NUJ concerned over monitoring

The NUJ journalists’ union has expressed concern that the government is illegitimately monitoring journalists.

This followed media reports revealing the existence of a clearing house, based at the Cabinet Office, that manages and coordinates Freedom of Information (FOI) requests across government.

The NUJ fears this practice risks journalists being put on a “blacklist”.

The union has called on UK journalists to submit subject access requests — written requests to a company or organisation asking for access to the personal information it holds on you.

This is to establish just how the government is centrally managing FOI applications from the media, and what information they are holding about journalists and their requests.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said: “At the core of all public interest journalism is the urge to search out information, shine light in dark corners, scrutinise and hold power to account.”

She said the media industry is united in backing a campaign to expand the right to information and secure greater transparency in public life.

“We want our government to be less secretive, not more,” she said.

And she described the existence of a so-called clearing house as “disturbing and outrageous”.

Stanistreet said the government’s response to date has been woefully lacking, which is why the union is asking journalists to flush out what is really going on in the heart of government.