House of Commons · Westminster Hall
27 May 2021 · 11 other contributors · 12,155 words
Opened by Damian Collins Con Folkestone and Hythe
Responding minister: John Whittingdale
Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.
Damian Collins raised concerns about world press freedom day in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key points
Key requests to Government
Collins called for reforms similar to those in Australia and the USA to protect public participation and prevent the misuse of GDPR. He urged the UK government to consider measures like a news media bargaining code, similar to that introduced by the Australian Government, to ensure fair remuneration for news content from companies such as Google and Facebook.
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.
Opened the debate
Damian Collins expressed deep concern over the increasing threats to press freedom worldwide. He highlighted specific incidents such as the hijacking of a civilian aircraft by the Belarusian Government, the assassination of journalists like Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jamal Khashoggi, and the detention of 387 journalists globally in 2020. Collins also pointed out the misuse of legal systems and data protection legislation to intimidate legitimate journalism.
The UK is ranked 33rd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index. There are active threats to the safety of journalists, such as the murder of Lyra McKee and serious threats against Patricia Devlin. The number of journalists being killed globally is at an all-time high with 50 journalists killed around the world in 2020 alone. Chris Matheson emphasized the need for more than condemning the detention and killing of journalists; support must be provided to silenced individuals.
Expressed concerns about the misreporting of the crisis in Israel and Palestine, highlighting systemic violence against Palestinians. Called for accurate reporting by the Independent Press Standards Organisation. Also raised issues regarding the imprisonment and extradition of Julian Assange, arguing it could set a dangerous precedent for journalism involving classified information. Criticised media ownership concentration, noting three companies control 83% of national newspaper market, and called for support for public interest journalism.
Jeremy Corbyn emphasised the importance of press freedom, media ownership diversity, and the challenges faced by journalists globally. He highlighted instances where social media companies have restricted access to information in authoritarian regimes and mentioned that 2,650 journalists have been killed since 1990. Additionally, he discussed the imprisonment of journalists and called for international action against governments threatening press freedom.
Mr. Nicolson highlighted the case of Roman Protasevich, a journalist imprisoned in Belarus for speaking truth to power. He reminisced about his early passion for journalism, mentioning influential journalists like Neal Ascherson and Charles Wheeler. Mr. Nicolson pointed out that only 12 countries are rated 'good' for press freedom, with 50 journalists killed last year and 387 held in detention, setting a historic high. He also condemned the targeting of journalistic outlets by Israel during its attack on Gaza and highlighted the dangers faced by journalists worldwide.
MacAskill praised the hon. Member for Folkestone and Hythe for securing the debate on World Press Freedom Day. He highlighted the importance of press freedom in democracies, citing examples from his personal experiences with journalists like James Pringle. MacAskill also mentioned a study by Professor Henry Milner that showed understanding of issues is key to voter turnout, which is higher in referendums than general elections due to clearer comprehension of the issues. He noted ongoing press freedom issues in Saudi Arabia, Belarus, and with Julian Assange. MacAskill pointed out changes in media consumption and the rise of social media as a news source. He discussed Scottish cases where journalists faced prosecution or legal action, calling for criticism from the Scottish Government and support for free reporting.
Kim Johnson expressed grave concerns about the targeting of journalists in conflict zones and peaceful countries, highlighting incidents like the bombing of media offices in Gaza and the detention of Roman Protasevich in Belarus. She cited statistics from the International Federation of Journalists: 2,658 journalists killed globally over the past three decades; 84% of those were deliberately targeted last year, with 90% of cases remaining unpunished. Johnson also noted that nearly 400 media workers were in detention by the end of 2020 and urged the government to use its influence to compel Israeli and Belarusian authorities to halt attacks on journalists.
Ferrier expressed deep concern for Roman Protasevich, a Belarusian blogger and journalist who faces terrorism charges in Belarus. She highlighted the imprisonment of 34 journalists and closure of independent media outlets due to recent authoritarian measures. Ferrier also discussed intimidation tactics against Arina Malinovskaya and restrictions imposed on BBC journalists working legally in Belarus. Additionally, she mentioned Choy Yuk-ling's conviction under Hong Kong's national security law and the threat it poses to press freedom.
I am concerned about the rise in violence against journalists and the need for stronger protections under the law.
Mr. Shah criticised the Israeli military's attack on media outlets in Gaza, highlighting the death of journalist Yousef Muhammed Abdul Qadr Abu Hussein and damage to 23 Palestinian and international media outlets. He called for the Government to support an International Criminal Court investigation into Israel's actions against press freedom.
The freedom of press is vital to democracy, but we must address the decline in local journalism.
The MP highlighted the importance of recognising journalists' bravery in reporting under dangerous conditions. He praised initiatives taken by the Foreign Secretary to pursue media freedom, including the global conference in London and work with Canada's Media Freedom Coalition. The MP also thanked civil servants for their efforts in defending media freedom and mentioned several cases of oppression against journalists around the world.
Government Response
John WhittingdaleIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Ms Ghani. I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe on securing the debate and on his work to promote media freedom... The aim was to demonstrate a shared commitment to ensure that journalists are free to carry out their vital role without threats of violence... We will be asking G7 members to reconfirm their commitment to defend media freedom and to provide practical, technical and programmatic support to journalists and media, including through the global media defence fund... I am determined that this country should address the concerns that have been rightly expressed today about what happens in the UK, and I am also determined that we should continue to champion media freedom wherever it is under threat across the world. I am grateful to my hon. Friend the Member for Folkestone and Hythe for giving us the opportunity to show that this House is united in that ambition.