Professor Roy Greenslade
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Afternoon plenary
Summary of key issues raised by
delegates and responses from the
The media’s representation
panel
of human rights – how can
• Why is the Human Rights Act viewed
it be challenged?
negatively in the UK?
Anna Ford (Chair) introduced this session as:
The British media’s negative presentation of
“An opportunity for media experts, journalists
the Human Rights Act may stem from the anti-
and people who have worked in public life
European agenda of many press owners and
and have been part of the media, contributed
editors, who see a clash between the European
to the media, or indeed been victims of the
Convention on Human Rights and their own
media, to provide delegates with an insight into
freedom and rights, argued Professor Roy
how human rights in the domestic context are
Greenslade. But this right-wing angle has also
represented in the UK media, how this situation
taken hold, he said, “because it is easier to be
has come about and how reporting can be
against something than for something” and other
encouraged to cover the positive difference
newspapers and broadcasters find it difficult not
human rights are making to people’s lives.”
to respond to a negative agenda. This negativity
Panellists:
in the press gets reflected back by the public.
• Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, journalist, and columnist
“People come forward with odd cases that do
for The Independent
seem to suggest that [the Human Rights Act ] has
• Professor Roy Greenslade, Professor of
been used in a negative way. It becomes a kind of
Journalism at City University London, and
dialectic between the papers and the people that
former editor of the Daily Mirror
leads to huge misunderstandings.”
• Kevin Maguire, Associate Editor, Daily Mirror
Roy also reminded delegates that “newspapers
• Bob Satchwell, Executive Director, Society of
are businesses that exist to make money – their
Editors
priority is to attract advertising. Advertisers want
• Clare Short MP, Independent MP and former to advertise in papers that focus on middle class
Secretary of State for International Development. people with money, not poverty or vulnerable
Mark Easton, Home Editor of BBC News and minorities”.
20 Jeremy Dear, General Secretary of the National Yasmin Alibhai- Brown pointed out that all
Union of Journalists were unable to attend as progressive laws initially face hostile reactions
scheduled and sent apologies on the day. in the media, but this has become more
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