Magazine of the Chartered Institute of Journalists Winter 2020/1 Winter TheJServingournal professional journalism since 1912 Fighting for freedom of information he Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) is breaking new ground in a Tseries of test cases on Freedom of Information. The Institute is currently battling five Freedom of Information cases at the First Tier Tribunal (Information Rights) and Upper Tribunal in a campaign to achieve proper recognition for the rights of journalists, academic researchers and NGOs to government information. The Information Commissioner’s Office is refusing to hear the CIoJ President, Professor Tim Crook’s appeals against the block by MI5 and MI6 for access to historical files more than 70 years old. The First Tier Tribunal, which hears appeals on FOI cases, has actually barred any access to justice by saying it does not have European Court of Human Rights building by CherryX CC BY-SA 3.0 any jurisdiction and will not even hear the appeal against the refusal to hear the Freedom of Expression, which along with appeal. all the other Human Rights was enshrined • Chartered Institute of Journalists is Professor Crook’s three longstanding into UK law by legislation in 1998 and the only UK journalist body fighting investigative projects have huge public enacted in the year 2000. to put freedom of expression law at the heart of freedom of information interest significance and are clearly part of Every argument put forward by UK process the ‘social watchdog’ role recognised by the government lawyers was turned down highest European Court of Human Rights in a high majority ruling of 15-2 by the • European Court of Human Rights as deserving the right to state information. Grand Chamber unequivocally declaring gave special recognition to journalists, They have resulted in published books that there is a qualified right specifically academic researchers and NGOs by extending Article 10 to include the and a BBC television drama series. for journalists, academic researchers right to state information in 2016 and NGOs undertaking the public Appeals interest social watchdog role of seeking • But UK government, FOI There are also two appeals before the information in a democratic society. tribunal system and Information Upper Tribunal where Professor Crook But the UK government, the ICO Commissioner’s Office are stubbornly blocking implementation and the CIoJ are challenging the refusal (which regulates FOI in England) and to recognise the European Court of the Information Tribunal system have • CIoJ President Professor Tim Crook Human Rights Grand Chamber ruling blocked and opposed every move to apply has five FOI appeals fighting the in 2016 saying there is a qualified right the new ruling. In the Magyar ruling, issue and challenging absolute blocks under Article 10 to state/government the Strasbourg court explained that the to historical archives managed by Met Police, MI5 and MI6 information. Strasbourg changed the right to state information for journalists law and extended the reach of Article 10 should be recognised because: “It has • He is seeking access to information in freedom of information requests in a been the Court’s practice to recognise on government spying of staff and case from Hungary four years ago called the essential role played by the press students at Goldsmiths, University ‘Magyar’. in a democratic society and the special of London, vetting and spying on left wing BBC writers and producers, The UK government was the only position of journalists in this context. It and the case of WWII MI6 officer intervening country opposing the move has held that the safeguards to be afforded Alexander Wilson recently made into to recognise a standing right for access to TV drama series Mrs Wilson government information under Article 10 Continued on page 3 Andy Smith Editor Editor’s Comment ell, what a year this has been! One the beginning of a new era and that America, might even complain that there post-Trump, will be able to resume its former Whas been ‘too much news’. The role as champion of the Free World and Covid-19 pandemic has been something opponent of tyrants. of a rollercoaster ride, to say the least, and Meanwhile, here in Britain we have now, as this Journal goes to press, the nation witnessed the downfall of another opponent breathes a collective sigh of relief as the first of the press – the PM’s former Chief Advisor, coronavirus vaccines are being rolled out Dominic Cummings. It is said that he was across Britain, and, in a throwback to the hounded out of Downing Street by, among halcyon days of the pre-Covid era, Brexit is others, Boris Johnson’s fiancée Carrie back! Yes, as I write this editorial, the Prime Symonds. There are suggestions that Ms Assistant Editor: Stuart Millson Minister is still struggling to fulfil his election Symonds, whose background is in public pledge to Get Brexit Done and every news relations for the Conservative Party, and who Production Editor: Dominic Cooper bulletin is dominated by the game of political has many friends in the press, may be poised ping-pong between London and Brussels. to play an even more significant role. If this is Disinformation, ‘alternative facts’, fake so, then she is well-qualified to do so, and it In this issue: news and barmy conspiracy theories were must surely be a good thing if she does. Regional threats ‘out of control’ 3 certainly not new in 2020 but these poisons There is no doubt that the Johnson undoubtedly came into their own during the administration, shorn of Cummings’ negative Khashoggi murder case reaches court 4 year. And the biggest source of them all was influence, is bringing more ‘press-friendly’ New Chair for media freedom APPG 5 the most powerful man on Earth, Donald people into Number Ten – people who fully The importance of evidence 6 J Trump. Indeed it is the President of the appreciate the extent to which independent ‘Lockdown’ is word of the year 7 United States of America who has shown journalism underpins our democracy. The all too clearly what happens when half the CIoJ particularly welcomes ex-BBC journalist CIoJ submission to House of Lords 8-9 population chooses to believe ‘social media’ Allegra Stratton who has taken over as the Election law ‘not fit for purpose’ 10 in preference to the traditional press and Prime Minister’s Press Secretary. Covid-19 support and guidance 11 broadcasting industry. There were times Obituaries and tributes 13-17 when it looked like this journalist-hating In Memoriam demagogue might even be re-elected by There should perhaps be a black border 21st Century Dickens 18-19 Americans who, in their millions, appear around this editorial column. The second half A Tale of Two Presidents 20 to have deserted the mainstream broadcast of 2020 has been a time of mourning within Remember Artemus Jones 21 and print media in favour of Facebook and the Chartered Institute of Journalists. As Twitter. you will read in our rather larger-than-usual Taking up the baton of racial justice 22&24 As 2020 draws to a close, and following obituary section, recent months have seen the 100 years of journalism 23-24 one of the nastiest presidential elections passing of three great British newspapermen Bookshelf 25-27 in modern US history, we now have the – Harry Evans, Perry Worsthorne and Sam CIoJ AGM 2020 28 unedifying spectacle of the roundly-defeated Brittan – all of whom have had connections Mr Trump attempting to cling to power, like with our Institute over the decades, one of some grubby Third World dictator, claiming whom was a longstanding and loyal CIoJ The views contained in The Journal are those of the that the election has been ‘stolen’ from him member, and another a very well-deserved Editor and contributors and do not necessarily reflect the by a conspiracy of the media and the political recipient of our Gold Medal. views or policy of the Chartered Institute of Journalists. Establishment. For many of us, the two most painful losses, All rights reserved. © CIoJ 2020 however, were those of CIoJ Past-Presidents Despotism Ken Brookes and Norman Bartlett, who died It is no surprise that the only people outside within weeks of one another as autumn the USA who will miss Trump once he has turned to winter. In many ways, Ken and eventually packed his bags and departed Norman were the Institute, and it is hard to the White House will be his fellow despots imagine the CIoJ without them. Both served TheJournal – the ex-KGB boss who now runs Russia, the on our Council for decades and both proved, Communist rulers of China and North Korea, in their different ways, that solid experience ISSN 1361-7656 and assorted Middle Eastern autocrats such can go hand in hand with zeal. as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia – all of It is especially poignant that the tribute to News or views intended for publication them enthusiastic persecutors of journalists. Ken that appears in this Journal was actually should be sent to: These were the leaders Donald Trump penned by Norman just before his own The Chartered Institute of Journalists considered his friends. shockingly sudden and unexpected death. PO Box 765, Waltham Abbey, EN8 1NT In one of his first speeches as President- Farewell, Norman Bartlett and Kenneth elect, Joe Biden spoke passionately about the Brookes – our Institute will not be the same E-mail: [email protected] freedom of the press. Let us hope this truly is without you. Tel: +44 (0)20 7252 1187 Andy Smith Web: www.cioj.org Officers of the Institute: Institute officers are ex-officio Twitter: @CIoJournalist members of Council Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Prof. Tim Crook, President pages/Chartered-Institute-of- Michael Hardware, Your Council members are: Journalists/108017897514 Honorary Treasurer Vivienne DuBourdieu, Michael Evans, LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/ Paul Leighton, Andy Smith groups/Chartered-Institute- Michael Hardware, Journalists-63500 Vice-President Your PPB members are: Prof. Tim Crook, Chairman Janice Shillum Bhend, Adela Earlington, Andrew Kelly, Navin Kukadia, Paul Leighton, Stuart Printed by Cool grey display & print Ltd Immediate Past President 2 Littleford, Tom Magner, Karim Ngobi. Tel: +44 (0) 1444 474646 Prof. Tim Crook, Chairman, PPB The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition

Continued from 1 to the press are of particular importance. The vital role of the media in facilitating and fostering the public’s right to receive and impart information and ideas has been repeatedly recognised by the Court, as follows: “The duty of the press is to impart – in a manner consistent with its obligations and responsibilities – information and ideas on all matters of public interest. Not only does it have the task of imparting such information and ideas: the public also has a right to receive them. Were it otherwise, the press would be unable to play its vital role of public watchdog.” Crook argues that the Human Rights Act imposes a statutory duty on public authorities to act in ways that are compatible with Convention rights and to interpret legislation in ways that are also compatible Courtroom of the European Court of Human Rights By Adrian Grycuk - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 pl, with Convention rights. https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=66030266

“any clear and constant jurisprudence of declaration on the right to information for this Court and should not, without strong journalists and academic researchers. “It reason, dilute or weaken the effect of this is astonishing that the ICO and First Tier Court’s case⁻law.” Tribunal should be questioning whether it Professor Crook and the Institute are has jurisdiction on FOI requests to MI5 and appealing the issue before Upper Tribunal MI6.” Judge Stewart Wright who ruled earlier this In February this year Tribunal Judge year that Magyar did not apply in the FOI Hazel Oliver said he could complain to tribunal system in a case that had nothing the Information Commissioner if a public to do with journalism, academic research, authority relies on the absolute exemption or NGOs in their campaigning role as social in the Freedom of Information Act. The watchdogs. Judge also said he could “complain using The case involved a litigant in person human rights arguments about a refusal by called Derek Moss seeking information the Security Service to engage with a FOIA about a regeneration housing project from request.” Kingston Council. He was outnumbered Professor Crook says: “It could be said Member states of the Council of Europe By by a QC and two other leading counsel we have the most powerful forces in the Rob984 - Derived from File:Europe orthographic representing the government’s Cabinet country ranged against us and all we Caucasus Urals boundary (with borders).svg, CC Office and the ICO. have is our integrity, our well-founded BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/ Professor Crook believes his cases can arguments, and the Institute’s professional index.php?curid=41218742 be distinguished from Moss. He says it is duty to further freedom of the media and time that the English FOI Tribunal system the right to information.” respected the rule of law and applied the Major change Strasbourg’s most powerful and clear The Act also states that all courts must take into account rulings of the European Court of Human rights. Crook says this has not been happening. The Information Threats ‘out of control’ Commissioner’s Office has been doing the opposite. iverpool Echo political editor Liam direct on Twitter, saying: “I’ll keep trying “They have had four years to seek LThorp believes threats to regional to raise awareness of the daily threats changes to the Freedom of Information journalists are out of control, after sharing and abuse reporters get – there’s a man Act and subordinate legislation in order an email on Twitter saying “judgement currently in prison for threats to kill me and to recognize the major change in the law will be due very soon” for Thorp and his it’s not ok for people to drop me an email brought about by the Magyar case,” he editor. The writer of the email had claimed with s**t like this.” explains. “Instead, all they have done is that Thorp and his editor were “responsible Liz Justice obfuscate and block attempts to recognize for thousands of deaths in this city with the this fundamental change in the law.” fear you put out there with your disgusting The CIoJ President says the Upper journalism.” It went on: “Karma is a bitch SOCIAL MEDIA Tribunal recently did the exact opposite and you judgment [sic] will be due very of advisory opinion of a more recent soon” Follow us, and re-post our messages Strasbourg ruling in 2018 which said the Thorp told Hold the Front Page: “I think on social media. The Institute has UK courts should be following the ruling the situation is out of control at the moment a Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn of the Grand Chamber in Magyar. The and I don’t know what the answer is, but presence which will keep you up-to-date national courts, said the ruling, should, in I think we need to keep talking about it, with our news. the absence of special circumstances, follow because it is simply not OK.” He was more

3 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Common Currency: Celebrating 100 years of English PEN

nglish PEN, the campaign group supporters around the world to join them which champions freedom of in celebrating and supporting writers of Eexpression, will celebrate its 100th courage by sending letters of solidarity to anniversary with a new programme, them and their families. Common Currency, working with a range PEN members have long supported of partners across the UK. Over the next fellow writers in this way and the impact of year, writers, readers and activists will this simple act cannot be underestimated. come together for a unique programme These letters provide much-needed moral of events, residencies and workshops support for writers and their families beginning this autumn and culminating during extremely difficult times, serving as with a three-day “festival of free thinking” a crucial reminder that they have not been at London’s Southbank Centre in 2021. forgotten. Taking its name from the PEN Charter that states “literature knows no frontiers Year-long programme and must remain common currency among Daniel Gorman, Director of English people,” Common Currency combines PEN, explains: “English PEN has been timely debates on freedom of expression, championing the freedom to write, the creative campaigning and a celebration of freedom to read and for literature to remain diverse voices. It seeks to ignite a national a common currency in the UK and around conversation around issues of expression the world since our inception in 1921. The English PEN is part of PEN International, led by writers and readers. As such, the world has changed considerably over a worldwide writers’ association with 145 programme is organised under three key that time, yet our work at the intersection centres in more than 100 countries. It is a themes inspired by the PEN Charter: free between literature, human rights and community of readers, writers and activists speech and democracy, languages and freedom of expression remains as relevant protecting freedom of expression whenever ideas, and celebrating women. as ever. To mark this moment we are thrilled it is under attack, supporting writers For decades, PEN has campaigned on to launch Common Currency, a unique facing persecution around the world, and behalf of writers, literary professionals, and ambitious year-long programme celebrating contemporary international journalists, artists, cartoonists and of events, debates, writer residencies, writing with literary prizes, grants, events, musicians who are unjustly persecuted, literary commissions, campaigning, and and an online magazine. English PEN’s harassed, imprisoned, and even murdered fundraising, and we invite the nation to join work is made possible through core in violation of their right to freedom of us to celebrate a century of English PEN.” funding from Arts Council England, Sigrid expression. Ahead of the centenary in Common Currency is supported using Rausing Trust, and the TS Eliot Foundation, 2021, English PEN are launching a year- public funding from the National Lottery alongside the support of members, project long letter-writing campaign, inviting through Arts Council England. partners and Silver PEN partners.

Khashoggi murder case heard in Turkish court hearing has been held in Istanbul’s stark contrast to the mockery of justice that AÇağlayan Court in the case of Saudi took place in Saudi Arabia.” journalist Jamal Khashoggi. No fewer than In the hearing on November 24, a 26 defendants stand trial for the columnist’s second indictment naming six additional murder. Although the court rejected the defendants was merged with the first application of Reporters Without Borders indictment, bringing the total number of (RSF) to become a civil party in the case, defendants to 26. All are Saudi nationals. Image: RSF RSF representatives were able to monitor They were represented by lawyers the hearing. The trial is set to continue in appointed by the Istanbul Bar Association, March 2021. and the judge stated he would issue arrest the release of 34 jailed journalists. RSF RSF was the only international NGO warrants due to the defendants’ failure to culminated its months-long advocacy and present in court for the second hearing appear in court. campaigning efforts by hijacking the official in Khashoggi’s murder trial, which was Witness testimony was given by Ayman #G20SaudiArabia hashtag with a message monitored by RSF Director of International Nour, the former head of an Egyptian in support of press freedom. Campaigns Rebecca Vincent, Director of RSF opposition party and investor in Egyptian RSF also continues to campaign for the Germany Christian Mihr, and RSF Turkey media in Turkey, who had known release of dozens of journalists imprisoned Representative Erol Önderoglu. “We are Khashoggi for 39 years. Nour spoke of in Turkey and broader press freedom disappointed by the court’s rejection of our Khashoggi’s fear following threats he improvements in the country. application to become a civil party,” said an reported receiving from Saud al-Qahtani, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are respectively RSF spokesperson, “as it would have given a former aide to Saudi Crown Prince ranked 154th and 170th out of 180 countries us access to court documents and allowed Mohammed bin Salman. in RSF’s 2020 World Press Freedom Index us to more robustly scrutinise the case. The hearing immediately followed the (see the feature in the Summer 2020 issue Regardless, we will continue to monitor G20 summit in Riyadh, held on November of the CIoJ Journal). As previously reported the case closely and call for adherence to 21-22, in which G20 states failed to in this Journal, the CIA and other Western international standards. The Turkish courts meaningfully engage with host state Saudi intelligence agencies have also made clear have an important role to play in ensuring Arabia on the need for immediate press they believe the Saudi Crown Prince is accountability for this horrific crime, and freedom improvements in the country, himself heavily implicated in Khashoggi’s must keep proceedings fair and open - in including justice for Khashoggi and murder.

4 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition 300 Group marks 40th anniversary New chair for APPG he All-Party 300 Group for Women in on media freedom TPolitics came into being 40 years ago. amian Collins MP is the new chair of The group was created by CIoJ member Dthe All-Party Lesley Abdela to campaign for more Parliamentary women in the UK Parliament, European Group (APPG) on Parliament, local government and public media freedom. life. In 1980, when the 300 Group was Collins takes over formed, there were still only 19 women out after inaugural of the 635 MPs, despite Margaret Thatcher group chair John having entered Downing Street as Britain’s Whittingdale MP first woman Prime Minister the previous stepped down year. At under three per cent, that was due to his appointment earlier this year as about the worst record of any democracy in Minister of State for Culture, Media and the world, and Lesley Abdela determined Sport. to take action. Following the launch of the APPG on So in late 1980 Abdela gathered Lesley Abdela media freedom in July 2019, Collins joins together a group in the one-parent-family a cross-party group of parliamentarians Gingerbread’s HQ offices in Covent next several years the 300 Group pioneered from both the House of Lords and House of Garden to discuss what to do about the training and familiarisation techniques Commons who have committed to working lack of women in Parliament. In addition to which have since then been widely copied together to address global and domestic representatives of the women’s wings of the in the UK and around the world. Within media freedom challenges: political parties about 35 women’s groups just a few years the group had become Collins said: “I’m honoured to be taking including the National Federation of extremely well-known, aided by favourable over as Chair from John, a renowned Women’s Institutes, UK BPW, Soroptimists, coverage in the Press, including national champion of the freedom of the press. and Associated Countrywomen of the dailies and the main television channels. Strong, independent and researched World, sent representatives to the meeting. Now, in 2020, a third of the 650 members journalism is more important than ever, They concluded that although there were of the House of Commons are women. and the UK has a duty to defend journalists hundreds of women’s organisations there The 300 Group no longer exists but threatened for doing their job – at home and was no campaign group solely dedicated to its successor is the 50/50 Parliament abroad.” increasing the number of women elected to campaign (see https://5050parliament. Other APPG officers include Sir Roger Parliament on an all-party/no-party basis. co.uk). The archive of the 300 Group is Gale MP, Theo Clark MP, Lord Black of It was decided to launch one and to call it held by the London School of Economics. Brentwood and Lord Foulkes of Cumnock. the All-Party 300 Group because the goal Meanwhile, Lesley Abdela continues her All parliamentary parties are represented in was to get at least 300 women elected to work as a women’s rights campaigner the APPG membership. Parliament – about half of the (then) 635 and journalist, for which she has been Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has MPs. The group’s slogan was “A Woman’s recognised as a the Fellow of the CIoJ. She welcomed Damian Collins’ election as chair Place is in the House.” has worked for women’s representation in of the APPG, its Director of International The 300 Group launch took place over 40 countries, in particular the states Campaigns Rebecca Vincent telling The on November 25, 1980, in the Grand of the former Soviet Union and conflict Journal: “There has never been a more Committee Room of the House of countries such as Kosovo, Sierra Leone, urgent need for strong parliamentary Commons. Parliament’s largest committee Iraq, Afghanistan, Nepal and Indonesia. leadership to address the deteriorating room was packed to overflowing with References to her journalism can be found global climate for media freedom, including members of the public and politicians at https://www.theguardian.com/profile/ some very worrying trends here in the UK.” of all parties. Through Lesley Abdela’s leslieabdela and other online sites such RSF worked closely with Whittingdale to experience as a Parliamentary researcher as https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/ launch the APPG and continues to provide and Parliamentary candidate, over the author/lesley-abdela/ the all-party group’s secretariat.

(See pages 8 to 9 for the text of the Institute welcomes Lords’ report CIoJ’s main submission) he CIoJ has welcomed the online digital giants in advertising and access to live-streaming mirror the Trecommendations of the report digital commerce is corrected.” Institute’s Open Justice proposals of two ‘Breaking News? The Future of UK He highlighted the committee’s recognition years ago. Journalism’ from the House of Lords of “the fundamental role that journalism Professor Crook said the Institute had Committee on Communications and should play in a healthy democracy” been “delighted to submit a portfolio Digital, in particular the proposal for a and said the committee’s proposals on of entrepreneurial measures to revive Digital Markets Unit and the Online Harms promoting media literacy, countering the the professional infrastructure of UK Bill including a mandatory bargaining ‘fake news’ phenomenon, and improving journalism at local, regional and national code to ensure that publishers are fairly the job prospects of those from traditionally level and will continue to persuade compensated for online platforms’ use of underrepresented backgrounds “are Parliament and Government to support and their content. excellent and constructive.” adopt our plans.” CIoJ President Professor Tim Crook said: The Institute also backs the Lords’ The Institute’s submissions were “Parliament has recognised our profession proposals for improving contracts for and published in the House of Lords’ Report at: and industry faces an urgent existential treatment of freelance journalists. The https://committees.parliament.uk/ threat through catastrophic decline in committee’s recommendations for the use writtenevidence/11925/html/ newspaper circulation, jobs and titles and of audio recordings of court proceedings https://committees.parliament.uk/ it is time the unfair dominance of global in media reports and expanding journalism writtenevidence/2449/html/

5 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition The importance of evidence Where charity begins By Richard Dove By Janice Shillum Bhend report from the Parliamentary Public has dulled the promise but the promise, or s of September 2020, the Charity AAccounts Committee has drawn up at least the manifesto statement, remains. ACommission for England and immigration policies based on “anecdote, Where is the evidence that more hospitals Wales now recognises public interest assumption and prejudice” instead of will solve the problem? We have learnt that journalism as a charitable purpose. This relying on evidence. The report concludes in these times of Covid-19, old certainties is a positive step which has been warmly that the Home Office had “no idea” what such as the requirement for a third runway welcomed by the Chartered Institute of its £400 million annual spending on at Heathrow are no longer relevant. Journalists. immigration enforcement achieves. Science-based evidence will inform us The Charity Commission was A year or so ago I decided to broaden to switch our priorities, but politics has relaunched in 2018 with a new my reading and started buying the New no such transformational dynamic. The purpose and strategic direction. It Scientist every week. Science, I figured Labour Party pledged in its manifesto to is an independent, non-ministerial before the emergence of Covid-19, could spend £26 billion on the NHS by 2024 with government department accountable perhaps deliver more than politics as it a plan to raise the annual budget of the to Parliament and responsible for was based, for heaven’s sake, on evidence. Department of Health by £40 billion over maintaining an up to date register of I recalled C.P. Snow’s ‘Two Cultures’ five years. Where is the evidence that this charities, including making decisions lecture, drawing lasting attention to the would make a difference given present on whether the 168,000 organisations split between sciences and the humanities, appalling circumstances? currently on the register are indeed and his description of this split being a It is worth asking if evidence-based charitable. Over the last year around major hindrance to solving the world’s politics can make a difference. There 8,000 have been removed for various problems. has never been a better time for science reasons and more than 6,000 added. In my career as a journalist I have sat to influence politics but in a steady, Due to the Pandemic, the Commission around many editorial tables at the BBC logical way not a bumptious excuse for broadcast its first ever online annual and elsewhere where the editors with a ‘Moonshot’ Covid testing programme. public meeting on its YouTube channel firsts in Classics or some such would have Test-and-trace guru Baroness Dido in October, although its Chair, Baroness very clearly been happier obfuscating Harding told a select committee of MPs Tina Stowell, pointed out that she would on the scandals of ancient Greece than that the modeling she relied on had have much preferred a ‘face to face’ immunology or climate change. Arts not predicted the sharp rise in demand meeting like those usually held in one of degrees still dominate amongst editors for testing once the schools returned. their four bases, in Liverpool, London, and presenters. Jon Snow read Law. Tom Modeling is not static; it responds to daily, Newport and Taunton. Bradby studied History. Huw Edwards hourly inputs of data and conclusions Around 5,000 interested people is a scholar of medieval French. Mishal can change. The Baroness studied PPE registered to join the meeting online Husain read Law, and Emma Barnett read alongside David Cameron at Oxford and will have discovered, as I did, that History and Politics. I could go on. University. the Commission has made impressive The predominance of arts degrees still The Prime Minister’s former chief adviser progress during the first year of its five- permeates the media, the civil service, Dominic Cummings (first in Ancient year plan. “Charities must understand politics, public relations and lobbying. and Modern History) clearly embraces they do not have a right to public Professor Brian Cox in a lecture on the what science can offer, particularly support but a responsibility for greater value of science pointed out that science is data analysis. He has said he wants to transparency and accountability,” she a very humble pursuit: “As a professional promulgate radical new ways of thinking, told us, “we now have more information scientist you are usually wrong and you a new approach to politics. For him, data on our register than ever, people need to try things out and you change your view accumulation can provide evidence. It believe the motives of a charity are truly immediately when some new evidence can provide clear, unambiguous answers what is stated. The prefect example is comes in that contradicts your view.” to problems. Unfortunately, science the Captain Tom Foundation which we and evidence-gathering can be a slow, registered recently.” Troubled world arduous business, but if you are patient, Chief Executive Dr Helen Stephenson Could this scientific approach help it can provide irrefutable answers. It can went on to give us some facts and figures: in analysing our troubled world and provide, at its own pace and unhurried “There are 900,000 staff in the charity informing our politics? Politicians have by presidential elections or the dogmatic sector, that’s three per cent of the UK learnt to state that “we are following whims of autocrats or radical ideologues, a work force, and 9.3million volunteers,” the science.” But science is not a linear vaccine that will work without side effects. she pointed out. “Our principal ambitions path to problem solving. It is messy and In time, scientists can provide a testing are that people use the register to make unpredictable. This does not work in the and tracing system that works for all, informed choices about the charities they fractious world of politics where certainty wherever they live, without the hectoring support and to make it easier to set up is both required and, in many cases, and false promises of ill-informed a charity or become a trustee. We have fictitious. politicians. Let scientists lead the daily dealt with 8,329 applications in the past Political parties are driven by ideology. briefings with the politicians seated in the year, reducing queued case work by 80 To support a political party you embrace front row taking notes. Downing Street per cent.” a set of values and convince others in your is looking for a spokesperson – let’s get So that explains why the CIoJ’s quest for power. You find the evidence Professor Cox in and let him explain the application to merge our charities into to support your values and discard difficulties, not the empty promises. Let a new Welfare Fund was approved so uncomfortable facts. The Conservative him and other scientists gather the evidence much more quickly than expected… Party manifesto, to take one of many recent and devise action plans. Evidence-based Enlightening. examples, promises to solve the crisis in the politics might just catch on and make the Janice Shillum Bhend is the Immediate NHS by building 40 new hospitals. Where difference we all hope for. It is not as if we Past President of the Chartered Institute did that number come from? Coronavirus are getting things right now. of Journalists

6 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Scholarships for ‘Lockdown’ is Collins international Dictionary word of the year writers ockdown’ has been declared he University of East Anglia ‘Lthe word of the year for T(UEA) has introduced two new 2020 by Collins Dictionary, after a fully-funded annual scholarships for sharp rise in its usage during the its prestigious Creative Writing MA pandemic. “It encapsulates the programme. shared experience of billions of The Sonny Mehta India Scholarship people,” a spokesperson for Collins and The Sonny Mehta Scholarship for told The Journal. Writers will be available for students Lexicographers registered more from India, the Indian sub-continent, than 250,000 usages of the word North Africa and the Middle East, during 2020, up from just 4,000 as well as those who self-identify as last year. Other pandemic-linked Roma. Both scholarships will cover terms on the 10-strong list include a host who broadcasts videos of themselves tuition fees and living costs, as well as a ‘furlough’, ‘key worker’, ‘self-isolate’ and eating large quantities of food. grant to support the costs of relocating ‘social distancing’, as well as ‘coronavirus’. Helen Newstead, language content to the UK for the course. According to the dictionary, lockdown consultant at Collins, said: “Language is The scholarships have been endowed is defined as “the imposition of stringent a reflection of the world around us and by Gita Mehta, who wanted to restrictions on travel, social interaction, 2020 has been dominated by the global establish the scholarships in memory and access to public spaces.” It came into pandemic. Lockdown has affected the of her husband Sonny Mehta, editor- common parlance as governments around way we work, study, shop, and socialize. in-chief of US publishing house Alfred the world responded to the spread of With many countries entering a second A. Knopf and chairman of the Knopf Covid-19 in early 2020 by placing strict lockdown, it is not a word of the year to Doubleday Group. Mehta died in measure to stop transmission of the virus. celebrate but it is, perhaps, one that sums December 2019 and over the course Non-virus related words to make up the year for most of the world.” of his career published some of the the list reflect the social and political most successful and influential authors upheavals of 2020. Following the death Previous Collins words of the year of all time, including eight literature of the unarmed black man George Floyd 2019: Climate strike and one economics Nobel laureates. in the US the abbreviation ‘BLM’, for the 2018: Single-use From Toni Morrison to John Le Carré Black Lives Matter movement, features 2017: Fake news and UEA graduate Sir Kazuo Ishiguro having registered a 581% increase in usage, 2016: Brexit OBE, Mr Mehta’s portfolio was broad according to Collins. 2015: Binge-watch and diverse, including popular titles ‘Megxit’, the term modelled on the word 2014: Photobomb such as Jurassic Park and The Girl with Brexit which was used for the withdrawal 2013: Geek the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, as well as of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Germaine Greer’s The Female Eunuch royal duties. also makes the list. Social The Oxford English Dictionary also and memoirs by former Presidents media also plays its part with “TikToker”, choose their own word of the year, opting George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. describing someone who shares content on for ‘climate emergency’ in 2019, ‘toxic’ in UEA’s Vice Chancellor, Prof David platform TikTok and “mukbang” - a term 2018, ‘youthquake’ in 2017 and ‘post-truth’ Richardson, said: “This is a wonderful originating in South Korea which describes in 2016. contribution to UEA’s Creative Writing programme and we are immensely grateful to Gita Mehta for making this Independent newspaper rebrands possible. Sonny Mehta was the most influential editor and publisher of his Cheshire-based independent, monthly, The Cheshire Times continues to be generation. His wisdom and range Atabloid newspaper has rebranded to published and run by North West News transformed the literary landscape. At reflect its increasing profile and presence Limited and owner and editor, Brigid UEA we will continue to champion across the county. Hardman, who said: “We now intend that call for excellence and inclusivity, South Warrington News, which began in to take our message forward, with our and enable more brilliant voices to be 1993, is now known as The Cheshire Times, sole aim being to promote the people, heard.” simply to provide a stronger identity and trade, businesses, services, education, Among Mehta’s published authors wider awareness of the organisations and communities are also a number of alumni from news and the qualities of of the areas we serve. UEA’s Creative Writing programme, Cheshire. “The new format is already including Ian McEwan and Sir Kazuo The high-response free proving to be a strong vehicle Ishiguro OBE. tabloid has continued to and I am determined to uphold The University has been celebrating expand geographically in its active role in keeping the 50th birthday celebrations of its recent years, bucking the businesses and communities MA Creative Writing programme – trend for local newspapers thriving and interacting.” half a century of nurturing talented across the UK and has The newspaper’s fully- new writers. gradually established interactive online version can be The programme was the first course itself as an important accessed, along with previous of its kind in the UK and has produced independent press editions of South Warrington more published and prize-winning presence across the county News, at www.cheshiretimes. authors than any other. of Cheshire. com

7 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Reviving local journalism Submission from the digital turnover taxation. The proposal for a digital million income every year. Chartered Institute of sales tax is currently set at 2%. Are there other 4.Educational provision of printed newspapers. Journalists to the House ways of re-distributing the concentration and shift Every state and private school, further education college of advertising income from print media to digital and university in the UK should be engaged with a of Lords Committee on oligopolies? statutory duty to buy/acquire and make available to Communications and 1.Journalism Forward Investment Relief. Legislation teachers and students a selection of 5 printed national that offers additional entrepreneurial tax relief on newspapers (and associated magazines), one regional Digital (September 2020) profits for investment in local, regional and national newspaper and one weekly newspaper for the five newspapers and printed magazine publications. working days of each week. With an average weekly Entrepreneurial incentives It is a given that the profits for any corporation and budget for each school /college, and university of £50, and ideas to revive the UK business can be offset through business acquisition this has the potential for raising £2,600 expenditure and investment in expanding operations. The each year on newspapers for each educational body. local, regional and national Institute proposes a new kind of forward investment It is envisaged that the educational printed newspaper journalism infrastructure. relief tailored and targeted for local, regional and provision would apply to Primary, Secondary, national journalism. This operates on the basis of a Preparatory, and Public schools, Further Education he Chartered Institute of Journalists double benefit. For any investment up to a maximum Colleges, Sixth Form colleges and Universities. This (CIoJ) believes conflict of interests shareholding of 49% in any local/micro, regional and should guarantee and generate revenue from 29,000 Tand the problem of compromising national news publisher that distributes by print schools, around 290 Further Education Colleges, and independence and constitutional distance and online, the investor is entitled to an additional 130 Universities in the UK. The potential revenue from executive and legislature means that equivalent tax relief in relation to tax on the income incentive here for printed newspaper sales would be it would be best to avoid direct government from the investment. Consequently, were Facebook to £76.4 million in any one year. and state subsidy. invest £20 million in a regional newspaper publication The purpose of the educational printed newspaper The Institute recommends large-scale and as capital, they would be further entitled to future provision is to provide the daily texts of everyday imaginative measures of indirect support that tax relief on up to £20 million in profit earned from journalism and acquaint and equip educators and incentivise the business of journalism, engage a mutual that investment. The Institute believes Journalism students with the printed output of professional synergy between digital and print publication and Forward Investment Relief would be an opportunity journalism. This is the material publication of consumption, and enhance education and enthusiasm and positive incentive for the main digital revenue democratic reporting and debate that represents the for journalism reading. Such measures should avoid oligopolies such as Google, Facebook and Amazon, first draft of the history of their time. It is the daily limiting or damaging the attraction of investment from as well as national newspaper corporations such and weekly record of news and current affairs and overseas and expansion of the UK digital economy. as Associated Newspapers, Guardian Media Trust, the key tools by which education at all levels can There should be recognition that the UK digital News UK, Reach, and current FT owner Nikkei Inc. widen and enlighten the new generations of readers sphere or cyberspace is sovereign geographical and, The global digital oligopolies, Google, Facebook into quotidian literacy. Reading the journalism of indeed, geo-digital territory and the Westminster and Amazon would benefit from developing their time is the ideal introduction and participation Parliament is entitled to legislate for licensing, communications journalism commerce in a medium in democratic polity and critical politics. These are taxation, and regulation of the use of this dimension of that interpenetrates their out-facing public and the essential tools to advance the role and importance national infrastructure. social platforms. The national journalism media of education in an individual’s responsibility to civic Hence, while the investment and entrepreneurial corporations would benefit expanding their talent and duty and understanding. achievements of US corporations such as Facebook, news gathering infrastructure with local and regional 5.Copyright licencing distribution from online Google, and Amazon have substantially contributed trajectories. This should also be an entrepreneurial digital sales revenue. The Institute believes the to the development of commerce in UK national incentivising measure that could be a boon to the necessary equalising adjustment on digital advertising cyberspace, these opportunities and their exploitation specialist magazine sector. This is a significant part can be ethically and properly achieved through should be equated with the use of land, mineral of the journalism industry and has been similarly distribution to news publishers by an organisation or fossil fuel resources. They are not there to be struggling with the loss of advertising to digital such as the Authors’ Licensing and Collecting Society plundered as though a free bounty; particularly if oligopolies and the pressures on the social ritual of known as ALCS. We would recommend the legislating commercial exploitation has a substantially negative printed magazine reading. for the Journalism Publication Levy. It needs to be impact on industries in the traditional dimensions of 2. Change of property notification in weekly news recognised as a remedy through copyright culture the national economy. publishers. Any completed property transaction and intellectual property rights. Google, Facebook and The digital information age has had a substantial in the UK should require a statutory notice in the Amazon and any other significant commercial digital impact on the economies of scale of print publication geographically relevant local weekly news publication platform corporation that hosts, and indeed publishes, commerce. The Institute believes a harmonious in print form (and additionally online when that the processing and commerce in information balance of opportunities, licencing and taxation publication has an online platform) with a levy to the originated by others and printed publication, and can be reached that reverses the problem of jobs publisher each time of £100. With an average of 100,000 earns advertising sales revenue through its online lost, titles closed and dimunition of professional property sales each month this should generate £120 operation should be obliged to pay a copyright journalistic culture in many parts of the UK through million of advertising revenue for the weekly local licencing levy of 2% on all advertising revenues. The the near-monopolising of online advertising and the newspaper industry. levy would be collected and distributed by ALCS. detrimental effects of digital oligopoly corporations 3.Planning application notification in either local The distribution of the Journalism Publication creatively orchestrating off-shore and tax reduction weekly or regional printed newspaper. Any planning Levy would operate proportionately in relation schemes through transnational trading. application and/or decision in the UK has to be to agreed Parliamentary and DCMS departmental The Institute believes that well-intentioned ‘trophy’ published with the cost being borne by applicant on policy purposed around the public interest of Continued on page 8 and philanthropic grant schemes to support and application and local authority on decision. Payment sustaining viable and stable local, regional and develop a vague notion of ‘public interest’ journalism for the notice limited at £100 for each transaction. national journalism. Since there is a recognised need are not enough. At the same time overseas investment There are about half a million planning applications in at the moment for the resuscitation of the weekly and in jobs and commerce in the UK digital economy the UK every year and this indirect income incentive regional journalism industry, it is envisaged that in should not be driven away by excessively punitive has the potential of raising between £50 and £100 Continued on page 9 8 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition

Continued from 8

its early years ALCS would distribute a significant Institute believes reviving the local and regional campaigns for appreciation and promotion of the proportion of the levy to local weekly and regional journalism industry needs to take into account printed journalism form and is fundamentally news publications. the decline in local radio journalism caused by the opposed to the idea that digital media is and should The proportions of distribution would ordinarily agglomeration of UK independent radio broadcasting be developed to replace some kind of ‘dinosaur,’ reflect the recognised printed circulations, digital into national branded networks of stations. Ofcom has ‘anachronistic’ or ‘redundant’ medium. It remains the subscriber numbers and ALCS should certainly relaxed obligations to run local newsrooms in towns most viable model for most newspaper publishers. be prepared to take into account those publishers and cities and breakfast programme production and The Times, Financial Times, Telegraph, Economist and building ‘membership’ and ‘registration’ dimensions presentation generic to the local areas for stations Spectator have successfully demonstrated that both of readership/audience. How could the levy operate when first licenced as ‘independent local radio’. We forms can symbiotically work together in profit led in practice? suspect that DCMS and Ofcom may be relying on publication economies of scale. E-Marketer estimated that Google received ad the community radio sector to make up the shortfall. Britain’s most successful periodical is the fortnightly revenue in 2019 of £5.7 billion with Facebook turning Certainly, a key problem has arisen over the last ten Private Eye magazine with ABC rated circulation of over £3.6 billion. If these two corporations were subject to fifteen years where Ofcom licensing of community 233,565 sales and bulk distribution of 2,295 copies. to the 2% copyright Journalism Publication Levy radio stations has undermined the stability and This endurance of success in the printed form has on these figures, ALCS would have £186 million to sustainability of established local and regional radio not depended on any significant online subscription distribute to UK journalism publishers. If in the early services. operation or indeed substantial free access promotional years of the scheme, 50% of the levy were allocated The Institute strongly believes that Ofcom should not accompaniment. to local weekly newspaper publications, and 25% have been operating a licence expansion policy where The e-book has not replaced the printed book and to Regional newspaper publications the respective previously established local radio services found there is no reason why new generations of journalism annual income of £93 million and £46.5 million is likely themselves undermined and in competition with new consumers should lose out on the wholly different to be a substantial and energising boost to the industry community radio stations operating in a not-for-profit cultural and social resonance of buying and reading and enable publishers to substantially invest in more sector but competing and in some cases undermining the printed daily newspaper, periodical or magazine. journalists, coverage and operations. For example, all the local advertising and sponsorship market for non- It is also very important to appreciate that any weekly newspapers would be able to employ a podcast community radio stations. crisis in printed journalism industry is an additional specialist journalist who would be able to produce and Local and regional journalism needs viable and crisis for the printing and newsagent trades. Thriving make available a sound podcast form of the paper’s successful business models and by its very nature printed journalism media ripples out to significant weekly edition. All of the measures (1-5) would make should thrive, like any other business on competition. employment and profit led commerce in associated the news publication industry so much more attractive 30 to 40 years ago local and regional journalism industries. and exciting for investors. would be competition between local and regional 9. Indirect measures to encourage and foster It has been reported that Amazon enjoyed £13.73 newspapers, independent local radio, BBC local radio independence and impartiality in journalism. The billion in sales in the UK in 2019. The extraordinary and regional television news gathering by BBC TV Institute pioneered campaigning against the use growth and market dominance of this US corporation region and ITV local franchise. of local authority funding to publish propagandist on all aspects of traditional publishing and retail There is certainly an argument for more strategic and ‘Pravda’ newspapers that purported to be equivalent commerce has seen a fundamental shift in the concept coherent regulation by Ofcom and DCMS policy in local newspapers, but in fact siphoned off public of profit and gain in the overall economy. There have respect of independent local radio licencing. For many council notice advertising and became nothing more been proposals that the growing power of Amazon as decades radio journalism in the USA was a thriving than a public relations operation. These substantially an oligopoly and its distortion of economic activity dimension of the journalism economy because the damaged the local newspaper industry where they could be addressed through an online sales tax of 2% Federal Communications Commission required that were published and discredited the civic and public for all goods bought online. any radio station given a licence for broadcasting had integrity of the councils which set them up and Given the substantial impact that Amazon’s growth to employ at least one professional radio journalist to promoted them. In recent years central government has had on publishing, the Institute believes there is provide a radio news service. It was significant that has sought to end the practice and we urge Parliament an argument for Amazon to be subject to the proposed any US radio market at town and city level could and central government to continue their vigilance Journalism Publication Levy for collection by ALCS. sustain this regulatory requirement. The market and in enforcing the ending of local authority ‘Pravda’ Again, this would reward copyright and intellectual regulatory situation did in fact change during the latter publications. property culture. part of the 20th century and the situation in UK local Local and regional newspaper journalism depends The direction of benefit should be based on the and regional broadcasting is different, and in many on impartiality and trust from all parts of the notion of authors’ rights where non-fiction writer and ways, equally complex. community. Journalism which divides audiences on novelist, and journalist via newspaper and magazine The media privileges and commercial opportunities the basis of political bias and propagandising degrades publication. If this were 1% of UK turnover, £137.3 engaged with radio station licencing should the market in a liberal capitalist society. Ofcom is a million pounds in funds could be distributed by encompass public interest and public service statutory regulator which ensures adherence on the ALCS in proportions that recognised that Amazon responsibilities to the journalism industry. We believe part of licenced radio and television broadcasters to sales benefit book publishers and authors more than an Ofcom regulatory requirement for one, or even two respect due accuracy and impartiality. These concepts, journalism publications. For example, 50% distribution professional journalists employed for any independent in particular separating news coverage from editorial to authors, 25% distribution to book publishers and and community radio station licence in the UK along comment and ensuring accuracy, are the bedrock of 25% distribution to journalism publishers could with the operation of specific local radio newsrooms voluntary regulation of the newspaper industry (and generate annual returns of £68.65 million to authors, would help bring about a return to ‘localism’ and its online dimensions) by IPSO and the very small £34.325 million to book publishers and £34.325 million local civic media identity in multimedia journalism sector of journalism publishers regulated by IMPRESS. to local, weekly and national newspaper and magazine publication. Essentially the nature and conditions of the market in publishers. The Institute believes Ofcom regulation and the local and regional newspaper industry determine 6. Zero VAT rating for digital sales. The Institute DCMS policy should move away from tolerating that successful publication depends on aspiration for would certainly recommend continuing the waiving and endorsing rationalised news hubs in large radio accuracy and impartiality in journalism coverage. of VAT on digital sales and revenue for newspaper, groups owning multiple stations producing bulletins Diversity of representation and making sure that is magazine and news journalism publishers and so distant from the actual locality of transmission and reflected in content is a key part of the impartiality additionally the book trade. This would be a positive reception, or in the case of community radio, there dynamic. The Institute strongly believes economic incentivising of commerce and business in the digital being no regulatory requirement at all to provide a viability and success of local and regional journalism economy and should substantially benefit large online professional radio news service. can be the driving imperative in ensuring that ethnic businesses such as Amazon. 8. Recognising the importance of the printed communities achieve equality and participation in 7. Improving the ‘news journalism ecology’. The product in journalism. The Institute continually professional journalism.

9 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition A walk across Doha Election law By Richard Dove Cup. I joined two Bangladeshi construction ‘not fit for fter a day of meetings with workers in a dash across the highway. They old colleagues at Al Jazeera’s shouted “No car, no car” as they did so. Aheadquarters in Doha, I decided “Qatar Deserves the Best” proclaimed an purpose’ that a walk across town would reacquaint official slogan, which appeared multiple cademics and campaigners have me with this ever-changing city. I had no times on hoardings. Construction of the Awarned that the Government’s map, just a few landmarks. metro was already costing around £30 proposals to modernise electoral law The first challenge was getting across a billion and when completed it will have “only scratch the surface” of what is frenetic highway. I waited for the red man the fastest driverless trains anywhere, I was needed to protect democracy online. to turn green. And so did five lanes of traffic. told. I scrambled over a series of barriers The call for a toughening up of Their lights changed but mine didn’t. Being and suddenly, in front of me, there was an new laws follows the publication a pedestrian in this city is not for the faint- all-glass palace. It was a metro station and of a new report, ‘Democracy in the hearted. There was clearly an informal race – surprise, surprise – it was open. Here was Dark’, published by the Electoral going on amongst the front five. The man a vast edifice, with a curved roof and acres Reform Society which revealed a in the shiny £200,000 McClaren looked of marble and gleaming escalators. There major rise in online spending during casually confident. The lights changed and were more people in smart beige uniforms the 2019 general election – with little the McClaren was beaten by an average- on duty than there were passengers. Their transparency over how it was used. looking 4x4 and … all the others. He stalled smiles were mildly disconcerting. Yas, from The report’s author Dr Sam Power, his high-performance silver machine. He’d India, introduced himself and guided me of the University of Sussex, said: probably just bought it. Thanks to abundant through buying a ticket. A single journey “Campaigning online allows people natural gas, Qatar, with a population under cost two riyals – about 40 pence. I was and parties to engage with politics in three million is the richest country in the guided into a brightly-lit executive waiting a new way that is both exciting and world per head of population. Of the three room. What did I think of the metro? How necessary, but our legislation should million, 92 per cent are imported workers. was my ‘customer experience?’ reflect these trends – and our report There are only around 330,000 native Some stations on the Red Line were open. shows that as it currently stands Qataris. So, I rode one stop in a pristine train with electoral law is not fit for purpose. We I continued across a garage forecourt about 30 other passengers. One man came are also clear that the Government’s and noticed petrol was just over 40 pence up to me and said “World Cup good”, giving proposals represent only a first step a litre, so filling your thirsty 4x4 would be me a thumbs-up as he did so. Altogether, on the road to creating campaigning pretty light on the wallet compared to the seven stadia are being built in Doha, costing platforms that engender confidence UK. Over the road, there was a building many more billions. The designs were in electoral processes. Whilst taking the image of Marineville in the 1960s TV stunning, as will be the bills for their air- this first step is laudable, we hope our series ‘Stingray’. Perhaps, like Marineville, conditioning in the 40-degree heat. The Al report encourages the Conservatives to it might even disappear underground when Thumama stadium is shaped like a gahfiya, think considerably bigger, to truly enact under attack? And Qatar is, in fact, under a traditional cap worn by Arab men. The a raft of ‘world-leading measures’.” threat due to a continuing blockade led by Al Khor stadium is inspired by the inside Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of Saudi Arabia. The border between the two of a Bedouin tent. The Al Wakrah stadium the Electoral Reform Society added: countries remains closed. The Saudis have resembles the hulls of traditional dhow “Openness and transparency are vital enlisted the support of neighbours Dubai, pearl fishing boats. if the public are to have faith in politics Bahrain and Egypt. They accuse the Qataris I alighted at the Al Corniche stop and a and the digital campaigns it produces. of supporting terrorism and getting too close man in a beige suit approached me and asks But, as has been shown, nearly a year to their enemy, Iran. The Saudis have even if I had enjoyed my journey. His name was after the election, voters remain in the threatened to turn the Qatar peninsular into Solomon, from the Philippines, and he was dark about who targets them online. an island by building a canal along the 41- the Station Team Leader. “We are training The Government is right in its move mile border. everyday for the football. I like Raheem towards digital imprints, to show After taking a quick photo of the building, Sterling.” who is behind the ads we see. But, I realised I had made a terrible mistake. There were multiple moving walkways make no mistake, these reforms must CCTV was everywhere. A security guard taking me to escalators and lifts. When I go beyond imprints if we’re to see the was soon chasing after me. I wasn’t sure they emerged, I realised I was nowhere near my changes needed to shine a light on knew Stingray in Qatar and didn’t fancy a hotel. There was a sign in front of me asking the unregulated ‘Wild West’ of online few hours of interrogation trying to explain. cyclists to dismount. I had not seen a single ads. If the Government fails to tackle But I showed him the photo and said lamely cyclist. A red Ferrari and a two-tone Rolls this issue head on, they will fail in that I had “liked the look of the building”. I Royce roared away from the lights. Qatar their bid to safeguard our democracy, deleted it and he seemed satisfied. By now, Deserves the Best, as the slogan said – and it leaving dodgy donors, dark ads and however, more guards had arrived. Had can, quite clearly, afford it. I gave up on my disinformation to reign free in our they ever seen Stingray? I decide not to ask, trek and hailed a taxi. politics.” and they shooed me on my way.

Driverless trains The pavement by the Ministry – built E-mail address on a slope to discourage pedestrians – disappeared and I was clambering across a If you are not receiving regular messages from us via e-mail sprawling building site. A new metro station it is likely we do not have your up-to-date details. Don’t miss was under construction, according to the out. Update your details today - [email protected] . sign. Three new lines would soon link the new stadia being built for the 2022 World

10 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Continued from 11 Covid-19 support and guidance

wanted to write to you as the Institute’s in charitable funds have dispensed a new President this year to thank you significant amount of grants in recent years Ifor all your past support and ask you to - particularly this year as many members continue subscribing to the Institute. This is have been in difficulties through loss of the surest and most effective way of securing work and having to adapt to lockdown the kind of professional commitment conditions. that supports ethical and independent As a member you have our professional journalism and ensures protection for your solidarity, the 24-hour legal advice and professional interests. counselling helpline, and the reassurance Every week we are at the cutting edge we will be by your side through in championing a free press and media, employment disputes. supporting the constitutional role of The Institute is also a trade union, but it is journalism in underpinning democracy, distinctly impartial and non-party political campaigning to protect our industry in its policy so as to embrace and ensure value and a vital part of being able to and profession from multiple threats, inclusivity to professional journalists of continue funding and maintaining our and promoting the highest professional all persuasions. Other benefits include service to you. The rate for trainee members standards. a UK National Press card, International for the first two years of their careers at Our research and innovative thinking Press card, receiving the Institute’s Journal £8.25 per month is such an encouraging and has been advising Parliament to take on magazine, advice guides for freelances, supportive introduction to our profession. proposals that can economically revive the and the use of the post-nominal MCIJ. Thank you so much for your continuing UK’s journalism infrastructure and reverse We are planning to introduce continuing support and helping us to strengthen declining local, regional and national professional development (CPD) courses and maintain the interests of high quality newspaper circulation, closure of titles and for which full members will be entitled to professional journalism and the role we loss of jobs. participate. The first online course will be a have in furthering democracy, freedom and We are advocating five cases in the refresher in professional media law. liberty. Freedom of Information Tribunal system It is my sincere belief that at £16.50 per Sincerely and respectfully, to make the change decided in 2016 by month for full members, this is tremendous Tim Crook, President Strasbourg in European Court of Human Rights law on the Article 10 right to government information be fully applicable to journalists in the UK. We are holding Parliament’s watchdog Key Worker status to account on the operation of the 2016 ‘Snoopers’ Charter’ Investigatory Powers We were first off the mark with questions about the Act to ensure professional journalists’ Government’s definition of Key Workers which they initially communications data is not misused and restricted to journalists working as public service broadcasters. journalists’ sources are protected. We are at Obviously journalists in all areas of the industry and all the forefront of campaigning against local authorities that misuse election purdah platforms have been conscientiously reporting the coronavirus guidelines to exclude the media and public crisis. from meetings and produce ‘Pravda’ spin- doctoring of controversial decisions and The CIoJ believes that a professional journalist qualifies as a Key discussions held behind closed doors. Worker if they are on assignment covering the emergency for Welfare fund a news publisher. The possession of our National Press Card We are maintaining a unique package and/or a letter of commission by the news publisher should be of benefits to our members that includes sufficient confirmation to any police officer seeking to enforce a welfare ‘safety net’ of income support when times are particularly tough such as stay at home requirements. in the present pandemic. Over £3.5 million We have been pleased to see that our requests have been listened to and the government advice on this has now changed.

By behaving responsibly as a profession, it will aid our work representing your needs to government.

However, please be aware of the urgent safety obligations that employers need to provide to you if you are commissioned to work outside the home. The Committee to Protect Journalists has made available and updated a very useful guide at: https:// cpj.org/2020/02/cpj-safety-advisory-covering-the-coronavirus- outbr.php

11 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition

FINANCIAL SUPPORT How we are helping journalists in the pandemic If you are a member of the CIoJ, the Institute’s Benevolent Fund is here to help The Chartered Institute of Journalists has collated a number of different pieces you. We have nurtured our charities so of advice and is passing them on to support our members, and journalists in that we can provide real help to members general. We are all in this together. Together we will get through it. at times like these. If you wish to apply for support just go to www.cioj.org/ Obviously professional journalists working outside home have duties and benevolentfund to download a form. obligations to our fellow citizens and colleagues. OTHER SOURCES OF HELP We should: Journalists may also apply to The Journalists’ Charity for financial assistance • Always keep our two metre distance; or other at this difficult time. • Wherever possible, avoid travelling in vehicle with others; The Journalists’ Charity • If you are working in a clinical setting, and/or in close contact with people The Journalists’ Charity was who may have COVID-19, consider wearing protective gloves and face founded in 1864 as the Newspaper masks. Press Fund by a group of writers • Follow official advice on hand washing – wash hands with soap for more including Charles Dickens to help than 20 seconds and/or use anti-viral hand sanitiser if available.; journalists and their dependants going through tough times. • Broadcasting journalists should equip themselves with booms to ensure More than 150 years later, the charity microphones are more than two metres distant from recording operators remains committed to providing and reporters/presenters. advice and support to individuals • Of course, professional journalists should not be expected to report in any working across the industry, at a time environment likely to have the COVID-19 present without World Health when journalism has arguably never Organization recommended protective clothing and equipment. This been more important to society. would, for example, be a hospital, clinic or location where somebody is As well as offering friendly help and suffering from or has recently died from the disease. guidance to journalists of all ages and backgrounds, the charity provides • For the most up-to-date advice always check, and keep referring to (the confidential advice, emergency advice is regularly updated), official guidance sites such as PHE – https:// support and financial assistance, www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-information-for-the-public – often when there’s nowhere else to and WHO – who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice- turn. for-public . The Journalists’ Charity supports We would also encourage members to undertake reporting from the safety a range of events throughout the of their home by using technology, if they can. For instance, using video year which offer networking and conference calls for interviews, etc. Radio and online journalists can synchronise career development opportunities. interviews if the interviewee is prepared to record digitally on their own And our coveted special awards smartphone and email the recording from their end. recognise individuals who’ve gone above and beyond, demonstrating an outstanding commitment and contribution to journalism. Pension Fund vacancy The charity’s criteria to be eligible The Institute’s Pension Fund is seeking applications from members. for financial help from the Charity is that you must have worked as The Pension Fund delivers a small monthly stipend on a lifetime basis a journalist in the UK or for a UK to a small number of members who are experiencing long-term financial organisation for at least 2 continuous difficulties. years out of the last 5 years or for 7 Any member who is interested should download an application form from years in total (if not current) and the Institute’s website. If you have any questions or want to discuss a journalism was the main source of potential application please contact the Chief Executive. your income during that period. To find out more, go to: www. Deadline for applications is January 31. journalistscharity.org.uk CIoJ Funds in numbers...

129 - years of support £48,000 - total support provided in 2019 16 - people in receipt of support in 2019 £3.8m - the value of Institute charitable funds 15 - families helped in 2019

12 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Sir Harold Evans (1928-2020) OBITUARY hen the Chartered Institute of The BBC’s obituary explained that he had left Journalists awarded Sir Harold school at 16 and wrote applications to every WEvans its Gold Medal, it was newspaper in the Manchester area, finally recognising how five iconic books he had securing a job at the Ashton-under-Lyne written had helped elevate the status of Reporter. It was one of those British weekly journalism from the rather shady trade of Grub newspapers which, to use Evans’s own words, Street to an admirable profession. Newsman’s “bothered with the little things in people’s English, Handling Newspaper Text, News lives, the whist drives and flower shows.” Headlines, Pictures on a Page and Newspaper The BBC reported that Evans’s celebrated Design still constitute the structure of a editorship of the Sunday Times, marked by the syllabus for a degree in practical journalism; herculean and humanitarian campaign for the something a working-class lad who’d entered victims of the drug Thalidomide, ended with the newspaper industry as a teenager and Rupert Murdoch’s acquisition. After moving went onto graduate at Durham University to edit the daily Times he fell out with the would have been proud of. Australian magnate and many years later at Sir Harold Evans at the Strand Bookstore, Reflecting on Evans’ career, Godfrey the 2011 Leveson Inquiry would describe him November 2009, in New York City to discuss Hodgson wrote in the Guardian: “Between as “evil incarnate”. his memoir, ‘My Paper Chase: True Stories of 1972 and 1977, while in the thick of the Michael Leapman in the Independent said Vanished Times,’ by David Shankbone. Creative editorial battle he found the time to produce Sir Harry Evans was the “one of the greatest Commons licence: CC-BY-3.0 one of the few classic books about journalism, newspaper editors of all time.” Leapman five volumes of Editing and Design, of which pointed to the significance of being spotted news story for maximum effect; What is the at least two, Newsman’s English, on writing as a journalist of great promise in 1956 with best way to write intros and to cope with the for newspapers, and Pictures on a Page, on the the award of a Harkness Fellowship which subsequent chronology; How can quotes and choice and use of photographs, are works of allowed him to spend two years in the United opinions be fed into the story without boring rare insight and quality.” States at Stanford and Chicago universities, the reader; and How can news style be varied Hodgson emphasised the significance of studying journalism and foreign affairs. At that to add to a paper’s image? Evans’s first editorship- that of the Northern time British universities had never developed Answer all these questions correctly, and Echo in Darlington, “a job hallowed for him journalism as a serious subject. There had been you would always be destined, with assistance by the fact that one of his predecessors was a two-year diploma run at King’s College, from Sir Harry Evans, for a successful career the great W.T. Stead who went on to be the University of London, but this ended with the in news journalism writing. Pictures On crusading editor of the Edwardian Pall Mall outbreak of the Second World War. A Page showed how photojournalism can Gazette. Evans kept a picture of Stead in his give meaning, colour and even drama to the office.” At least Evans avoided W.T. Stead’s Scholarly apparently mundane. Evans was an expert at experience, going to jail when pushing the The experience in America would bring a showing how cropping can rescue or ruin a boundaries of media freedom in legal jousts. reflective and more scholarly understanding photograph. The award-winning BBC editor and producer of the public interest purpose of journalism as He was also eloquent and thought-provoking Giles Oakley wrote a follow-up letter to the a serious and ethical profession. He believed on the ethics of photographs of violence and Guardian to point out that “The five books a free press could be an important force for sex, and how vulnerable we will always be to on journalistic editing and design by Harold improving society. the manipulation of emotions through visual provided inspiration for a four-part series on His first book on the practice of journalism propaganda, and the contingency of news BBC One entitled ‘Evans on Newspapers’, was written as early as 1961 – The Active photographs presenting events that never produced by Bernard Adams in 1980, assisted Newsroom. Leapman described the 1972 to happened or can so easily turn heroes into by Marion Allinson and me as directors.” 1977 five-part series on editing and design – villains. Oakley remembered: “We were desperately including volumes on headlines, pictures and The irony and extraordinary ambiguity trying to get a script out of him, only for language – as containing many precepts which of covering news events was illustrated so it to arrive via courier, an envelope full of have remained valid in “the subsequent age of poignantly on the back cover of his book with seemingly random scraps of paper with computerised typesetting and page make-up.” the extraordinary analysis: “Why is the girl hastily hand-written text in pencil, with plenty Pictures On A Page: Photo-journalism, Graphics in the centre smiling?” Her fiancé is being of crossings out, side notes and arrows. Of and Picture Editing, the fourth in the series, is given life-saving treatment on a beach, but she course, when deciphered it all made perfect probably the most well-known along with smiled when seeing the press photographer sense.” Newsman’s English: A Guide To Writing Lively, and thinking that she might appear in the This anecdote reveals the irony in how Lucid, and Effective Prose. The latter was later newspapers. an editor who became a legend for his revised by Crawford Gillan in 2000, and re- The Chartered Institute of Journalists instructional authority carried out his work in edited into Essential English for Journalists, has always been enormously proud of its an atmosphere of organised chaos. Editors and Writers. recognition of Sir Harold Evans with the Evans followed in the tradition set up by award of one of its coveted Gold Medals. Unorthodox George Orwell in his famous essay ‘Politics of In the history of British journalism he will He had a notoriously short attention span the English Language.’ They were both aiming be appreciated with the same reverence as and could not sit still for any length of time. In for honesty, clarity and simplicity. one of the founding members of Institute W.T. the middle of a conversation he had a habit of Newsman’s English in 1972 sought to achieve Stead – one of his predecessor editors at the leaving to attend to another demand or task, style and impact in news writing by answering Northern Echo. In addition to avoiding Stead’s always running between departmental heads the questions: What constitutes good copy; fate of being sent to jail for his crusading and and abandoning his office to a lengthening How can you avoid wasteful words and campaigning journalism, Evans also got to queue of people waiting to see him. clichés; How do you rewrite a bad sentence; America in one piece to continue his career Unorthodox and infuriating, but endearingly How do you shorten verbose source material; in publishing and book writing (W.T. Stead eccentric. He inspired loyalty with everyone How much knowledge should be assumed drowned in the Titanic disaster of 1912). he worked with. from the reader; How do you structure a Tim Crook

13 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Sir Samuel Brittan (1933-2020) OBITUARY

conscious of the new threats to freedom the lucrative newspaper industry, which and liberal democracy in addition to the changed fundamentally as a consequence. urgent need for European unification. I found myself as an FT sub-editor involved with Sam when colleagues Persuasive style would ask me at work: “Sholto. What On graduating, Brittan joined the FT the f—k does Brittan mean by saying, but in 1961 moved to become Economics ‘Treasury revenues will be enhanced by Editor of The Observer, which was when fiscal drag?’ ” I had to explain. A week I first got to read his articles and admire later, I was again asked what Brittan meant his very persuasive style. After Harold by “the J-curve effect”? Soon I heard that Wilson’s victory in the 1964 election, he our taciturn yet reliable Night Editor had moved briefly to work for the Department instructed Top Table, “Better give Sam’s of Economic Affairs, leaving just before column in future to Sholto: he seems quite its closure in 1966. But in 1966 Brittan comfortable with the technical terms.” returned to the FT, where he remained for the rest of his career, a respected British Notoriously impractical institution in a country that had gradually His copy was in any case always stagnated, partly due to uncompetitive fastidiously typed and required no practices, an overvalued pound, failure correction or amendment whatsoever. to integrate with Europe and archaic Yet Sam was notoriously impractical in union restrictions. That situation was well everyday matters, which provoked some ir Samuel Brittan, who died parodied at the time in the satirical film, wry comments from a few colleagues. on October 12, aged 86, was a ‘I’m alright Jack.’ Sdistinguished academic economist Few UK industries were so severely and journalist with a liberal outlook, disadvantaged in this country as Samuel Brittan was an who had worked with governments and newspaper production which we for the past five decades had served as journalists all knew only too well. So economic genius, certainly the influential Economics Editor of The Brittan therefore joined a minority of his the most influential Financial Times. FT colleagues in the [non-TUC] Institute commentatorwriting in English He was born in 1933 in north-west of Journalists. By the 1960s, TUC-affiliated London, one of two talented sons of a print unions – and especially the NGA – based on academic knowledge doctor with a Litvak heritage, educated had exerted a grotesque influence over since John Maynard Keynes in at Kilburn Grammar School and the newspaper industry, not excluding the 1930s. subsequently Jesus College Cambridge, journalists, and The Times, by now owned where he studied economics avidly under by Rupert Murdoch, had been forced by Milton Friedman (the US economist a print union strike to cease publication He was always friendly and approachable who discovered monetarism) and Joan for almost a year. That was when the on a personal level while thanking me Robinson, among others, to gain a first- FT carried the brilliant headline: “A la personally for my efforts to secure FT class degree in the 1950s. His younger Recherche du Temps Perdu”, quoting the management recognition of the minority brother, Leon Brittan, who pre-deceased title of Marcel Proust’s famous novel. of journalists who wished to safeguard him, went, by contrast, into Conservative It was time for union power to be their rewards and working conditions Party politics and served Mrs Thatcher as restrained and reflecting this popular without assistance from the politicised Home Secretary in the 1980s. upsurge of sentiment Mrs Thatcher NUJ, some of whom formed our Institute Brittan’s childhood must have been replaced Edward Heath as Conservative of Journalists chapter. overshadowed by the ugly threat of leader and was elected Prime Minister Samuel Brittan was an economic genius, Nazism and Fascism in Europe, and the in 1979. It so happened, however, that certainly the most influential commentator possibility of war that posed, to which writing in English based on academic inter-war British governments responded knowledge since John Maynard Keynes only by lazy tergiversation or cowardly He was a civilized opera- in the 1930s. He was a civilized opera- appeasement of the dictators. He therefore loving gentleman and a loyal friend whose grew up inspired by Churchill and loving gentleman and a loyal distinction was recognised by the Queen determined to change things and repair friend whose distinction was in 1993 when he was knighted for his Britain’s damaged economy, adapting it recognised by the Queen in service to journalism. France also made to the country’s reduced circumstances in him a Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur. a changed post-war world, where it had 1993 when he was knighted for Our last encounter was two years ago ceased to be at the heart of a great empire his service to journalism. when we met at the annual luncheon for and had indeed granted independence to retired FT staff. Sam enquired earnestly the majority of its former colonies. whether I had heard the scurrilous But Brittan had also absorbed Karl the advance of computerised production rumours circulating about his late brother, Popper’s book The Open Society and its rather than political dogma finally brought Leon? Did I believe them? I replied that Enemies and probably also Yaakov Talmon’s the curtain down on the century-old union I had heard these rumours, but had The Origins of Totalitarian Democracy, which domination of newspaper production and dismissed them as unfounded slander. would have alerted him to the threat that its accompanying hot metal technology. Sam said nothing more, but then briefly still hung over democracies and still does. Computer technology finally extended shook my hand in response for one last He was much influenced too by Thomas to the British press in 1986 and thereafter time. Mann’s The Magic Mountain. So he was the old craft unions ceased to dominate William D. Sholto

14 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Sir Peregrine Worsthorne (1923-2020)

raditionalist, High Tory, defender Britain did not “spin OBITUARY of “the English gentleman” and into chaos”. Most Tcampaigner against “barbarism”, Sir controversially, he Peregrine Worsthorne, who died in October, toyed with the idea of aged 96, had a long and distinguished a right-wing military career in journalism, almost entirely with coup and suggested Telegraph Newspapers. that the Army, perhaps A graduate of Peterhouse, Cambridge, aided by American Worsthorne was an officer of the Oxfordshire intervention in the & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry during form of the CIA, might WW2 and served in the Italian campaign be the only way to save as part of a clandestine reconnaissance unit the country if a far-left known as ‘Phantom’. His interest in politics socialist government was formed early on, and he had a natural ever came close to advantage; his stepfather was Sir Montagu winning power. This Norman (Governor of the Bank of England led to Labour MP from 1920 to 1944). Chris Mullin, author Worsthorne’s journalistic career started of A Very British in 1946 with a two-year placement at the Coup, naming the Glasgow Herald, before joining The Times chief conspirator in his two years later as a sub-editor. His big novel ‘Sir Peregrine’. break came when he was sent to the US During Worsthorne’s as the paper’s Washington correspondent, long tenure in charge of and he remained in DC for the next five the Sunday Telegraph Sir Peregrine Worsthorne years, although his strongly conservative comment pages, that politics led him to move from The Times to particular section of the newspaper became the more right-wing Daily Telegraph in 1953. known as the “Worsthorne College” about it. To be ashamed of that side of our At the same time he began contributing to because of the large number of similarly national life is very sad.” the anti-communist magazine Encounter, a right-leaning journalists and commentators In his 2004 book In Defence of Aristocracy, publication covertly funded by the CIA. whose articles appeared there. which followed New Labour’s removal It is interesting that Worsthorne was able of most of the hereditary peers from the to write in 1954 that post-war America House of Lords, Worsthorne wrote of his compared favourably to Britain because Worsthorne’s often-controversial profound regret at the exclusion of the the US, at the time, “put its faith in the columns in the Sunday Telegraph British aristocracy from public life, and intellectual elites” while the UK seemed warned of the damage that would be done dedicated to “the masses”. He was always continued even after he was to constitutional government by cutting the an admirer of the ‘old’ USA, and told sacked as Editor... link between Parliament and traditional an interviewer in 2014 that he had been elites. privileged to meet no fewer than eight US For all his High Toryism, his silk shirts Presidents and former Presidents, from and Garrick Club lunches, Peregrine Herbert Hoover to George H.W. Bush. Trenchant Worsthorne was a newspaperman to his Worsthorne’s often-controversial columns bootstraps, and was perhaps the ultimate Blossoming career in the Sunday Telegraph continued even after Fleet Street columnist. In 1989 he wrote: Worsthorne’s career at Telegraph he was sacked as Editor by the paper’s “The job of journalism is not to be scholarly. Newspapers blossomed during the new Editor-in-Chief Andrew Knight “over following decades – as well as being a lunch at Claridge’s” in 1991. His penned widely-read weekly columnist on the his final column for the Sunday Telegraph in For all his High Toryism, his silk Sunday Telegraph, he was Deputy Editor of 1997, by which time he had been working shirts and Garrick Club lunches, the Sunday from 1961 to 1976, Associate for Telegraph Newspapers for over four Editor 1976-86 and Editor 1986-1991, decades and had survived several changes Peregrine Worsthorne was a ensuring that the paper became the of ownership at the newspaper group. But newspaperman to his bootstraps, foremost publication of High Toryism, in the end his trenchant opinions were and was perhaps the ultimate Fleet combining a nostalgia for the age of Empire probably too much for the new Sunday Street columnist. with strident views on immigration, law & Telegraph Editor, Dominic Lawson, and new order, and, from the late 1980s onwards, proprietor Conrad Black. In all likelihood, opposition to the European Union, it was Worsthorne’s reactionary stance that The most that can be achieved by an describing the assertion that Britain’s entry kept him from the Editorship of the Daily individual newspaper or journalist is the into the Common Market had not involved Telegraph and left him at the weekly title for articulation of an intelligent, well-thought- loss of British sovereignty as “a lie, or at any all those years. out, coherent set of prejudices – i.e. a moral rate, a dishonest obfuscation.” Knighted in 1991 for services to journalism, position.” Hear hear to that! He was not, however, a Thatcherite, Peregrine Worsthorne was always an Sir Peregrine Gerard Worsthorne died on and he eschewed free-market, neoliberal unashamed elitist and reactionary, October 4, 2020. He is survived by his wife ideas entirely. He hoped for a ‘traditional’ lamenting in 2013 that: “The gentleman has Lady Lucinda Worsthorne (nee Lambton), the Conservative government that recognised gone.” He thought that David Cameron celebrated writer, architectural historian, that the “state.. [should] regain control over seemed to fit into the gentlemanly tradition, photographer and broadcaster. ‘the people’, to re-exert its authority” so that “but he’s very embarrassed and awkward Andy Smith

15 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition

OBITUARY Kenneth Joseph Alban Brookes (1928-2020)

enneth Brookes, a Life Fellow and He took on the copyright responsibility for great stalwart of the Chartered the Institute and, by their default, the NUJ KInstitute of Journalists, died suddenly as well in the deliberations of the British on October 11 after being diagnosed with Copyright Council. Copyright is a mind- pancreatic cancer just a week previously. A numbing topic to most yet Ken heroically member of the Institute since the 1960s, he carried on. He faithfully delivered his reports served as President in 1983-4, the Institute’s to Council to subdued groans yet it never centenary year, was for many years Chairman seemed to put him off. The bizarre thing was of the Freelance Division, and was our that, while verbally he could drone on to resident expert in all aspects of copyright law satisfy the ‘British Boring Board of Control’ and intellectual property. Those who knew (as the Daily Telegraph’s ‘Way of the World’ him will not be surprised to hear that he would have put it), when it came to writing he was working right up to the very end, at the was clear, structured and concise. ripe old age of 92 and was full of energy and dedication to the last. Heroic as he had a copy of every show catalogue A Life Fellowship of the Institute was He compiled and wrote two editions of the including the first held in 1946. To mark his bestowed on him in the late 1980s by virtue World Directory and Handbook of Hardmetals 85th birthday, he visited Oshkosh, Wisconsin, of the immense amount of work he had and Hard Materials. He gave me review copies the largest airshow in the world, where already done for the Institute by that stage of both editions. The later one in 1996 was 10,000 aircraft assemble and half a million – and he was to continue working tirelessly A4, hard covers and 792 pages. Yes, it was people visit. He was a prolific photographer. in our interests for more than three decades heavy. As you can imagine these were pretty His library contains about 150,000 original after that! At meetings he was assiduous in comprehensive works. He also wrote some Kodachrome slides pre-digital and uncounted his personal note-taking and observant of other books, I believe, of an engineering thousands now digital. meeting protocols. He travelled extensively flavour. He was well into aviation and boasted He was tolerant and had a good sense of on assignments as well as being a guest that he had attended every SBAC airshow humour – and needed it for the ribbing that he speaker at many engineering and technology- since it started – not at Farnborough which invariably got from his CIoJ colleagues! focused conferences and events. He took on everyone is familiar with but Radlett, then the Ken Brookes is survived by Sandra, his wife the responsibility for organizing several of home of Handley Page (a major manufacturer of more than 50 years, and a son and daughter. the CIoJ’s overseas conferences. I witnessed long since gone). And he could prove it Norman Bartlett on several occasions – typically at the World Travel Market – his quiet yet persistent Ken inspired us all Council meetings at the Reform Club. negotiating skills with hotels and travel agents t shocked us all to hear of Ken’s passing Ken inspired us all not to give up, ever. His to secure low prices, then little extras added Ibecause we believed him to be indestructible. encyclopaedic knowledge of the CIoJ Rule into packages without cost. Whoever heard of a freelance journalist still Book and of copyright matters will be greatly I was in tune with Ken Brookes because, attending international conferences, writing missed, though I should mention here that like him, I have an inclination to read the and earning in his nineties? Well, that was Ken, Council meetings may well be shorter now. small print. Not that I agreed with him all who has departed for his next adventure swiftly I greatly appreciated Ken’s advice and the time. Remember how he campaigned to and working right up until the last, which is experience during my stint as VP then give freelances discounted subscriptions by absolutely what he would have wanted. President, and I know the Institute will miss his submitting their tax returns to demonstrate I have always had great admiration and much input on event photography as well as Council, they couldn’t afford the full fee? Even when respect for Ken’s work ethic, though it must Freelance Division and Pension Fund matters. it was rejected at Conference he brought it up have driven his lovely, hospitable wife Sandra A journalist to his fingertips, we won’t forget again two years later. “Like Frankenstein,” I mad at times. The way he never gave in to the him, indeed I suspect that “What would Ken said at the time, “but rising from the grave in disabilities of old age, his deteriorating sight for say?” could become our mantra at all future East Barnet rather than Transylvania.” Yet we instance, always worried me a bit when he set meetings. stayed amicable colleagues. off stalwartly homewards via two trains, after Janice Shillum Bhend

ust when I thought this year couldn’t Both were a bedrock of advice and direction Although very different men, they were Jget much worse the Institute lost two through various trials and tribulations over similar in that they never needed, or desired, stalwarts within weeks of each other. It the years, and were always ready to step plaudits for the work they did on behalf of is no exaggeration to say that the impact forward with crucial support when needed the CIoJ. Their commitment was equal in will massive for the Institute, and me most. Members will remember Norman, measure, and neither put himself ahead of personally. I am lucky in various parts of with five minute’s notice, delivering the the best interests of the organisation. These my job, but one of the most striking is the financial report at last year’s AGM when attributes were shared by so many Institute friendships I have built through the years. the treasurer could not make the meeting. stalwarts who served over the years. The And I considered both Ken and Norman as Another indication may be shown on these Chartered Institute of Journalists will miss friends. The news of their passing so close pages where you will read an obituary for them, and so shall I. Very much. to each other rocked me to a standstill, Ken written by Norman immediately upon Norman’s in particular due to the tragic hearing that Ken had died. Not knowing, of Dominic Cooper, nature of his accident and the personal course, that his own obituary would sadly Chief Executive of The Chartered support and guidance he showed me follow on the very next page of the same Institute of Journalists through my time as General Secretary and Journal. Ken’s work for the Institute spans latterly Chief Executive. more years than I have been alive!

16 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Norman Bartlett (1935-2020) OBITUARY

orman Bartlett, a key figure in others, always so positive and active. He the leadership of the Chartered was always so full of ‘get up and go’. His NInstitute of Journalists for many contributions have been invaluable in every years, died in hospital on November 13 as a way.” result of complications following a cycling In recent times I have affectionately accident near his home in Chelmsford, described Norman as our dependable and Essex. Coming just a few weeks after the trusted Pericles. Whenever the Institute passing of another Institute stalwart, Ken needed advice and wise counsel, Norman Brookes, Norman’s sudden death was a was always there to help, to solve problems, great blow to his colleagues on the CIoJ and to provide the important answers. Council as well as, of course, to all of A staunch member of the Institute from Norman’s family and many friends, and the 1990s onwards, a highly respected his loss will be keenly felt as the Institute campaigner for professional journalism struggles to get back to ‘normality’ in 2021. and journalists’ rights, he will be greatly A long-serving Treasurer of the Institute missed. Our thoughts and best wishes go to (2003-2013), President from 2011-2013 and a his widow, Marie, and their family. hard-working member of Council for more Tim Crook than two decades, Norman played a vital role in recent years in the restructuring of the CIoJ’s charities and the establishment Constant support regardless of age, status or beliefs. of the new Welfare Fund. He resourcefully orman was someone I held in the Possessed of a dry sense of humour and steered the painstaking changes through Nvery highest regard. I will always be with a wicked twinkle in his eye, Norman two annual general meetings, set up grateful for the constant support he gave approached life with a fearlessness many the bank accounts and drew up all the me while I was chairman of the Institute’s would envy. documentation for the Charity Commission Professional Practices Board. His strong He loved his buses and once refused a which was accepted by the Commission but fair leadership while President was car ride from a meeting venue with me, earlier this year. a hallmark both of his work and his so he could travel back on a bus he had Norman Bartlett’s career in journalism personality, and he could always be relied spotted that he had not been on before. A was on the technical side and he was a on for a fair assessment of any situation. If man of great energy, he never seemed to specialist writer on transport and aviation, there was a dispute, Norman was always age, either mentally or physically. Even if with a global reputation as News Editor at the one to pour oil on troubled waters. He we had not been in touch most of the year, Bus World. Prior to moving into full-time not only brought calmness, but reason and Norman would ring me without fail, on writing, he had served in the Royal Air often a sensible solution to problems, with New Year’s Day – it was his way of keeping Force and was employed in international his own unique way of approaching things. in touch on a personal level - this year the marketing in the electronics and defence At Council or committee meetings, folk phone will be strangely silent. industries. always opened up to his measured and well The list of things he did for the Institute As my colleague, Immediate Past- thought-out opinions, and, disagreements was endless, but more than this, he was an President Janice Shillum Bhend said: “We or not, everyone respected him for his inspiration to us all on a personal level, and will all miss Norman’s common sense and wisdom and fairness. He also had an will be sorely missed. deep knowledge of charitable matters so amazing talent of relating to everyone, Amanda Brodie very much. He was always working for Walter Leaf (1922-2020) alter (Wally) Leaf, a longstanding business experience to go into teaching. senior civil servants in that country, he Wmember of the Chartered Institute Wally lectured in English and Business knew every Israeli Ambassador to the UK of Journalists, died in July. Studies to mature students and became and was with Shlomo Argov shortly before Born in East London – ‘within the sound a senior lecturer at London University. his assassination, which affected him very of Bow Bells’ – he won a Scholarship He was also actively involved with the deeply and made him more resolute in to Coopers Foundation School and Workers Educational Association (WEA), his advocacy for Israel. As a journalist he matriculated with first-class honours but the adult education charity which aims wrote extensively about the Middle East, WW2 prevented him from going on to to give working-class and socially- and about politics, travel, and television. further education. Instead he joined the disadvantaged mature students a ‘hand For some time he was in the PR department RAF and trained to serve as a navigator in up’ in life and with their career prospects. at Odhams Press and later worked for the Coastal Command; he was subsequently Wally Leaf was a prominent member Sunday Times. He also wrote poetry – for assigned to duties in Canada (which was of London’s Jewish community. He which he had a genuine talent – and he to be the British government’s ‘home in was member of Board of Deputies loved reading, especially devouring news exile’ should the Nazis have invaded and of British Jews from 1967, edited the and newspapers. He was a loyal member occupied Britain). After demobilisation he award-winning magazine of the Hendon of the Freelance Division of the CIoJ for studied to become academically qualified Reform Synagogue, and became a regular many years and often contributed to The as a Chartered Company Secretary, going contributor to the Jewish Chronicle, Journal. on to work as Company Secretary at writing on travel and sports, among other His devoted family, including wife Joella Watches of Switzerland. In the 1950s he topics. He was also a Vice-President of the (nee Stein), were at his bedside when he turned to lecturing in response to appeals Zionist Federation. A regular visitor to expired. from the authorities for people with Israel and known to many politicians and Patrick Emek

17 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Celebrating and commemorating the life and works of Charles Dickens (1812-1870) celebrate the anniversary of Dickens’s a report from the Charles Dickens Museum birthday on 7th February each year with a in London; and selective advertising. The dinner in central London. The guest speaker Dickensian also acts as the journal of record and proposer of the toast in 2020 was for the Fellowship, providing an account of Armando Ianucci, director of a recent film Fellowship events and activities around the version of Dickens’s David Copperfield. world, and a record of obituaries. Fellowship members also annually The Dickensian’s UK subscription rate commemorate the anniversary of Dickens’s is £19 p.a. for individuals and £29 p.a. death, on 9th June 1870, with a service and for institutions. There is a reduced rate wreath-laying ceremony at his grave in of £15 p.a. for Fellowship members, and Westminster Abbey’s Poet’s Corner. The individual subscriptions also include access wreath always features red geraniums as to the on-line archive of all issues published this flower is the official emblem ofthe since 1905. Dickens Fellowship. The red geranium In 1922 the Dickens Fellowship bought was Dickens’s favourite flower and he numbers 48 and 49 Doughty Street in often wore one in his buttonhole during his the Bloomsbury area of London. Dickens public readings. Two children from Gad’s Hill School, which now occupies the house where Dickens died, at Higham in Kent, also lay a wreath at the Westminster Abbey service, and their wreath is made from s well as being the author of flowers grown in the gardens of Gad’s Hill. fourteen complete novels, one The Dickens Fellowship publishes Aunfinished novel, five Christmas a journal, The Dickensian, which was Books – including the ever-popular and founded in 1905 and has an unbroken much adapted A Christmas Carol – and record of publication since that time. It numerous other works of fiction, Charles is currently published three times a year Dickens was a prolific and accomplished (in Spring, Summer and Autumn) and is journalist. Learning shorthand in his teens, well illustrated. Contents include main he began his career as a parliamentary articles on aspects of Dickens’s life, times reporter and later edited and wrote for a and writings; reports of conferences and series of publications, most famously the exhibitions; reviews of books pertinent weekly journals Household Words and its to Dickens, and of stage, screen and radio successor All the Year Round, right up until performances of adaptations of his works; his death in 1870. The Dickens Fellowship was founded in London in 1902 and is a worldwide Dickens the Journalist association of people interested in the life Charles Dickens was an accomplished and works of Charles Dickens. It has strong, journalist before he achieved success had lived in number 48 between 1837 and long-lasting and continuing associations as a novelist, and even after finding 1839, during which time he finished one with members of the Dickens family, many fame he continued in journalism by novel, The Pickwick Papers, and wrote two of whom have served as President of the taking on a number of editing roles, more: Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby Fellowship. Currently there are fifty-two eventually becoming editor of a weekly as well as editing the monthly magazine branches worldwide, including twenty- publication, Household Words, in Bentley’s Miscellany. After refurbishing and four in the USA, fifteen in Great Britain, 1850. He edited this and its successor, refurnishing them, the Fellowship opened four in Canada, and three in Australia, All the Year Round, until his death in the Doughty Street houses as The Charles as well as individual branches in New 1870. Dickens’ many journalistic roles Dickens Museum in 1925 and the Head Zealand, Japan, Italy, Holland, France and included: Quarters of the Fellowship is still based Denmark. Freelance law reporter (1829-31) there, although the Museum is now run by Each year, one branch of the Dickens Parliamentary reporter, The Mirror of an independent Board of Directors, one of Fellowship organises and stages an annual Parliament (1831-32) whom is a nominee of the Fellowship. conference where members from around Reporter, True Sun (1832-34) The Dickens Fellowship is still active in the world meet, socialise, and celebrate supporting the museum, helping them Reporter, The Morning Chronicle Dickens. Recent conferences have been (1834-36) to purchase significant items for their hosted by branches in Carrara (Italy), collection and contributing to their appeal Editor, Bentley’s Miscellany (1837-39) Sydney (Australia) and Eastbourne (UK). for funds during the Covid-19 lockdown Branches also each organise their own Founder and Editor, Master crisis. annual programme, with a range of events Humphrey’s Clock (1840-41) To find out more about the Dickens and activities of interest to their members. Editor, The Daily News (1846) Fellowship, and how you can become The Central Fellowship, based in London, Co-founder and Editor, Household a member, or to find out more about also organises an annual programme Words (1850-59) contacting or subscribing to The of events and activities, which typically Founder and Editor, All the Year Dickensian, please visit our website http:// include talks, a debate, and visits to places Round (1859-70) www.dickensfellowship.org/ or follow us associated with Dickens. Members also on Twitter @DickensFellowHQ.

18 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition 21st Century Dickens

o mark the 150th anniversary of the 47. Daniel Twitcher, pop star demigod by 105. Cake Heaven by Barbara Trigg death of the great writer Charles Chris Owen 106. The Dickensian by Alan Ford TDickens, the Journalists’ Charity and 48. Skip Telfon by Chris Davies 107. Charity Bravinder by Leila Wilcox the Dickens Fellowship linked up to run a 49. Charlotte-Anne Mounteback by Julia 108. Kat by Sandra Clayton competition to find a new Dickens character Thorley 109. Augustus Flint by Melanie Doherty for the 21st century. The competition was 50. Mrs Bugloss by Patricia Lesley 110. Mr Barnard by Greg Hall used to raise awareness (and funds) for the 51. Alexander Kerfuffle by Peter Herron 111. Jim Bedlamson by Madalina Serban Journalists’ Charity which Dickens helped 52. Bloncket Drabstone by Dennis Bruce 112. Priscilla Godmersham OBE by Rachael to establish in 1864. 53. Justin Harmway by Aymeric Fromentin Revesz The plea for written portraits of an all-new 54. Beatrice Ramsbottom by Sarah Treweeks 113. Zeke by Graham Day Dickensian character produced almost 300 55. Atlas Dissect by Wilma Cairns 114. Sam Geekinson by Alina Lazar submissions. Journalists’ Charity trustee 56. Gabriel Roy by Fiona Quinn 115. Mr A Perkins by Amy Yallop Charles Garside, with the aid of his son 57. Franklin Swatteridge by Mark Burrows 116. The Politician by Sona Popat James, has performed and recorded 150 of 58. Terry Crouch by Diane Silva 117. Janus Trueblood by Iris Newton the entries, and you can find them online at: 59. Barbara Copeland by David Whewell 118. Caspar Cruft by Catherine Parker https://journalistscharity.org.uk/dickens/ 60. The Postman by Linda Allen 119. Antiboz by Colin Wood 61. Marjorie Butterworth by Maxine Burton 120. The Fitness Instructor by Moira Ashley 1. Mattie Merrywinkle by Annie White 62. Jonah Bombast by Deborah Rhodes 121. Polly by Richard Clarke 2. Mr Pendledump by Tamara Roberts 63. Desmond Goodbody by William 122. Mrs. Shrewditch by Rufaro Chikwanda 3. Dizzy Doddle by Araf Chohan MacKenzie 123. Mrs Blunden by Jane Fahy 4. She by Peter Hughes 64. Daisy-Lou Belle by Valerie Reilly 124. Sebastian Bark by Colin Chattenton 5. He by William Cornthwaite 65. Jed Thorogood by Pauline Short 125. April Whiskey by Bryan Rhône 6. Julia by Jody Bradshaw 66. Technology Teacher by Lucinda Craker 126. Ms Doppelt by Rachel Cunningham 7. Mr Frank by Janice English 67. The Aerialist by Ramy J Salameh 127. D by Alice Dunn 8. Birdy by Unknown Author 68. Phineas Glebethrostle by Mark Bryant 128. Mr Comego by Nancy Rae 9. Fennel Green by Charlotte Corrigan 69. Harry Harbottle by Nick Fletcher 129. Miss Benson by Angela Wren 10. Aloysius Shard by Patrick Hogan 70. The Martin Twins by Efrosyni Hobbs 130. Diminuby Butterstride by Daisy Dunn 11. Roger Federer by Simon Carroll 71. We’ll meet again by Judy Chapman 131. Andy Appgood by Stuart Fortey 12. Boris by Sheena Blackhall 72. Mr Tinks by Sue Dobson 132. William Connolly Jr. by Edith Robson 13. Rishi Moneytree by John Knox 73. Sam Speedwell by Denise Lawrence 133, Daisy Lou Somerville by Karen Bucknall 14. Jacob Rees Mogg by Brian Goldfarb 74. Miss Marigold Price by Peter Sergison 134. Gerald by Jenny Goodwin 15. Mr Charles Spender by Vanessa Rea 75. Miss Brown by Imogen Grubin 135. Rainbow Boy by Jan Hughes 16. Dr Blunt by Aimee Chan 76. Professor Whitty by Roy Jamieson 136. Velma by Sylvie Lewis 17. Neil Sharington by Carrie-Anne Taylor 77. George Smith by Sandra McKay 137. Julian Murchison by Katharine Shearing 18. Nowhereman by Diana Lilford 78. Mary by Marie Day 138. Selwyn Slimber by Jean Salkilld 19. The Admirable Major Vinton Hall by 79. Miss Nigella by Janine Beacham 139. Tommy Taverner by Christina Mavis Ellis 80. Royston Alexander Mail by David Westwood 20. Mr Holliworth by Patrick Ost Matthews 140. Miss Smallbone by Jen Dalmaine 21. Mr Doosucre by Deborah Siddoway 81. Miss Thunder by Jed Sheerin 141. Miss Sox by Susan Wickham 22. Annabelle Sprogg by Kathryn Simmonds 82. Peregrine Primrose by Diane Manning 142. Indigo Jones by Oda Lisa 23. Lil by Valerie Moyses 83. Qwerty Ken by Cullen Warnock 143. Miss Julie by Benita Cullingford. 24. Davey Boy Plummer by Natasha Vidler 84. Constance by Lyn Walsh 144. Our Chessie by Ginette Barber. 25. Ryan Goldenchild by Freya Eden-Ellis 85. Annie Crawford by Jodie Portugal 145. Mr Speaker by Sue Krisman 26. Chris Whitty by Steve Mason 86. Lionel Grosser by Gerald Vinestock 146. Martha Penny by Tesni Penney 27. Belinda Hutchinson by Andrea Southwell 87. Tom by Ellie Welbourn 147. Barzilla Gabbage by Anne Lawson 28. WTF Peters Esq. by Agnes Foy 88. Arthur Winter by Luna Barnard 148. Belinda Goshawk by Helena Young 29. Mrs Brullen’s Ear by Christine Ewer 89. Trevor by Ciaran O’Brien 149. Miss Greer McGregor by Kirsty 30. Mr Common Sense by David Holt 90. Frederick Arthur Fleetfoot by Barbara Mceachran 31. Lorna Tramples by Lisa Chudley Parsons 150. The Hospital porter by Liz Hannam 32. The Fly Tipper by John Carter 91. BoJo by Jack Lamb 33. The worst of times by Sylvia Pereira 92. Peter Gill by Carolyn Crompton At an online presentation ceremony during 34. Mr Bumble by Eric Midwinter 93. Mrs Digby by Helen Reed the summer lockdown, Dickens Fellowship 35. Dombey and Burns by Steve Kimber 94. Kylie by Helen Steventon President, Ian Dickens, announced that the 36. Kent by Mary Egan 95. Auntie Betty by Ellen Clavier winner of the competition: David Whewell, 37. Derek Asp by James Riding 96. Billy Revel by Carol Fletcher with his character Barbara Copeland – ‘the 38. Fake News by John Bronsdon 97. Michael O’Graball by Alan Castree B of the Q’ at a famous DIY store! The 39. Lord Bercow of Snidebottom by Rob 98. Duggie Tover by Linda Penter winner was awarded an original drawing of Hubble 99. Toper by Fraser Massey ‘Barbara’ by veteran Fleet Street cartoonist 40. Mrs Staymery by Cara Bills 100. Papa P by Jacqueline King Stanley McMurtry MBE – better known as 41. World Leader by Richard Morris 101. Jemina Jones by Gill King ‘MAC’ – a certificate, and two tickets for 42. Whitley by Michael Fleming 102. Miss Molly Pinch by Sarah Warnock a guided tour of the Dickens Museum in 43. Sylvia Woodward by Laura Tapper 103. Kimberley Bigginsbottom by Karen London. Four runners up each received two 44. JW Marceau by Frederick O’Brien Riva-Palicio tickets to visit the Dickens Museum. 45. Man with a painted mask by Diane Horn 104. Daniel Dabbler by Natasha Anne 46. Kyle by Christopher Swain Kelleher

19 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition A Tale of Two Presidents By Tim Crook his is the story of a mysterious glass plate negative photograph, undated, Tof President Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) at a dinner hosted by journalists in London, that languished in the archives of the George Bain news agency at the US Library of Congress with no other identification (pictured right). We can now reveal that this was ‘a midnight supper’ hosted by the President of the Institute of Journalists in the banqueting room at Stationers’ Hall in the City of London in June 1910. Most of the country’s national and provincial newspaper editors were there along with all of the London correspondents of the American press, and those journalists accompanying Roosevelt on his world tour. The Institute President at the time was the newspaper proprietor Harry Levy- Lawson (1862-1933) who was also Liberal MP for Mile End. Levy-Lawson is seated in the middle and can be seen wearing the Institute President Harry Levy-Lawson with US President Theodore Roosevelt to his right at Stationers’ Hall midnight supper, June 1910. Image: George Bain agency archive, US Library of Congress. Public Domain Institute’s original gold Presidential medal, which was first struck in 1906. Theodore Roosevelt had just finished two It might be apparent that there is an At the time the Daily News eclipsed the terms as US President and had arrived in absence of representation of women in Manchester Guardian, which was only London after travelling across Africa and these archive photographs. This was indeed a provincial morning paper, and had Europe. He is sitting to the right of Harry a time when women were still campaigning the notoriety of having supported the Levy-Lawson with the US ambassador for representation and equal rights, Confederate cause during the American Whitelaw Reid on Lawson’s left. including the right to vote. Civil War. This was another time and age, when The Daily News report of the event stated: the President of our Institute lived in Teddy Bear “In proposing the health of Mr Roosevelt, a mansion – Hall Barn in Beaconsfield, Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt (US President the Chairman said they could say of their Buckinghamshire, owned, we hasten to 1901-09) was one of the most important and guest that he was a man who said what add, by Levy-Lawson and not the Institute! influential world leaders of his age. Vice- he believed to be true and was afraid of He saw active service in the Great War, President to William McKinley, he was nobody. His destiny was to be a perpetual was mentioned in despatches and in 1916, catapulted to the Presidency in 1901 when tonic.” In reply, Roosevelt said “he had on the death of his father, succeeded to the McKinley was assassinated. Roosevelt won thoroughly enjoyed his stay in England. title 1st Viscount Burnham and took his seat his own mandate at the election in 1904 and To judge by some of the comments he had in the House of Lords. He also succeeded his served until 1909. received there were people who had not father in the management and ownership of He is reputed to have been the inspiration shared his enjoyment (Laughter).” the Daily Telegraph. for the ‘Teddy Bear’, due to his decision There were cheers when he added that to spare a wonderful brown bear that had it was “a pleasant thing to know that the appeared before one of his hunting parties relations between the United States and in the American wilderness. Great Britain were so much better, and he Roosevelt would experience an ought to point out that they had steadily assassination attempt himself, two years improved almost in proportion as the after attending the Institute of Journalists’ United States had grown stronger and dinner in London. He was campaigning less sensitive to what was said of it from in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and was shot in outside.” the chest by saloonkeeper John Flammang As a Republican President, Theodore Schrank. He carried on speaking when he Roosevelt had always cultivated respectful judged that the bullet had not penetrated and friendly relations with journalists his lung. It would remain there for the rest and the media. His main message was the of his life. importance of peace in the world: “He The Institute’s dinner was reported in thought that in modern life there was a the Daily News, edited by Alfred George tendency, hitherto unknown in the world, Gardiner (1865-1946) who later became for a power, as it grew more strong, to famous as the columnist ‘Alpha of the also grow more careful of the rights of Plough’. Gardiner served two terms as others, or at least more reluctant to infringe President of our Institute and used the unwarrantably on the rights of others.” Reform Club in Pall Mall as his ‘writing Institute President Alfred George Gardiner. Tim Crook is the President of the Image: Imperial War Museum. Public Domain. office’. Chartered Institute of Journalists 20 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Remember Artemus Jones By John P. Lethbridge besides betraying a most unholy delight in were still split and he failed to be selected homas Jones was born on 18 the company of female butterflies.” as the Liberal parliamentary candidate for February 1871 in Denbigh, North Artemus Jones did not sue Dawbarn, who Gower, near Swansea, instead standing TWales, the youngest of Thomas and was not rich enough to make it worthwhile. at Macclesfield, Cheshire. He failed to Jane Jones’s six sons. Thomas Jones senior Instead he sued E. Hulton & Co. who win the seat. By the 1923 general election a master stonemason worked in the local published the Manchester Sunday Chronicle. the Liberals had reunited and he stood quarries. Thomas Jones junior studied at The case was heard at Manchester Assizes for Swansea East but lost. He stood for the local state school and took the name on 23 November 1908. The judge was Sir Keighley, Yorkshire, at the 1924 general Thomas Artemus Jones to distinguish him Arthur Moseley Channell; the prosecution election but lost again. from the many other local boys with this counsel Gordon Hewart a former journalist In 1927, aged 56, Thomas Artemus name including three born in the same who was a friend of Artemus Jones; and the Jones married a trainee barrister Mildred registration district, year, and quarter that defence counsel Adolph Max Langdon KC Mary David, who was 39. She qualified he was. (King’s Counsel) and Edward Acton. as a barrister in 1931 but did not practise Thomas Artemus Jones left school in 1885 The defendants claimed never to have although she was a magistrate for many aged fourteen and became a shop assistant heard of Artemus Jones and that using years and was active in public life. The at W. H. Smith’s at Denbigh Railway his name was a coincidence – but he won marriage was childless. Station. In 1886 he joined the Denbighshire his case nonetheless, and was awarded In 1929 Artemus Jones was appointed Free Press as a reporter reporting on the £1,750, equivalent to about £300,000 today. head of the Mexican Claims Commission Denbigh Tithe War. He later worked for The defendants appealed to the Court of which investigated claims by British citizens the Hereford Journal, the Norfolk Chronicle, Appeal, which upheld the verdict by a for losses incurred in Mexico’s civil wars. the Manchester Sunday Chronicle, the Daily two to one majority. The case then went to In 1930 he was appointed County Court Telegraph, and the Daily News. He freelanced the House of Lords which also upheld the Judge for North Wales and in 1931 he was for other papers including Reynolds News verdict. knighted. He campaigned for improved and the Daily Mail and wrote stories and status for the Welsh language. After he articles for Welsh journals. In 1891 he lived Casement Trial was appointed a judge he announced that in Leominster and in 1901 in London. Artemus Jones tried and failed to be he was willing to hear evidence in Welsh Artemus Jones belonged to both the selected as the Liberal parliamentary despite this being illegal under the 1536 Institute of Journalists and the London candidate for Merioneth in 1909 and Anglo-Welsh Act of Union passed in Henry Press Club. The Press Club was then purely Denbigh Boroughs in 1910. However, he VIII’s reign. a dining and drinking club. He wanted to was chosen as the Liberal prospective set it up on a regular basis and insist that parliamentary candidate for Merthyr Tydfil Welsh language its members pay their subscriptions – in 1913 but war broke out the following Artemus Jones helped lead the campaign but another member, Charles Alexander year and the next general election had to that got the 1942 Welsh Courts Act passed. Dawburn, who worked for the Manchester wait until 1918. This allowed the Welsh language to be used Sunday Chronicle, wanted to keep the Press The most famous trial in which Artemus in Welsh courts. He retired as a judge in Club as it was. These two journalists, Jones was involved was the 1916 treason 1942 and died on 15 October 1943 aged 72. Dawburn and Artemus Jones, were soon to trial of Sir Roger David Casement, who He is buried in Bangor Cemetery in North find their names linked in another way. had tried to recruit Irish POWs in Germany Wales. His widow Lady Mildred Mary In 1901 Thomas Artemus Jones was elected to join an Irish Brigade to fight for Artemus Jones died in 1980 aged 92. a Fellow of the Institute of Journalists and Germany; and was then landed in Ireland “Remember Artemus Jones” became passed his bar exams, becoming a barrister by a U-Boat. It was planned for another watchwords to journalists, authors, on the North Wales Circuit. Early in his U-Boat rendezvous with the one carrying playwrights and TV producers. It is career he featured in several notable cases. Casement and land a cargo of arms for Irish because of Jones v Hulton that novels republicans. The other U-Boat did not reach contain disclaimers that their characters Jones v Hulton its rendezvous because of a navigational are fictional. Charles Alexander Dawbarn On July 12, 1908 the Manchester Sunday error and Casement claimed that he only would have been well aware of Artemus Chronicle published the following passage joined the plot because he had hoped to Jones from the Press Club, and in any case in a description of the 1908 Dieppe Grand persuade Sinn Fein to call off any uprising weekly papers such as the Manchester Sunday Prix by its Paris correspondent, none other until after the war. Chronicle employ far fewer journalists than than Charles Alexander Dawbarn: Casement’s defence counsel were dailies and it would have been impossible “What there is Artemus Jones with a Alexander Martin Sullivan KC, an Irish for them not to have known one another. woman who is not his wife who must be Nationalist, John Hartman Morgan, and you know –the other thing whispers a fair Artemus Jones. Sullivan’s health broke neighbour of mine, excitedly into her bosom down during the trial and Artemus Jones friend’s ear. Really it is surprising how took over the defence, fighting hard for his certain of our countrymen behave when client, but the outcome was inevitable. Sir they come abroad! Who would suppose by Roger Casement was convicted of treason Did you know? his goings on that he was a churchwarden on June 29, 1916, and was hanged August 3. Your annual subscription to the at Peckham! No one indeed would assume When the Liberals split, Artemus Jones that Jones in the atmosphere of London supported Asquith, not Lloyd George, Chartered Institute of Journalists could take on so austere a job as the duties making him unacceptable to the Merthyr is tax-deductible? This applies to of a churchwarden. Here in the atmosphere Tydfil Liberals at the 1918 general election. any Institute member who is a UK of Dieppe on the French side of the channel Most Welsh Liberals idolised Lloyd George. taxpayer, whether you are a staff he is the life and soul of a gay little band that In 1919 Artemus Jones was made a KC. journalist or a freelance. haunts the casino and turns night into day At the 1922 general election the Liberals

21 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition Taking up the baton of racial justice In the first in a series of articles on significant black and ethnic minority journalists who have made an important contribution to the history of journalism, William Mulder looks at the life of Rudolph Dunbar, who Rudolph Dunbar in Berlin, Germany in 1945. Image: Picture Post. was both a pioneering musician Information Brendan Bracken to write example to overcome their prejudices’ and and campaigning journalist, who an article for the Sunday Express, which ‘the sooner the better.” covered the liberation of Europe appeared on September 20, 1942, in which with a conductor’s baton in his he declared that the “Colour Bar Must Go” Highly influential knapsack. for all black people in Britain. Dunbar was highly influential because Bracken credited Rudolph Dunbar for he was the London editor for a reporting udolph Dunbar (1907-1988) was a inspiring and requesting his intervention: agency representing more than 200 United musical genius, a brilliant journalist “There is, of course, no legal Colour Bar States black newspapers. He was already Rand indefatigable campaigner for in this country. Mr Dunbar has himself famous by 1942 for his triumph at the racial justice, but in the post-war period he pointed out that most coloured people in Royal Albert Hall conducting the London was discriminated against and excluded Britain come from the British Colonies. Philharmonic Orchestra. from the riches of success he so greatly They are, therefore, British citizens with, in His Guardian obituary in 1988 explained deserved. theory, the same rights as any Englishman. he was part of a “small, pre-war group of Featured and celebrated for his It is deplorable that he should have to write blacks who pursued international careers appearances as a conductor and musician “in theory”, but it is in fact true that there is of distinction with London as their base.” on BBC Radio during the 1930s, Dunbar still some colour prejudice in this country Dunbar “had the aspiration and talent to challenged the colour bar that applied and still social barriers against coloured place him in a trio with Paul Robeson and to American servicemen in London by people.” C.L.R. James; like them, he had a multiple questioning General Eisenhower at a press Bracken agreed with Dunbar to “End career combining music, journalism (as conference in London. it quickly”, concluding his article: “The a war correspondent) and campaigning He persuaded the wartime Minister of prejudiced must be taught by precept and against racism.” C.L.R. James offered this tribute on his death: “Dunbar was a striking example of his musical period. He was first of all a master of popular music- jazz- but he always insisted, and to me in particular, of the importance of classical music. His distinguished work must be seen in relation to the strong prejudice against coloured classical artists.” Leaving British Guiana (present-day Guyana) at the age of 20, he settled in Britain in 1931, studied in New York, worked in many parts of Europe and eventually lived out most of his life in London. Dunbar was the first black man to conduct the Berlin Philharmonic in 1945 and the first black man to conduct orchestras in Poland (1959) and Russia (1964). During the 1930s and 40s he was a leading journalist working as a music critic for Melody Maker, writing for the BBC’s The Listener, and a foreign and war correspondent for the news agency representing African- American newspapers. In this latter role he covered the D-Day landings and the liberation of Paris. Dunbar in his book on the clarinet published in 1939. Continued on page 24 22 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition 1920 – 2020: Looking back on 100 years of journalism By Navin Kukadia be argued that reporters and newspapers and the competition from the online his article looks back over the last 100 were able to take care and responsibility for citizen journalist. News events in terms years of journalism; showing how their stories and the scrutiny on detail was of the technology of capture are no Tscience and technology have shaped high. Reports consisted of what they saw, longer dependent on the presence of the and changed journalism and the press. It observed and who they interviewed. Those professional reporter, photographer, radio also highlights the milestones on how the reading the news relied on reporters being reporter or film news reel camera-person, media have shaped the world by reporting balanced, impartial and honest with what and television reporting crew. Anybody news and stories from around the globe. they witnessed. with a smartphone has become more than Back in the 1920s, the world’s leading During the 1920s and 30s, technology just a witness. They have become part of the super-powers included the British Empire, such as radio, camera and film helped near instant producing news media sphere. the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and journalism bring moving stories and photos At the same time reporters are looking to the French Commonwealth. The Twenties to the people. capture more in-depth stories and incidents became known as the ‘Golden Age’ largely One hundred years later, in 2020, by going right into the heart of the matter because of economic growth following the technology is once again shaping and sometimes regardless of risk and of their First World War. The emergence of Jazz transforming the press and journalism own safety. This is perhaps very much the Age culture in the United States contributed industry. I believe the acceleration in case in instances when the reporter is more to an era when social, artistic, literature change is very similar and has been equally daring to capture a particular point of view cultures were progressing dynamically. transformative. The single biggest impact for exclusivity. Despite the end of the Great War of 1914- has been the Internet that has utterly Today, in the Information Age, news 18, a global news story of unprecedented changed the dynamics of journalism. and journalism have become much more proportions, national and world events mobile through televisual practice and the meant there were many opportunities for Global media context of the Internet. The Internet has also journalists and the press to report urgent We are now in a period where mega enabled the power of choice and selectivity and significant news. global news outlets are beaming down from to now belong with the reader. In 2020, the The news industry in that period was their channels multiple news stories and decline in the selection of printed news dynamic, expanding and evolving around this is mixed with the output of national stories by readers is now self-evident. They the world. Reporters would be dispatched news channels, independent publishers, have shifted their choice by seeking news to bring back stories relating to conflicts individual freelance publishers with their from digital social media platforms. such as the civil wars, major political own platforms, and the ‘citizen journalist’ One of the major challenges today changes, and regional conflicts from around communicating in what has become known for journalism is how best to react to the world. At the same time journalists as ‘social media’. The Internet and digital technologies such as artificial intelligence were operating locally and regionally media have transformed and re-shaped the that could one day produce automated by reporting incidents, events and press and what was previously understood news commentaries from videos and extraordinary stories on their own patch. In as journalism into some vast portal of photos. The possible impact of facial those days the press reporting technology information. recognition that can generate and develop was limited to taking notes on paper pads, New stories are now rapidly and news stories about people in public spaces usually using the skill of shorthand. More continually fired into public media space. is another technological development that fortunate news operations were able to The speed and scale have been breath- could become part of news gathering and employ photographers with cameras who taking. It would have been regarded as content creation. The need for maintaining could capture significant news events on science fiction 100 years ago. It would have balanced, respected and impartial photographic plate and later film. been to many unimaginable. journalism is all the more acute in the face Over the first 40 years of the twentieth In 2020, production and transmission of these potential changes. century most of the news came to its allows very little time for editorial scrutiny The graphic below highlights how printed audience by printed press, radio and of content, grammar, structure, ethics, and traditional news formats appear to be cinema news reel. It could be argued that or quality. Story images, both still and declining with the Internet taking over the infrastructure of production meant moving, are instantly uploaded from through websites and social media. there was time to process news stories with mobile smart-phone established systems of rigorous editorial, cameras and edited on grammar and structure checks before what are really mini publication in print and by broadcasting. production studios with At this time news was very much of an almost instantaneous exciting innovation in the expansion of publication to the print and radio media. The narrative had a World Wide Web. captive audience. In the 2020 news media This was the time breaking news stories room of today, it seems evolved from stop press items on the back mainstream journalists page of newspaper last editions to live radio are all conscious and transmission, photographs transmitted by struggling to keep telegraphic radio waves, and news reel film up with the speed in the cinema ‘news theatres’. Again it can of news information Continued on page 24

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Continued from 23 Risk assessment, personal protective Journalism Risk Management: The equipment and visibility are paramount. Future In high risk zones, the chances of consequential incident remain high when Journalism and ‘the press’ as we have there is great uncertainty. The contingency known it, in political, public and conflict of the unknown is always troubling. My zones have come under much greater concluding graphic (right) symbolises scrutiny and are at greater risk of attack. the need to separate fake news from There is always an element of risk in the professional and transparent mainstream world of journalism. Depending on the media. It is vital to differentiate competition area, the risk level can be low or high from all sides. with consequences. Over the last hundred What we have learned over the last 100 years, risks have always been present in years of journalism is that technology has front line journalism. I would argue that been a significant game changer. Now today, professional journalism should take mobile apps bring us the news and stories preventative and mitigating actions against which shape opinion and understanding risks and consequences. almost instantaneously compared with the Below is a graphic that charts zones of news gathering and production time cycles risk and consequence. They are very much of the past. dependent on the areas covered by the The key risk facing journalists today is multimedia, and digital video and imagery. reporter. that the need to be first and exclusive for Format and style have been transformed to the moment in embrace new technologies. The very nature the new techno- of news content is so different. And there media-sphere is so much more freedom to corrupt news can compromise values with biased, unbalanced, and non- standards. It fact-checked material. The heat of the story can diminish of the moment is so much more intense and qualitative levels the global digital sphere means it cannot be of ethical and forgotten and hidden in traditional archives professional of bound volumes of old newspapers and performance. What metal cans of old film and audio-tape. has differentiated Perhaps now the individual reader is no the journalism longer a passive unresponsive consumer from 1920s and of print, radio sound and merely watching that of 2020s is film projected onto a cinema screen or the lowering of presented by television cathode tube. The content, balance reader is so much more selective. What emerges from the analysis is a need and editorial scrutiny to a fast-paced The reader is now so much more. The to take preventative and evasive actions. echo-chamber of digital sound, online reader edits and publishes as well.

Continued from 22 He is credited with the heroism of saving case history of the prejudice meted out to the US 969th Battalion during the Battle others he had campaigned against” and of the Bulge in the winter of 1944, when, all his energies were channelled into “the after he lost his way near Marchin, civilians political fight against racism.” warned him of a waiting ambush of German A BBC Two documentary broadcast in tanks down the road where the 969th was 1989 argued that he died “a bitter and headed. impoverished man.” In his unfinished In 1939 he wrote a Treatise on learning the autobiography titled ‘Triumph and clarinet and bridged the classical and jazz Tragedy’ he claimed that there were traditions with a modernist and progressive powerful elements within the musical approach in his playing, teaching and establishment working against him. composition. The book was reprinted in A Radio Four documentary first broadcast multiple editions throughout the 1940s. in 2007 argued that he died in obscurity At the head of this article is a remarkable in Britain, “convinced that the BBC in photograph of Dunbar in September 1945 particular had barred his way to greater taking the baton in front of the Berlin things.” Philharmonic. This was seen as a symbol The Chartered Institute of Journalist by the Allied Armies of the defeat of believes Rudolph Dunbar deserves genocidal racism because the talent and renewed and elevated commemoration for dignity of a black classical conductor of his achievements. music was directing the orchestra of what There is every reason to appreciate his The Guardian ended its obituary 32 years had previously been the capital of Nazi anger and resistance and to give him credit ago with the observation: “Dunbar’s life Germany. for the integrity and endurance of his fight seems to be the stuff movies are made of: against racism that benefited so many perhaps one will be of his.” Tragedy people during the Second World War and We would certainly endorse and give It is a tragedy that the Guardian should the future generations of Black people in power to this sentiment now. observe in its obituary that he became “a Britain afterwards. William Mulder

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BOOKSHELF of the chapters offer a substantial social any of the problems and attacks blighting and economic portfolio of the values and the UK’s PSB. The War Against the BBC advantages generated by BBC information, education, and entertainment. Aggressive By Patrick Barwise and Peter York Professional journalism in the United What is the method of funding in those Published by Penguin, 503 pages, Kingdom needs an enduring BBC, and countries? Do they have an aggressive paperback £10.99 reversal of some of the decline in income BBC licence collection fee style system of and staffing of recent years. mail threats and criminal prosecution? Do ir Allen Lane and his The book’s authors make they pay their presenters, managers and Sbrothers developed the very good argument that editors more than their presidents or prime Penguin in 1935 to produce the compromise on paying ministers? intelligent books that could the licence for everyone over There is a tone throughout the text be bought at railway stations 75 and taking on the funding that has the feel of Hacked Off, Media for the price of a packet of of the BBC World Service Standards Trust, IMPRESS, Leveson cigarettes and so portable should not have happened. Inquiry cheer-leading, and anti-Brexit and they could drop out of Governments are in the habit anti-Conservative Party resonance. vending machines. The of arm-twisting the BBC to Barwise and York decided to characterise iconic paperback imprint divert licence-fee funding to across pages 91 to 92 a research study has continued the tradition actually subsidise what they about BBC Radio 5 Live’s public service of publishing ‘specials’ that are failing or unwilling to do commitment by Kent University’s Centre run arguments for their time. themselves. for Journalism as an assault on the BBC The War Against the BBC by The local news partnership because it was funded by News UK which Patrick Barwise and Peter of funding ‘local democracy is Rupert Murdoch’s ‘New Front’ in its war York is a rage and warning for reporters’ covering local and with BBC Radio. 2020 going into 2021 – though regional councils is really not Using quotations from Private Eye at just over 500 pages you might struggle something the BBC should be paying for. If magazine they described Professor Tim to slip it into your coat pocket and finish the BBC really had these millions to spare, Luckhurst, who led the study, as “a self- reading it on an inter-city trip from London would they not be better spent on district styled leading expert on broadcasting” to Edinburgh. reporters on the ground originating and despite having “published nothing The notes begin at page 349 and there are channelling views, voices and stories into authoritative on it” and that the report more of them than quite a few PhD theses their mainstream news coverage? made “bold claims” though “as far as we I’ve had to examine. I can’t remember The licence fee should increase with know, the research was published as a short when I last bought a packet of cigarettes inflation like everything else so that the report, rather than a peer-reviewed paper.” so at £10.99, I don’t know if the price is in BBC does not shrink and shrivel. While being particularly ungenerous keeping with Sir Allen’s aspiration for good The main purpose of this book seems to about a former award-winning BBC editor value at the bookstand. have been to counter nine ‘BBC myths’: and journalist, former editor of The Scotsman, Penguins were supposed to be fictional • Lots of people don’t use the BBC but are author of the book This is Today: A Biography entertainments. Barwise and York’s well- still forced to pay the licence fee or go to of the Today Programme (2001), author of intentioned polemic is perhaps more in prison many peer-reviewed articles in academic keeping with Sir Allen’s later innovation • It’s bloated, wasteful and inefficient journals, and currently Head of the new of the Pelican paperback in 1937 – books • It’s the best funded public broadcaster South College, and Associate Pro Vice- to enlighten. In any event, publishing in the world Chancellor at Durham University, Barwise in the 21st century comes with a lesser- • It does things that should be left to the and York did not seem to understand the priced e-book and even an audio download market point of an academic study into the serious version read by actor Neil Gardner. • In 2015, it agreed to fund free TV news and current affairs content of a BBC The multimedia age of multiple forms and licences for all over-seventy-fives national radio channel; particularly when it platforms is a reminder of the crisis and • If it didn’t over-pay its senior managers appeared to fall short of its commitment by perfect storm the BBC finds itself in. Indeed, and star presenters, it could pay much a factor of 30 per cent. the title’s strapline, “How an unprecedented or most of the cost of free TV licences Luckhurst and his colleagues at Kent combination of hostile forces is destroying for all over-75s University were doing their best to hold the Britain’s greatest cultural institution… And Curiously, the authors divide the above BBC to account. What they did was in the why you should care” is a very good clue to as ‘pretty much complete myths’ with public interest. the book’s angle and attitude. three more that are ‘widely held’ but In these circumstances a report rather ‘mostly mythical though inherently more than a peer-reviewed article in a hallowed Forensic subjective:’ academic journal is often regarded the At the core of this project is important • BBC news and current affairs coverage appropriate form of publication and research and forensic deconstruction of the is systematically left-wing dissemination. It is not as if the BBC, Ofcom varied forces chipping and gnawing away • It’s anti-Brexit and other media corporations do not fund at the BBC’s reputation, popularity and • People no longer trust it academic research projects. Associated stability. These include a certain section of Is The War Against The BBC sufficiently Newspapers funded an important Oxford the press and a number of right-wing think- convincing? This reviewer would say it Reuters Institute study and report into the tanks. wins the debate when presented to the comparative costs of defending defamation Barwise and York provide a considerable milieu that the authors hail from. And that actions. amount of evidence about the BBC’s worth, could be its weakness. importance and financial value in respect Yes, the fact that NHK in Japan and Diligent research of what the annual licence fee brings to ARD in Germany are better funded public Elsewhere, the authors have appeared each payer. There is detail throughout that service broadcasters is important. But it to research diligently, professionally, and provides powerful cultural and political would have been more interesting to know have a great cause. But I wonder if they justification for its continued funding. Most if NHK and ARD have had or are having Continued on page 26 25 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition

Continued from 25 – as a small country – to be remarkably The Knowledge are preaching to the converted and have courageous at challenging and repelling By Mark Jackson decided that BBC-sceptics are a lost cause. its more powerful and menacing Soviet Published by Matador, 158 pages, They do cover the BBC’s own-goals and neighbour (at a time when the Nazis and paperback £8.99 ‘own worst enemy’ syndrome, encapsulated Soviets were bound by a non-aggression in a rather affectionately titled chapter “To pact). It is to Robert Webber’s credit that he hartered Institute of Journalists member Err is Human” – but I think the challenge is has adjusted our focus, away from the usual Cand BAFTA Scotland nominated properly understanding why the BBC has theatre of warfare in Western Europe, to the writer, Mark Jackson sets a tremendous, so many enemies, or many more enemies Baltic and Russian front. dangerous pace in his recently-published than they had before. Is it really all down to The author is entering an already crowded political thriller, The Knowledge. the machinations of commercial rivals and market, with so many classics on the Set in the rainy, right-wing think tanks? bookshelves concerning espionage (from drab streets of 1971 The writing and publication predate the Frederick Forsyth to Robert Harris) – but London, this is the recent scandal surrounding Earl Spencer’s we find in Webber an effective contender in story of one cabbie, allegations about Martin Bashir and the the field; his writing evoking the feel of the Tony Pinner, who – fake bank statements used to gain access to immediate pre-war era and the twilight life through pure chance, Diana, Princess of Wales, and that notorious of the secret agent. Institute members will through one fare – is Panorama interview of 1996. Of course, the relish such passages as: plunged into a major BBC’s ‘enemies’ have had a field day, but “The sessions that Alex enjoyed most conspiracy involving there are so many aspects to this furore that were with a chain-smoking, ex-Fleet Street a powerful, ruthless leave the BBC’s most loyal supporters with journalist, who smelled consistently of secretive order, a sense of disappointment and despair. stale alcohol, and who taught him how to operating among the As Barwise and York do like to quote and say much in very few words. ‘Journalistic taxi ranks. Yet the reference George Orwell, like the author of column inches reduce the revenue from novel begins in the Animal Farm and Nineteen Eighty-Four, it can advertisers – and advertisers pay your London of 1688 – “the be said they run a very good argument. It salary!’ was his maxim that he drummed Thames splitting London like a black scar”; is certainly well worth reading. You may into Alex’s brain at every opportunity. Alex the watermen, the forerunners of today’s well be conservative (with a small ‘c’ and started to believe that, should he fail at taxi drivers, conveying their human traffic a big ‘C’), a Brexit supporter no less, a everything else, a career in journalism was through the darkness, perhaps unaware happy and contented reader of the Daily a possibility.” of some of the great men and events with Mail, Times, Sunday Times, Sun, Telegraph The novel’s hero then begins his journey which they come into contact, but soon to and Express, and at the same time truly love through the secretive archipelago of exert an influence beyond their station. the BBC and want it to thrive in the British London’s For Pinner, 283 years later, his passenger, national interest. That really should not be intelligence Howard Crosse, was just a top-ranking a contradiction in terms. networks but civil servant, attending another day at You will find ample evidence and finds that the his Whitehall office – but with Crosse’s arguments in The War Against The BBC to powers-that-be death and the revelation that his role was inform your position and help save “our are not looking to prepare for Britain’s entry into Europe, most important cultural institution, our for any ordinary the taxi driver finds himself entangled in best-value entertainment provider, and the person, with a a deathly political battle – all brilliantly global face of Britain.” normal, personal plotted by Mark Jackson against the Tim Crook life. He is soon background of that decimalisation, Heathite advised that era. Breathless action follows – from The “girlfriends are Strand to Spitalfields Market – and gritty an unnecessary dialogue (reminiscent of the screenplays of complication” – Troy or Ian Kennedy Martin), and a cast of Winston’s Spy that his relationship with Theodora is not characters whose surnames reflect London by Robert Webber in the best interests of the service, and that itself – Olympia, Kensal, Latimer, Morden. Published by Troubador, 370 pages, even her background must be scrutinised. Authentic echoes of the times are brilliantly paperback £14.99 The novel deals well with themes such as deployed: a popular song of the early- the stresses and strains of duty v. family; ‘70s “drones on” in a cafe; and a funereal obert Webber’s the tense, claustrophobic sub-world bookmaker’s shop conjures up a depressing Rtense thriller, set of the intelligence officer; the fate image of the city in that decade (as on the very volcano- of the insecure, imperfect recruit memorably described by Andrew Marr) of edge of the Second taken away from everyday life and “donkey-jacketed menace”. Mark Jackson’s World War, brings sucked inexorably into an unknown, potent work is thoroughly engrossing – a us the story of Alex anonymous mission. book that you will want to read in one go, Carlton, recruited by Anyone addicted to the secret- preferably with a glass of two of whisky Military Intelligence service genre will be delighted next to you. From our vantage point of to undertake a to see the appearance of Robert Brexit, Mark’s work takes us back to the dangerous mission to Webber’s new novel, first instalment conspiracies and underworlds of a London the far-flung frozen of his ‘Carlton Chronicles’, with its which may seem dated – but how much has wastes of Finland. tantalising prospect of many more London, in its dark essence, changed since A country whose adventures to come. For the lead 1688? wartime role has character, Alex, the next stop is Much recommended – and I sincerely often been overlooked either landfall on the Scandinavian hope that a film production company by novelists and coast – or oblivion at the bottom of “finds” this thriller and turns it into the hit historians, the Finnish the North Sea. which it deserves to be. nation proved itself Stuart Millson Stuart Millson

26 The Journal - Winter 2020/1 edition

Essential Law for scrutiny, accountability and reduce open who have been arrested but not charged. justice. In 2020 there is not much difference. Dodd told Press Gazette: “The growth of Journalists Dodd and Hanna write: “It is therefore privacy has gone too far […] and we now By Mike Dodd and Mark Hanna depressing for us, as McNae’s authors, and have a situation in which the Court of Oxford University Press, 2020 (25th of concern to many journalists and lawyers, Appeal takes the view that a man who is Edition), 560 pages, Paperback £25.99 that in the two years since the previous accused of or suspected of criminal activity Continued from 27 edition the number of open court hearings or is even being investigated for potential his remarkable journalism law text in England and Wales has been drastically criminal activity is entitled to regard that as Tbook first appeared in 1954 and was reduced.” being private information that shouldn’t be written by the late Leonard McNae, who The online magazine Hold The Front Page in the public domain – which is why we’ve was editor of the Press Association’s Special reported that Jon Harris, the editor of the got the situation where nobody is prepared Reporting Service. The 25th edition has Manchester-based news agency Cavendish to name the MP who is accused of raping a been co-written by PA’s retiring legal editor Press was complaining that “placing of parliamentary worker despite the fact that Mike Dodd and Mark Hanna who this year restrictions protecting criminals in court she thinks he ought to be named.” retired from his position as Senior Lecturer has now reached an ‘unprecedented’ level.” All students of journalism and indeed at Sheffield University and is now Emeritus He also said coronavirus is being used as an professional practitioners need to read and Fellow. excuse to bar his reporters from hearings. keep abreast of Essential Law for Journalists. In the last 66 years it would be remarkable The cutbacks and pressures on legal It is a book that needs a new edition every for there to be any professional journalist in system and journalism industry combined two years because courts, government and the United Kingdom of any generation who with the pandemic crisis have produced Parliament are determined to make our has not had to read McNae’s Essential Law a perfect storm of wretchedness. Truth be lives as legally difficult as possible. for Journalists. And it is both disturbing and told that all those trying to continue doing Mike Dodd and Mark Hanna have equally remarkable that in a supposedly their jobs have been heroic. However, it is done a quite brilliant job offering clarity, democratic society with traditions of a pretty lamentable that in 2020 Mr Harris explanation and warning to the extent free press during this period the range of was complaining about so many Contempt that what has often been described as laws controlling and limiting that media of Court Act Section 11 orders being ‘a journalist’s bible’ has the respect of freedom have grown as much as the size of imposed at cases his reporters are covering lawyers and judges as well as professional the book. that challenging them would be a complete journalists. Consider the tenth edition published in waste of time and money. Tim Crook 1988, then edited by Walter Greenwood and Tom Welsh. This was the year I had Hot air successfully campaigned for the right to As a court reporter and news agency The Ghost of the Cog- appeal Crown Court reporting restrictions editor myself I was fighting this in 1984 Wheel Railway and secret hearings after taking the UK to and went to the European Court of Human by John Szemerey Strasbourg. Then there was no recognised Rights on this issue. So much for the efforts media right to privacy law. In fact that of the ‘media working group.’ Has it been a Published by Austin Macauley, edition’s chapter 30 on privacy ran to only complete waste of time and space and full paperback, 42 pages, £10.99 two pages in length. of hot air? Only time will tell. Younger readers – or indeed There were thousands of more journalists To be fair to those involved, published grown-up readers who love employed by weekly, regional and national protocols on the relationship between court railways and amusing ghostly news publishers. There were millions more staff and journalist publishers have been puzzles – will be delighted by newspaper readers. There was no Internet very constructive. They have involved and Institute member John Szemerey’s light- thirty-two years ago. And the 10th edition consulted the Evening Standard’s Courts hearted tale of the supernatural from comprised a total of only 209 pages. Correspondent Tristan Kirk who recorded Hungary. The result of a story he told to his In 2020, the 25th edition needs 529 pages a YouTube message introducing a new own family, Szemerey has created a superb and a companion website hosting three HMCTS Media Guidance document. story-book, the perfect Christmas gift, with additional chapters. Edition 25 is much There was a glitzy launch of the guide excellent illustrations that help to set the more than twice the reading now required at the Central Criminal Court in March mood (although there does not seem to be compared to Edition 10. There is more this year with much grandstanding by the a credit for the artist). than twice the number and complexity of people involved including government The saga concerns the cogwheel railway media laws that need to be understood and minister Chris Philp. line that serves the people who live on navigated. Since 1954, most professional “Justice must be seen to be done” – he the hilly Buda side of Budapest, and the journalists are now graduating, and more was reported saying. But is it? Has it really old train-driver, Zoltan, whose one aim than half have postgraduate degrees. They improved? The jury is out on that question. in life – and the afterlife – is to maintain need to be. Certainly, there is every reason to be the rail service, no matter how much the It is rather sobering reading Tom Welsh concerned that Kirk may be the only court appearance of an apparently driverless and Walter Greenwood’s preface in 1988 correspondent employed by any national train scares the locals – and baffles the local and comparing it to that of Mike Dodd and news organisation. Meanwhile, there is just police! Mark Hanna in the year 2020. In the ’88 more and more of the law intervening to Passengers of the strange ghost-train edition Welsh and Greenwood talked of prevent journalists and what the Essential also include a group of stray cats, the low-points and “the unprecedented scale of Law editors now call ‘media organisations’ unruly feline presence adding to the the attempts by government to restrict the from reporting the truth. head-scratching difficulties faced by the media over the operations of the security Mike Dodd warned in an interview with authorities. services, and the rapid development of Press Gazette this year that privacy has They say that a sad tale is best for winter, the laws which enabled these attempts to become the biggest threat to press freedom yet this is most definitely one ghost-train achieve considerable success.” in the UK. A subject that barely concerned which you can board in the full knowledge They highlighted and warned of tricks two pages of the 1988 edition now has to of there being a happy ending – with more by government and the rich and powerful explain why it is now virtually impossible than a few smiles along the track! to find loopholes to muzzle and silence to report the names of criminal suspects Stuart Millson

27 The Chartered Institute of Journalists 2020 AGM report 9. The President moved: that the 135th report of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and the IoJ(TU) as submitted to the membership be received and adopted. Friday, October 23 Outcome: Carried Held online via Zoom conferencing facilities. 10. The President moved that Samuels be reappointed as the The members were welcomed and the President outlined the Institute’s accountants and auditors. day’s events. Apologies were noted from Mr Harvey Thomas, Outcome: Carried Michael Moriarty, Tom Magner and Karim Ngobi. 11. The President moved that Boyes Turner be reappointed as Members remembered Ken Brookes, who sadly passed the Institute’s solicitors. away on 11 October. Mr Brookes, a past president, had Outcome: Carried supported the Institute for more than 50 years and had been the Institute’s copyright representative, and expert, 12. The President moved that any unfinished business by the for more than 30 years. His loyalty and commitment to the end of the meeting shall be referred for consideration by organisation was second to none, as was his tireless work in Council. defending the rights of freelance journalists. Outcome: Carried

The President reminded members of the detention, without 13. Resolution: Membership Survey charge, of Aljazeera journalist Mahmoud Hussein. The Institute regularly uses its social media sites to remind the Originally proposed by Navin Kukadia, but in his absense world of Mr Hussein’s plight and keep the pressure on the proposed by Judith Ryser and seconded by Norman Bartlett Egyptian authorities to release him. “CIoJ hosts a membership survey to obtain feedback on how the Institute is perceived, understanding its benefits IoJ(TU) session – strictly non-employing members ONLY and what additionally members would appreciate as new and improved benefits. This is accompanied by producing The following business was transacted: and enacting a plan for events and networking meetings in 1. The Chairman of the Professional Practices Board (PPB), 2021. These would be online initially with the expectation Tim Crook, delivered a report on the activities of the Board. that they would be offline social events later next year when 2. Michael Hardware moved that the audited accounts of it is hoped that the COVID-19 pandemic is more contained the Institute of Journalists (TU) for 2019 be received and and the risks to health minimised.” adopted. Outcome: Carried Outcome: Carried 14. Resolution: Protection of Journalists 3. Members then had a question and answer session with the PPB Chairman and the General Secretary. Proposed by Stuart Littleford 4. The Chairman directed members to the details of the PPB “The Chartered Institute of Journalists calls on the Law election in the AGM brochure. In addition to those detailed Commission to consider investigating whether the creation in the brochure another nomination had been received from of new criminal offences could provide better protection Mr Navin Kukadia. The Chairman moved that all members for journalists intimidated, threatened and assaulted while nominated for the Board be elected. The following members carrying out their work.” were elected to serve for 2020/21: Outcome: Unfortunately Mr Littleford was unable to Tim Crook, Norman Bartlett, Janice Shillum Bhend, Andrew attend the meeting. The matter was referred back to the Kelly, Adela Earlington, Navin Kukadia, Paul Leighton, Stuart Institute’s governing Council to take forward Littleford, Tom Magner and Karim Ngobi. Outcome: Carried 14. Resolution: Opinion pieces Proposed by Geraldine Comiskey, seconded by David THE CHARITIES Bentley 5. Reports by Chairmen of the Institute’s Charities: Dominic Cooper delivered a report on the activities of the “That the professional media put in place a policy of employing Orphan Fund and moved that the 2019 audited accounts journalists (whose only or main career is journalism) to of the Fund be received and adopted. interview politicians, experts, celebrities and anyone with an Outcome: Carried obvious vested interest in pushing an angle / promoting a cause - rather than allow these people to write opinion pieces. Dominic Cooper delivered his report on the activities of the Benevolent Fund and moved that the 2019 audited accounts “Their opinions should only be published as part of articles of the Fund be received and adopted. written by journalists, with appropriate questioning and an Outcome: Carried unbiased reporting style - or on the Letters to the Editor page.

Norman Bartlett delivered his report on the activities of the “Also, opinion pieces in general should be kept to a minimum. Oak Hill and TP O’Connor Fund and moved that the 2019 The plethora of openly biased articles in the news media audited accounts of the Fund be received and adopted. has done tremendous damage to the public perception of Outcome: Carried journalism - and is affecting us directly as readers stop buying newspapers.” Dominic Cooper delivered his report on the activities of the The motion was amended from the floor to delete Pension Fund and moved that the 2019 audited accounts the second paragraph (highlighted above). The of the Fund be received and adopted. Outcome: Carried amendment was accepted by the proposer.

6. Members then had a question and answer session on the Outcome: Carried work of the CIoJ and its charities. CIoJ session 7. The President, Professor Tim Crook, took the Chair and delivered his presidential address. 8. Michael Hardware moved: that the audited accounts of the Chartered Institute of Journalists and its charities for 2019 be received and adopted. Outcome: Carried The Chartered Institute of Journalists PO Box 765, Waltham Abbey, EN8 1NT