Wright Announces Creation Of UK Committee For The Safety of Journalists

Jeremy Wright announced today that the UK will set up a national committee for the safety of journalists to champion journalists’ ability to “safely carry out their important roles in society.”

The Culture Secretary made the announcement during the international conference on media freedom hosted by the UK and Canadian Governments in London yesterday and today.

Mr Wright said: “With rising disinformation and threats against the media, the UK’s strong and independent press is a beacon of freedom that this government is committed to supporting and preserving.

“The committee will champion journalists’ ability to safely carry out their important roles in society and to continue to hold the powerful to account. This is part of our broader commitment to ensuring the future sustainability of hiqh-quality, public interest news.”

The committee will be tasked with devising a national action plan on the safety of journalists with the aim of ensuring that those who threaten journalists are held to account. The plan will examine current protections offered to journalists in the UK, and consider how to build on existing strengths. 

The announcement states that the DCMS will engage across Government and more widely to agree the terms of reference and membership of the committee, which will have representatives from journalism organisations and relevant Government departments.

At the two-day media freedom conference, the UK Government will encourage all attending Governments to commit to developing a national action plan.