NUJ warns Climate Camp over restrictions on media

The NUJ has written to the Camp for Climate Action expressing deep concern at the restrictions they intend to impose on the media covering their Climate Camp at Heathrow Airport, and called on them to reconsider as a matter of urgency

In his letter to the group NUJ Freelance Organiser John Toner said: “While I can understand your apprehension that coverage of the camp by mainstream media could be negative, the conditions you have stipulated are guaranteed to attract criticism from all professional journalists, whether supportive of, or hostile to, your views.”

Camp for Climate Action has stated that media will only be permitted on site between 11 am and noon; that they must be accompanied and identified with a flag; must stick with the tour; that some journalists will not be allowed on site and that a “black-list” will be operated. Sympathetic journalists will be given longer access.

In his letter, Mr Toner warned them: “You should be aware that journalists of all political views and none are united in their abhorrence of restrictions on media access, and that you risk alienating even 'sympathetic' journalists by your behaviour.

“I am sure your organisation believes in openness and transparency, and that you would criticise public bodies who fall short of those aspirations. Your stated intention to avoid openness imitates the behaviour of those organisations you criticise.

“Alternatively, by allowing the media more open access you will impress all journalists, and even those you consider hostile to your aims will have something positive to report about the event.”

07/08/07

Sympathetic' journalists
Homepage: http://www.nuj.org.uk

Additions

Background to the camp mainstream media access policy

08.08.2007 17:03

The policy is a compromise that attempts to provide reasonable media
access whilst respecting participants' right to privacy; a balancing act
between the desire to reach a wide audience through the mainstream media,
and the need to respect many participants’ wishes to avoid the media
spotlight.

Events similar to the camp have in the past had a zero-access policy with
regards to the mainstream media. The one-hour media tour at last year’s
camp was a major step for many camp participants, and our decision to
additionally allow some journalists to live with us on the site this year
is yet another leap. Some participants are ready for even further access,
others feel passionately that the camp should be a media-free zone. The
policy as it stands is a compromise between these positions, agreed
democratically at the final open camp planning meeting in London in July.
This was one of many democratic decisions to place restrictions on the
nature of the camp, including restrictions on the police entering, the
presence of profit-making stalls, and noise late at night. Journalists
shouldn't feel singled out, as they haven't been. It is also important to
be clear that we are not restricting media access to only ‘sympathetic’
journalists. Finally, the camp is not public space – it is a community of
people living together, if temporarily. It is an open space, as in open to
people to participate, not a free space where anything goes.

The policy is not designed to control the media message or prevent
critical coverage, but to allow camp life to unfold without the continuous
pressure of media attention. We have always been clear that media work
comes second to the key aims and activities of the camp – educating
ourselves through workshops, creating a self-managed and sustainable
community, and taking direct action – much of which happens more fully and
productively without a media presence.

However, we also believe that engaging with the media is essential to
fully communicate what the camp is about to as wide an audience as
possible, and the media team are working hard to facilitate this process.
Please be aware that we are facing multiple opposing requests and
constraints, and please bear with us as we attempt to negotiate these
pressures.

Camp for Climate Action
mail e-mail: info@climatecamp.org.uk
Homepage: http://www.climatecamp.org.uk

Open letter to the NUJ from a climate camper

08.08.2007 17:44

There are many in the camp, myself included, who do not want to be looking over our shoulders for a variety of reasons. We dont expect to let TV cameras into our homes without permission, so why the camp, which is only open in the sense of 'open participation'? The camp should first and foremost be a safe space for people and was never designed to be a media first and foremost. It is not a festival, it is a temporary autonomous zone, and a temporary home. The media need to keep their ego in check and realise that they are only reporting the story and the story needs to happen of its own accord, and that they should not stand in its way.

While there are many sympathetic journalists, there are far to many cases of treacherous reporting from journalists misrepresenting and setting up people for a fall - even among the more 'respectable' or liberal media. I've been a victim of this myself. The NUJ needs to understand the mistrust that this builds. That journalists are allowed on is a big step for many. It is a managed solution that allow those who are not being part of the media to avoid it - is that a freedom we are to be forced to surrender?

There are many who do not want their faces filmed, from fear of state oppression to trauma of being filmed while being abused as a child. What of their needs and rights?

While I do not agree with the entirety of the camp policy on permitting journalists, for instance 'embedded' journalists (I hate the concept, and dont want them there in the first place), the policy at the organizing meeting was well discussed out and aimed at meeting everyones concerns. Have you, the NUJ, familiarized yourself with this discussion and the reason behind it.

The tone of your letter was not conciliatory but arrogant; it approached us as if we were denying you some fundamental right. It smacks of protectionism, but you are not so fast to protect others at the same time. The media has no inalienable right, certainly not when so much of the media is illiberal and quick to produce misinformed stores. What of the rights of the camp and those attending to ensure that they are not misrepresented?

In general I support the NUJ, but not when the make unreasonable demands for its own purposes. That will only serve to alienate those who have backed up your fights for a free press in the past. Please take the time to read and respond to our concerns. You do us no one any favours by attacking us without attempting to understanding the policies we have adopted.

Yours
Freedom To Protest

FTP

Voice of the NUJ?

08.08.2007 18:52

I'm confussed as to how the freelance organiser can be seen as representing the views of the NUJ as a whole on this issue. I am a member of the NUJ and have certainly not been consulted about my views of the media policy agreed by the climate camp. I attended the last organising meeting of the climate camp and saw the media proposals being discussed at length and eventually being agreed by consensus. That process was certainly more democractic and open than the open letter proporting to represent the views of the NUJ membership.

It is quite normal for the media to be subjected to restrictions on access to all kinds of events and those organising the climate camp have gone out of it's way to facilitate access in such a way as to be as convenient as possible to all those involved, both the media and the participants of the camp.

As others have already pointed out, the camp is not a public space, it is people homes and workplace and the media would not expect unrestricted access to such places under other circumstances. Additionally, this years provision for media access goes much further than last year so it's strange to hear these complaints at this stage.

While I have (and expressed) concerns about some elements of the media policy, I respect the process that led to it's formation and agreement. As a journalist I'm disapointed by the references to 'black lists' and 'sympathetic journos' but I've listened to the reasoning and the compromises inherent in trying to take into account everyones needs and opinions. However, I'm equally disapointed and concerned at seeing my union apparently issuing statements in the name of the membership without a similar level of democractic consultation.

another NUJ member

Photos, Filming, Recording etc at the climate camp

09.08.2007 11:31

looking at the comments about indymedia etc above, i think it's worth saying that the camp site will have a policy that anyone taking photos or recording video or audio at the camp must seek the permission of those they intend to record.

these are the conditions that people have agreed to for the duration of the camp.

the problem with the mainstream media of course is that they are not part of that agreement (and would not agree to it I imagine) and so they have a seperate policy.

easy, it's all about trust (and honesty).

that said, just 'cos someone says they are indymedia shouldn't count for anything. Judge people by their actions. If someone is clearly taking photos or filming people without asking permission at the camp then you have every right to challenge them.

snapper