CIoJ welcomes Judges' ruling on Dale Farm disclosure orders


18 May 2012 The Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) today welcomed the High Court ruling that disclosure orders can never be granted as a formality. Lord Justice Moses and Mr Justice Eady

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UK MEDIA ORGANISATIONS WARN OF AMATEUR “PRESS PASS”

Posted on September 21, 2010 by CIoJ in Press cards, Press releases | Leave a comment

Police forces and other organisations are warned today about a so-called “press pass” which is being sold by Demotix, the amateur journalists’ website.

UK Press Card Authority chair Mike Granatt said:

“The Demotix ‘press pass’ is nothing of the sort, despite the fact that it is designed to look like a genuine journalists’ identity document.

“The National Press Card is the card of professional journalists within the UK. All the major media organisations, associations and trades unions are part of the scheme. They include the BBC, SKY, ITN, the Newspaper Publishers Association, the NUJ, and the Newspaper Society.

(A full list of the 17 organisations and a copy of the card can be found at www.ukpresscardauthority.co.uk)

“We have worked hard over many years to establish the National Press Card as the ID for professional journalists. It is designed to assure the police and others that the holder is a professional newsgatherer, working full-time to serve the public.”

“Our concern is that the police and third parties might be misled by the Demotix card. Its intention is confirmed by Demotix’s advice on their website which suggests ‘…walking up to the authorities with swagger, then shove the press pass in their face along with ‘that’s right, I have access to this event’ grin on your face.’”

Granatt added: “No professional journalist would behave like that. And no-one should encourage anybody to try to bluster their way past a cordon or into an event with this hobbyists’ ‘press pass’.

“We will be contacting police forces across the country to alert them to the Demotix card.”

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Journalists urge PRs to ‘get wise’ to Press card situation

Posted on March 12, 2007 by CIoJ in CIoJ Press releases, News | Leave a comment

NEWS RELEASE

Tuesday 12th March : Release time immediate

The Chartered Institute of Journalists is asking exhibition and conference press office organisers to ‘get wise’ to the structure of journalism and press cards by appreciating there is more than one guarantee of professional bona fides.

“Time after time we get instances of exhibition and conference PRs stipulating possession of a NUJ card as evidence for accreditation but that is only one of at least four Press cards that vouch for the holder’s standing. Sometimes it leads to arguments and time wasting as organisers who do not know the situation in our profession – or worse, ‘jobsworths’ who can’t appreciate the invalidity of their instructions – decline to accept evidence in the shape of these other cards,” Dominic Cooper, general secretary of the CIoJ said.

“The Chartered Institute is the senior professional body in journalism and is governed by a Royal Charter that stipulates the conduct of our members. As many of our members are specialist journalists with a germane interest in the subject covered by the event, these ‘little local difficulties’ created by people ignorant of the true situation are annoying and, sometimes, counter productive,” he said.

The CIoJ’s Professional Practices Board (PPB) has written to Trevor Foley, Chief Executive Association of Event Organisers, asking him to point out to its members the variety of credentials in a bid to make life easier for all parties. PPB chairman, Robin Morgan, said: “It is surprising how many exhibition and conference web sites refer to just one card whereas ours and the National Newsgathers Card are just as valid. It is time for these PR and marketing people to get wise to the true situation and not create avoidable misunderstandings. We hope our gentle approach will do the trick.”

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Press contact:Dominic Cooper, tel. 020 7252 1187, email dc@cioj.co.uk

Chartered Institute of Journalists, 2 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU. Website www.ioj.co.uk

Notes for Editors:

Formed in 1884, the Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) is the world’s oldest established professional body for journalists, and a representative voice of media and communications professionals throughout the UK and the Commonwealth.

Institute condemns taxing fashionistas

Posted on July 11, 2006 by CIoJ in CIoJ Press releases | Leave a comment

News release

Tuesday 11th July 2006 : Release time immediate

 

The Chartered Institute of Journalists is urging photographers B and editors B to resist paying a ‘picture tax’ after organisers of the London Fashion Week demanded £25 for press passes.

The event’s organisers, have told photographers to ‘send a letter from the commissioning editor/picture editor on company headed paper, a passport photograph and a £25 registration fee payable to British Fashion Council.’

The Institute’s Professional Practices Board has condemned the ‘fashionistas’ move as a ‘dangerous and damaging development that threatens press freedom’ and should be nipped in the bud.

Paul Stewart, the photographic member of the Board, said: “The organisers say this pass will give access to all shows on the official BFC schedule unless stopped by the designer, which is no guarantee of access or facilities.

“Fashion Week is about getting publicity for the designers yet they want to charge us for the privilege of getting them a fortune’s worth of publicity.”

Guilfest is also demanding money by instructing: “To pick up your wristband and press pass you need to register at the Excess Press/Stay Gold Press Point situated at the back of Stage 1. Please print and bring this email with you. As each pass is worth £90 we politely request that you make a donation of £10″

The PPB’s chairman, Robin Morgan, is furious. “This is a very dangerous and damaging development that could threaten the future of press freedom and any self-respecting photographer and his or her editor should resist the attempt to extract cash for covering a news event. Checking bona fides is one thing, but demanding cash is totally out of order. Unfortunately, this money-grabbing, greedy practice is spreading like wild fire and we need to stop it.

“It needs industry-wide action to stop this blackmail – by charging and then having designers choosing who they will and won’t let into their shows is interference in editorial independence and consequently an assault on press freedom.

“We have seen what happened when magazine publishers began to levy ‘colour separation charges’ on PR firms as a fee for using their handouts. This is now so widespread it has become common practice regardless of the item’s news value.

“The Institute will be writing to the organisers of these events asking them to reconsider their position but in the meantime all photographers are urged to resist this insidious development in an effort to safeguard the independence of our profession.”

 

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Press contact: Dominic Cooper, tel. 0207 252 1187, email dc@cioj.co.uk

Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ), 2 Dock Offices, Surrey Quays Road, London SE16 2XU. Website www.cioj.co.uk

 

Notes for Editors:

Formed in 1884, the Chartered Institute of Journalists (CIoJ) is the world=s oldest established professional body for journalists, and a representative voice of media and communications professionals throughout the UK and the Commonwealth.

NEW INTERNATIONAL PRESS CARD

Posted on October 2, 2004 by CIoJ in CIoJ Press releases, News | Leave a comment

NEWS RELEASE

2nd October 2004

Chartered Institute of Journalists launches tamper-proof international press card

The danger of terrorists and violent criminals obtaining or counterfeiting easily copied press cards has stimulated the Chartered Institute of Journalists to issue a new specially-designed international press card to its members.

This gives better and improved protection not only to journalists but also to those checking the credentials of reporters in emergencies. The card substantially reduces the possibility of improper persons being admitted to meetings or sites or buildings by showing forged press cards and pretending that they are from the media.

The new card incorporates important security features such as holographic foil blocking, signature strip and laminated card holder photo and details. These measures not only make the card more secure, but also make it more difficult to forge. Anyone scrutinising the card for authenticity will immediately be able to notice signs of tampering.

“With security now always a vital concern for journalists and newsgatherers, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Institute’s new International Card, which we believe is among the most secure available to pressmen anywhere,” said Institute President Stuart Notholt.

At the recent annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, which was held in Berlin, Aidan White, the General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), acknowledged that his own organisation’s press card – for many years perceived as the “official” international card – could not be seen as the only ID card for journalists.

Details of the card have been forwarded to embassies and major international organisations who request press credentials before allowing reporters or media people access to events or press briefings.

In a further unique feature, the new Institute card comes with multi-language inserts that can be changed to cater for different destinations.

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Leading journalists’ organisation calls for tighter accreditation procedures

Posted on July 24, 2002 by CIoJ in CIoJ Press releases, News, Press cards | Leave a comment

NEWS RELEASE

24th July, 2002

The Chartered Institute of Journalists voices ‘grave concern’

As the anniversary of the tragic events in New York approaches, the Chartered Institute of Journalists is calling on the government to demand of the various organisations concerned that more rigorous accreditation procedures be adopted when processing applications for press cards to avoid the possibility of them falling into the wrong hands.

In addition, the Institute would like to see those companies who profit from compiling databases of so-called ‘journalists’ impose stricter qualifications for inclusion in their lists. At present many require no verification of employment or outlets and are willing to add applicant’s names to their registers in return for no more than a signed direct debit.

The Institute admits that such databases do not in themselves provide proof of formal accreditation but it is concerned that they do provide a readily accessible stepping-stone to full accreditation, with no questions asked. In many cases, the mere fact of being so registered could result in the receipt of press-calls and perhaps admit to sensitive locations people who pose a threat to National Security.

” We live in troubled times,” says Christopher Underwood, General Secretary of the Chartered Institute of Journalists, ” And it is a matter to us of grave concern that anyone with less-than-honest intent may easily gain recognition as a journalist and obtain all the privileges of press-card holders, including access to locations and events denied the general public. The value to a terrorist of being able to reconnoitre target buildings or achieve close proximity to senior government staff and even Cabinet ministers, should not be underestimated.”

The Chartered Institute of Journalists was established in 1884. Since that time it has been responsible for accrediting many thousands of qualified journalists but has experienced in recent years a growing number of applications from people who can prove neither formal training nor provide evidence of material having been published in recognised outlets.

As the oldest professional body of its kind anywhere in the world, and uniquely the holder of a Royal Charter, the Institute believes it has both the authority and experience to recommend urgent action from all responsible organisations and to insist the government take heed of its warning.

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