Newsrooms across the UK are today joining a Day of Action calling on the Government to crack down on strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) as well as including protections in the forthcoming King’s Speech.

Co-ordinated by the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition, which the Society is a member of, today’s day of action aims to mobilise local media outlets, supporters, SLAPP targets and members of the public to call for greater protections. Publishers are marking the Day of Action through op-eds and letters to MPs, underlining the particular vulnerability of local and regional newsrooms to costly and time-consuming legal intimidation.

David Higgerson, chief content officer at Reach plc, said: “SLAPPs are not about seeking justice – they are about silencing journalism. When legal threats are used as a weapon, they chill reporting and deprive the public of information they have a right to know.”

Toby Granville, editorial development director at Newsquest, said: “Local journalism plays a vital democratic role. SLAPPs exploit imbalances of power and risk deterring reporters from pursuing stories that matter to their communities.”

Local news platforms as well as the coalition are calling on the public to write to their MP and ask the government to back calls for reform and include anti-SLAPP protections in the King’s Speech. A template letter can be found here with further information on the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition found on its website here.