Lecture focuses on freedom of speech
Posted on 17 February 2012
John Kampfner, journalist and former editor of the New Statesman, will question whether the press is really out of control, or if we have become too sensitive and keen to be offended.
One of the UK’s foremost campaigners for freedom of expression, he will argue 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.Those attending the lecture can expect some uncompromising, controversial views from a top commentator.
Nik Miller
John Kampfner, the Chief Executive of Index on Censorship, will present the lecture “The press is dead! Phone hacking and freedom of speech” on Wednesday, 29 February.
Editor of the New Statesman from 2005 to 2008, he became the British Society of Magazine Editors Current Affairs Editor of the Year in 2006. He is Google’s adviser on Freedom of Expression and Culture for Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The public event is part of the University of York’s Experts in Industry series of lectures, organised by Nik Miller, Alumni and Friends Engagement Manager.
He said: “The issue of freedom of speech is clearly very topical. Those attending the lecture can expect some uncompromising, controversial views from a top commentator.”
The Index on Censorship is one of the world's leading free expression organisations and in late 2009 launched a successful campaign to change UK libel laws.
John Kampfner 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 Financial Times and political commentator for the BBC's Today programme. From 2002 to 2005, he was Political Editor of the New Statesman.
He 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-part programme on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, The Ugly War. His film War Spin, exposing the propaganda behind the rescue of Jessica Lynch, received considerable publicity in the United States and UK.
John Kampfner’s most recent book, Freedom For Sale, was published in September 2009 and was shortlisted for the prestigious Orwell Prize in May 2010. His previous books include the critically acclaimed and best selling Blair's Wars.
The lecture on Wednesday, 29 February at 6.15pm at the Bowland Auditorium, Berrick Saul building, is free and open to all. Admission is by free ticket only, available from www.york.ac.uk/tickets, email publiclectures@york.ac.uk or phone 01904 324466.
Notes to editors:
- The University hosts a series of public lectures covering a wide variety of subjects every year. A complete list is available at www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/
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