Press Freedom

>Press Freedom Paris: IFJ Words of Support

Posted December 18, 2008 by jasonnparkinson

>
Thursday 18 December 2008: The International Federation of Journalist s (IFJ) sent a thank you letter for delivering the film Press Freedom: Collateral Damage to the Paris press convention “Photojournalists: an endangered species in Europe”.

Film – Press Freedom: Collateral Damage

The letter also sent on words of support following injuries I sustained while covering the Greek embassy protest on December 8.

Following delivery of the footage to Sky News and Associated Press I was forced to the doctor on Tuesday morning, 9 december. The outcome of the examination was diagnosed internal bruising and swelling, and nerve damage, which was believed to be caused by the swelling putting pressure on the nerves, causing numbing and pains down my entire right leg.

The numb leg has gone now, as I write this, but pains and aches are still making it hard to walk far. Time and time again I am struck at the damage done from one relatively simple incident, compared to some of the more dangerous countries and situations I have operated in and walked away without a scratch.

But then again, no one ever said this job would make sense.

All material on this blog – stills, video and print – is (c) Jason N. Parkinson 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Please contact the AUTHOR for access to any material and the extensive four-year video archive.

jasonnparkinson@gmail.com

>Met Investigation Into Obstruction of Journalists by Police

Posted December 13, 2008 by jasonnparkinson

>
Following the widely reported incident at the London Greek Embassy, one of several that day, on Monday 8 December – and a barage of damning articles and statements from the NUJ, BJP, Journalism.co.uk and Press Gazette, The Metropolitan Police Force have immediately called for an investigation into the incident that was caught by myself on film, while delivering footage to Sky News and Associated Press.

jasonnparkinson@gmail.com

Police Remove Press Covering Greek Embassy Protest

Posted December 8, 2008 by jasonnparkinson

Continue reading →

>Stopped Under Terror Act For Talking Terror Act

Posted November 30, 2008 by jasonnparkinson

>
Sunday 23 November 2008: Irony is the first word that comes to mind, and it probably is the most appropriate for yet another Stop and Account under Section 44 of the Terrorism Act for a fully registered “legitimate” working journalist in the UK.

Anti-surveillance protest at New Scotland Yard

4pm: I was to be interviewed on film and photographed by a professional team from Italy’s Colors magazine on terrorism law and how it has affected UK press freedom. So what better place for the interview than underneath the New Scotland Yard sign on Broadway in London.

The team, an Italian photographer and a Brazilian videojournalist, were questioned the moment they arrived by the female officer on guard. All seemed well. No suspicion. Until I turned up, that is.

Within minutes of arriving a diplomatic police car pulled up, checked the situation and drove away. All good. Then a diplomatic police van pulled up and the two officers watched from a distance. It was then the officer on door duty moved in and began taking the details of the two foreign journalists. At no time did she explain to them, or myself, why she was doing this.

Then she turned to me, just as a second diplomatic police van arrived. I asked under what law she was taking my details and answered for her: “Section 44, terrorism act.”

She aknowledged. Her pen ran out. it was a cold day, so I lent her mine. We went through the form. A diplomatic officer stepped out the second van and listened to our conversation. I answered the questions before she had a chance to ask. She commented on my experience of such matters.

“I’ve had a lot of practice,” I said.

“Why? Are you wanted?” she asked, jokingly.

“Unless journalism has become a crime, no, I’m not.”

She laughed: “We’ll see.”

“Well, I guess we’ll see how the law changes go this week, eh.” I added, refering to the new Counter Terrorism Bill which lists section 58, terrorist crimes including the release of any information about police constable. It is still uncertain how this will be used against photographers and videojournalists who release images of police officers in their material.

I got my S&S form, the officer returned my pen. The diplomatic police remained in earshot as I conducted my interview and openly attacked the destruction of press freedom in the UK from the direct result of the War on Terror and Terror Act that strips individual freedom in return for the illusion of safety.

The only other thing to add was the officer on guard commented on how all this was a waste of time, for her and me. I did warn her that I was already wearing a microphone and we were already recording.

The NUJ-funded docu-short Press Freedom: Collateral Damage is hosted by Current TV and can be purchased here on DVD.

All stills taken from video. All material on this blog – stills, video and print – is (c) Jason N. Parkinson 2008. All Rights Reserved.

Please contact the AUTHOR for access to any material an extensive four-year video archive.

jasonnparkinson@gmail.com

>Brighton: Shut ITT

Posted October 17, 2008 by jasonnparkinson

Wednesday 15 October 2008: Protestors returned to the streets of Brighton to march on the EDO-MBM ITT factory that makes bomb components.

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

Shut ITT! was the follow up attempt to close the factory after the Smash EDO protest in June.

Again the policing was heavy. And so was the use of batons, pepper spray and attack dogs. One photojournalist covering the protest was savaged by a police dog. A second photojournalist was assaulted by police and the East Sussex police seemed to think it okay to put journalists under surveillance.

BJP report one.

It would seem that lessons have still not yet been learned by various police forces across the UK since the release of my NUJ funded docu-short Press Freedom: Collateral Damage. In fact, according to this BJP report the police are completely unaware of the press guidelines agreed by their own superiors.

Perhaps then, we can admit after over two years of the guidelines being in place, they are not working on the street. Perhaps we need the guidelines to be promoted to an actual hard law. Guidelines look great on paper. But try arguing those guidelines on the street and you are libel to be threatened with arrest for obstruction.

It is a bold statement, but I am making it.

I am sick to death of seeing my work colleagues getting hurt while trying to do their job. This journalist’s experience, and those of my colleagues, sets out a continuous pattern of abuse, ignorance, intimidation, harassment, surveillance and violence.

There is no excuse to baton a photographer, no excuse to pepper spray a photographer and absolutely no excuse to use a dog as an offensive weapon against a photographer.