Charging journalists to report from party conferences will restrict open democracy, an alliance of media and free speech organisations has today warned.

In a joint statement, coordinated by the Society of Editors, Foreign Press Association, News Media Association and News Media Coalition, free speech organisations have criticised the introduction of charges imposed by the Conservative and Labour Party for journalists to attend upcoming Autumn party conferences. The Conservative Party has imposed a fee of £125 to journalists to attend its October conference while the Labour Party is charging £5 for press attendance.

The statement, calling for the charges to be scrapped and also signed by organisations including ARTICLE 19, the National Union of Journalists, openDemocracy and Index on Censorship, says that a fundamental tenet of a free and democratic society is the principle of open government and that imposing such fees sets a “dangerous precedent” for countries worldwide that may use the decision to justify financial barriers to media scrutiny of political events.

The statement reads: “For any political party to restrict fair access by charging newsgatherers to attend conferences flies in the face of their public commitments to press freedom. While we understand staging well-administered and secure events is costly, the news industry already contributes significantly by putting its reporting teams on the ground, backed by newsroom operations.

“Admission fees, such as the £125 imposed by the Conservative Party, could have a particularly profound impact on freelance journalists, smaller outlets, local journalists and foreign correspondents. At a time when the UK government continues to assert its credentials globally, as a bastion of media freedom, this decision sets a dangerous precedent for countries around the world who will use this decision to justify financial and other barriers to media scrutiny of the political process.

“We therefore call upon party conference organisers to commit to enabling a free press to inform society by withdrawing any charges on journalists to attend conferences.”

The statement, alongside a full list of signatories, can be found below.

Joint Statement on the Introduction of Charges for Media Coverage of Party Conferences

• Conservative and Labour Parties introduce charges for journalists’ access to conferences
• Alliance of media and free speech organisations warns any charges will restrict open democracy

Our organisations, representing print, online, and broadcast media and free speech organisations object to the introduction of charging for media access to the Party Conferences this Autumn.

A fundamental tenet of a free and democratic society is the principle of open government and we believe this is best served by enabling journalists to freely report on matters of public interest and to stimulate political debate.

For any political party to restrict fair access by charging newsgatherers to attend conferences flies in the face of their public commitments to press freedom. While we understand staging well-administered and secure events is costly, the news industry already contributes significantly by putting its reporting teams on the ground, backed by newsroom operations.

Admission fees, such as the £125 imposed by the Conservative Party, could have a particularly profound impact on freelance journalists, smaller outlets, local journalists and foreign correspondents. At a time when the UK government continues to assert its credentials globally, as a bastion of media freedom, this decision sets a dangerous precedent for countries around the world who will use this decision to justify financial and other barriers to media scrutiny of the political process.

The Labour Party have introduced similar fees, albeit at the much lower rate of £5.

We therefore call upon party conference organisers to commit to enabling a free press to inform society by withdrawing any charges on journalists to attend conferences.

Any such attendance fees are a tax on democracy, organisers must scrap the media access charges now.

Signed By:

Foreign Press Association

News Media Association

News Media Coalition

Society of Editors

ARTICLE 19

Association of European Journalists

Commonwealth Press Union

European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)

Index on Censorship

International Press Institute (IPI)

National Union of Journalists

openDemocracy

Professional Publishers Association

Rory Peck Trust