UNN is one of the fastest growing new media news organisations in the UK. We believe in Brexit and rebuilding Britain, views shared by the majority of people in the UK. That hasn’t stopped Channel 4 using their considerable platform to try and silence us as well as The Guardian using smear tactics against us.
UNN is an IMPRESS regulated News Network. IMPRESS is the official regulator set up after the Cairncross review to ensure accountability in publishing. IMPRESS has no say on our editorial stance or content but rather if people feel that we have failed or reported inaccurately then they have someone they can go to.
Most of the old media are regulated by Ofcom and IPSO which many regard as self policing and with no power to act. We expressly went with IMPRESS as we continue to be appalled the way the MSM is able to smear everyday people and also the phone hacking scandal. UNN also has a fully approved Green Check mark 9 out of 10 score with ‘NewsGuard’, set up to stop ‘fake news’ in fact a better rating than much of the UK media.
The process for applying for press passes is antiquated and laborious. All of the main news organisations such as Sky, The BBC etc have their own ability to issue cards which leaves us with a small amount we can apply to. We wanted Press Passes to be able to go into courtrooms and to cover other important events.
After applying we received the following e-mail:
We never got a message on our land line and then our Lead Correspondent David Clews phoned back and this is what he has to say:
Firstly we were told that this specific ‘gatekeeper’ was only able to approve proper news organisations. I stated we were IMPRESS regulated with a substantial social media portfolio, undertook news shows, live broadcasts etc.
The gentleman then replied that he had a look on our website and didn’t regard us as a proper News Channel as we were obviously biased and therefore not eligible to receive them. He also said his organisation doesn’t recognise IMPRESS as a regulator even though it is the official UK Government one!
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3lrOdLPTWo[/embedyt]I advised that yes we are pro-Brexit but so is The Sun/Express etc and others are anti-Brexit. Having an editorial stance is not against any rules of journalism. I then asked whether it was because they didn’t approve of our content and this was fobbed off. Can you imagine a left wing/remain organisation facing this treatment?
I got the sense of extreme snobbery and in a polite way I asked whether the Gentleman was engaging in elitism and said no but we do not regard you as a proper news organisation!
We are now in touch with IMPRESS to see what can be done but the fact that in this day and age certain ‘gatekeepers’ in the UK have a monopoly to decide who can and cannot report the news is frightening.”
These cards are the only official ones recognised by the Police and other authorities and on their website it states:
THE UK PRESS CARD AUTHORITY Ltd (UKPCA) manages a voluntary scheme for issuing press/media credentials – the UK Press Card – to professional newsgatherers working in the UK. It is wholly owned and collectively controlled by the UK’s major media organisations, industry associations, trades unions, and professional associations.
The scheme is managed through 19 gatekeepers. These are national organisations which represent or employ journalists and other media personnel (employed or freelance) whose work involves gathering material for editorial publication in all media — print, broadcast and electronic.
Each gatekeeper issues the UK Press Card to its members, or to those whom it or its members employ. The gatekeeper is responsible to the UKPCA Board for ensuring that the conditions of the scheme are adhered to.
The UK Press Card is produced by a single card contractor who holds a database of all holders. The card itself is produced to the highest modern standards, and its features are described on a poster which can be downloaded from this website. Cards have both security and verification features, and every card has to be renewed at least every two years.
The definition of eligibility is that a newsgatherer must be “wholly or significantly concerned”. “professionally as a media worker who needs to identify himself or herself in public”. In simple terms, s/he must earn most or all of his/her income on the front-line of the news business. The principal occupations covered include reporters and writers, photographers, TV camera operators and crews, and other broadcasting workers such as producers, researchers, dispatch riders and drivers.
The scheme was launched in 1992 by all the major industry bodies with the help of the Metropolitan Police. The aims were: the end of the proliferation of press cards; and agreement on a universally recognised card (bearing the word PRESS). The card is formally recognised by all police forces in the UK, by the Ministry of Justice, and de facto by other public bodies.
The UKPCA is governed by a board of directors representing every gatekeeper (each of whom holds one of the company’s 19 shares). There are also a secretary and independent chair. It has a Gatekeepers’ Committee (in practice a mirror of the board) which oversees the operation of the scheme, but does not itself issue cards. The committee can direct applicants to the appropriate gatekeeper if necessary.
UNN asks how do we not meet this criteria? How on earth can a ‘gatekeeper’ say no and not even give any reasons for it?
This is a frightening and sinister attempt by the old media and their guardians to suppress new media and as a result severely limit and curtail free speech.
We will not take this lying down and will continue to try our best to get these passes and bring you the truth.
Please enter your e-mail below so we can keep you up to date as you can see the censorship is getting WORSE!
Opinions from the Unity News Network (UNN) editorial team & various contributors. | UNN always clearly distinguishes between news and opinion pieces and as an open minded outlet we publish views from a variety of people and organisation that do not necessarily reflect the views of UNN or its writers. Articles published under UNN Opinions are always opinion pieces and if published on behalf of a contributor will contain that authors name at the start of the piece.
