying to cover the story for independent and mainstream news organisations.
“In some of the worst scenes of police interference the press were subjected to stop-and-search, harassment, aggression and violence, which led to the National Union of Journalists and the industry media publically slamming the police on the grounds of press freedom restriction.
“In Part Two of two of the film the policing gets heavier, journalists trying to cover the story for independent and mainstream news organisations face surveillance, harassment, endless stop-and-searches and assault – they are even followed by a police unit to a McDonald’s restaurant.”
Filed under: Journalism, NUJ | Tags: Anti-BBC, Assault, BBC, BPPA, British Broadcasting Corporation, Forward Intelligence Team, Free Press, Gaza Protest, Justin Tallis, Law, Media Restriction, Media Worker, Metropolitan Police, National Union of Journalists, NUJ, Police and Criminal Evidence Act, Police Surveillance, Press, Press Freedom, Press Photographer, Special Procedure Material, Surveillance, Violence
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – 24.01.09. A Metropolitan Police Forward Intelligence Team sergeant grabs hold of a press photographer’s camera on a Gaza protest against the BBC on Saturday 24th January 2009 in London, England. Justin Tallis, a London based freelance photographer and NUJ and BPPA member, was photographing the anti-BBC protest. The BBC had refused to broadcast a charity appeal to raise emergency funds for people in the Gaza Strip. (Photo by Marc Vallée/marcvallee.co.uk) (c) Marc Vallée, 2009.
“Another press photographer threatened by police” - British Journal of Photography.
Images: “Surveillance Police grab Press Photographers Camera on Gaza anti-BBC Protest – 24.01.09″
Justin Tallis tells us what happened in his own words,
The police officer said “let me have a look at that picture.” I said, “No”. The police officer then said, “You’re not allowed to take photos of police officers”. I then said, “Don’t be ridiculous of course I can take pictures of police officers”. The police officer then tried to take my camera from me. After a bit of time I think the police officer realised he was in the wrong trying to forcibly take my equipment from me. He then got very close to me, way into my personal space, and said again “you shouldn’t have taken that photo you were intimidating me”. I think that if Marc had not been there taking these photos the situation could have ended very differently.
Filed under: Journalism | Tags: "Gaza Strip", Eyhab Al Wahidi, Free Press, Gaza, Gaza Siege, Human Rights, IFJ, International Federation of Journalists, Israel, Israeli, Journalism, Journalists, Killed, Media Freedom, Media Restriction, Palestinian, Press, Press Freedom, State Repression, War, War on Terror
“Another Gaza Journalist Killed, IFJ Calls for Global Protest Over Media Blockade” - International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
“Foreign journalists continue to fight for Gaza access” – Press Gazette.
“Deal to admit journalists aborted” – The Guardian.
From the International Federation of Journalists:
“The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called on the world of journalism to raise its voice in protest over Israeli government pressure on media trying to cover the Gaza conflict. The Government has imposed a blockade on the world’s media trying to report on the crisis inside Gaza.
“The IFJ call comes as another Palestinian journalist was reported killed – the fourth victim of recent Israeli military action in Gaza. Eyhab Al Wahidi , who worked as a cameraman for the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation in Gaza, was killed with his wife and mother in law yesterday when Israeli troops shelled their home in Gaza city. The family children were injured.”
To read more click here.
I will be posting more on the media and Gaza later next week.
