Newspapers say NO to Control the Free Press

Wednesday, 20^th March 20, 2013

NEWSPAPERS SAY NO TO CONTROL THE FREE PRESS – I have stated this in a few articles, regarding the UK Governments plans to create legislation or a Royal Charter whereby it could control what the Press prints, and that is I will NOT, under any circumstance be part of dictatorship that restricts my rights, or the rights of my contributors, to write with an open and free voice.  Lock me up and throw away the key if you must but silence me you shall not.

My opinion is echoed across the free Press in the UK, including one of the oldest and most respected magazines; ‘The Spectator’.

Fraser Nelson, The Spectator’ editor has said that he would not recognize any proposed government regulations regardless of the consequences.  A similar stand is being taken by other respected newspapers, including the Daily Mail.

Fraser Nelson made his stance on any type of regulatory body by sending a clear and unequivocal message on the front cover of The Spectator this week.

It is undeniable that Freedom of Speech and Freedom of Expression are the very pillars of democracy; take these elements away from the people and the result is nothing less than a state run country typically in the fashion of North Korea.

“A free Press cannot be free if it is dependent on and accountable to a regulatory body recognised by the state.” Adrian Jeakings, President, The Newspaper Society

It seems almost incredulous to think that even the Kremlin funded broadcaster ‘Russia Today’ dealt a somewhat humiliating blow to the 3 Party Government talks on shackling press, when it announced that the proposed guidelines is a direct threat to the freedom of the press.

Ian Hislop, editor of Private Eye, and a know activist for freedom of the press also said that he would have no part in a system that would in effect take away our freedom to openly, without fear of persecution and oppression, express our opinions and views.

Extract: Daily Mail

While it is widely understood that the Press has it’s flaw, and I for one have made many mistakes, it does not alter the fact that shackling the Press is something that cannot take place if the people value their ability to stand up and be heard – regardless of whether you agree with what is said or not, that is irrelevant.  What is irrelevant is that we should, at all times, without let or hindrance, be allowed to openly report on what we see and hear.

Max Mosley, a fierce campaigner for the new controls yesterday made a statement that should quite frankly frighten the public to its very core.  He stated that if the newspapers refused to sign up then Parliament should intervene; even raising the possibility that legislation should be enacted in order to force the Press into silence.  It is, without doubt, the likes of Max Mosley who would rather see the United Kingdom under totalitarianism rule.

In my view, when someone like Max Mosley even hints at the very suggestion of taking away our rights and freedoms, then it is time to act and stand up and say with one voice ‘NO’; which is what Fraser Nelson, of The Spectator has rightly done.

“Closing down websites is the kind of behaviour expected of totalitarian regimes like Iran and China, not the UK.” Kirsty Hughes, spokesman for Campaign group Index on Censorship.

There is, without doubt, grave concerns for our freedoms to report the news and openly express our views on it.

While I have never claimed to be a journalist, my intention, with Meebal.com, was to create a website on which I could write about the news and give my personal opinion on.  I have never asked anyone to agree with what I write but I do ask that I have the freedom to express myself.

So of the comments on Meebal.com are sometimes fairly erroneous towards me and Meebal.com however I refuse to block any such comments because of my unfaltering belief that people have a voice and a right to be heard.

According to reports, extract below, from the Daily Mail, the campaigners for “Hacked Off” are still refusing to name those responsible for financing such an irresponsible campaign to bound and gag the press.

I have today taken the decision to move the hosting servers of Meebal.com to the United States to ensure that any form of totalitarianism rule cannot be imposed upon me or those people who contribute content on Meebal.com.