The press is dead! Phone hacking and freedom of speech

Wednesday 29 February 2012, 6.15PM

Speaker: John Kampfner, Chief Executive of Index on Censorship

From Wikileaks to Russell Brand to phone hacking, the issue of freedom of speech has hit the headlines in a dramatic way. But where do we draw the line? Is the press really out of control or are we all becoming a little too sensitive, too keen to be offended? John Kampfner, a long-time journalist and former editor of the New Statesman, is now one of the UK’s foremost campaigners for freedom of expression. He argues that, while press regulation has to be stronger and standards have to improve, Britain is in danger of going down a dangerous route towards censorship. The recent dawn raids by the police at the home of Sun journalists was just the latest example.

Expect some uncompromising, controversial views from a top commentator…. John Kampfner is Chief Executive of Index on Censorship, one of the world's leading free expression organisations and has just started as Google’s adviser on Freedom of Expression and Culture for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In late 2009 Index launched a successful campaign to change UK libel laws.

John is also Chair of the board of Turner Contemporary in Margate, Kent. The Turner Contemporary gallery is scheduled to open in spring 2011, making it one of the most important visual arts and regeneration projects in the south east of England.

John's latest book, Freedom For Sale, was launched in the UK in September 2009 and in the US in March 2010. It is also being published in Italian, Spanish and Russian. Promotion events have taken place around the UK and the rest of the world, from Oslo to Brussels, from Singapore to India. The book was shortlisted for the prestigious Orwell Prize in May 2010. His previous books include the critically acclaimed and best selling Blair's Wars, an account of the former prime minister's militaristic hubris.

John has presented several documentaries for BBC television and radio. In 2002 he won the Foreign Press Association award for Film of the Year and Journalist of the Year for his two-parter on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, called 'The Ugly War'. His film 'War Spin', exposing the propaganda behind the rescue of Jessica Lynch, received considerable publicity in the US and UK.

John is a regular pundit for all channels on politics and foreign affairs.

He began his career as a foreign correspondent with the Daily Telegraph, first in East Berlin where he reported on the fall of the Wall and the unification of Germany, and then in Moscow at the time of the coup and the collapse of Soviet Communism. On returning to the UK in the mid-1990s, he became Chief Political Correspondent at the FT and political commentator for the BBC's Today programme. Between 2002 and 2005, John was Political Editor of the New Statesman.

John Kampfner was Editor of the New Statesman from 2005-2008. He was the British Society of Magazine Editors Current Affairs Editor of the Year in 2006.

Photo: Jaquen (Niccolò Caranti)

Location: Bowland Auditorium, Berrick Saul building

Admission: This lecture is now full

Email: publiclectures@york.ac.uk

Telephone: 01904 324466