Caroline’s Law: Petition signed by 850,000 calls for end to ‘media bullying’
A petition signed by more than 850,000 people calling for the introduction of a “Caroline’s Law” to bring an end to “harassment and bullying by the media” has been handed to the government.
Campaigners delivered the petition, which was started in the wake of the death of TV presenter Caroline Flack, to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport on Tuesday.
Vans carrying placards with messages about the media were parked outside as the petition was handed over.
One read: “Behind every photo and every story is a real person. 850,000 people say end media bullying now.”
The online petition calls for a change in the law “that would make it a criminal offence, not dissimilar to corporate manslaughter, for the British media to knowingly and relentlessly bully a person, whether they be in the public eye or not, up to the point that they take their own life”, according to its website.
Read on...
It added: “Sections of the British press and media act with impunity, and more recently there have been a number of cases where they have sought to sensationalise the misfortune of individuals to the catastrophic detriment of the individuals’ mental welfare.”
Holly Maltby, from campaign group 38 degrees, said that the petition, which was set up by a member of the public, had seen “the most extraordinary growth in the last couple of weeks”.
She added: “The petition was set up after the sad passing of Caroline Flack and I think we are still in a moment where the nation is coming to terms with that, and I’m sure her family are too.
“This is actually something that people across the country experience.
“It is not just celebrities who have their lives invaded by the press.”
She added that Flack’s death “has brought to life something that the public really, really care about”.
“What we are calling for today is for the government to really take this seriously and for there to be a proper independent regulator which has teeth who can really hold the media to account when these things are not being done well,” Maltby added.
Former Love Island host Flack was found dead at her home in east London last month after she took her own life.
She had been at the centre of media attention after being charged with assaulting her boyfriend Lewis Burton in December. She had pleaded not guilty to assault by beating at a magistrates’ court hearing, but was due to face trial in March.
In a social media post shared posthumously by her family, Flack wrote: “The truth has been taken out of my hands and used as entertainment.
“I’ve accepted shame and toxic opinions on my life for over 10 years and yet told myself it’s all part of my job. No complaining.”
Get involved
- If you need to speak to someone, you can contact The Samaritans on 116 123.
We know everyone is suffering under the Tories - but the Canary is a vital weapon in our fight back, and we need your support
The Canary Workers’ Co-op knows life is hard. The Tories are waging a class war against us we’re all having to fight. But like trade unions and community organising, truly independent working-class media is a vital weapon in our armoury.
The Canary doesn’t have the budget of the corporate media. In fact, our income is over 1,000 times less than the Guardian’s. What we do have is a radical agenda that disrupts power and amplifies marginalised communities. But we can only do this with our readers’ support.
So please, help us continue to spread messages of resistance and hope. Even the smallest donation would mean the world to us.
-
Show Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to leave a comment.Join the conversationPlease read our comment moderation policy here.
I don’t think this will have much effect; the press has learned nothing and forgotten nothing since the death of the princess of Wales; it would take the death of someone related to someone richer and more powerful or better connected than Rupert Murdoch himself before anything gets done; probably one of Jeff Bezos’ kids; not that I’m calling for the death of one of his kids you understand, quite the opposite….What’s that noise? Oh no, it’s the black helicopters! No, No, Aaaaaaaarrrrrrrggggghhhh!