Make Journalism Honest
Donation protected
To protect free speech and democratic debate, we must demand that journalists tell the truth.
Freedom of speech, and by extension, freedom of the press, is the most imperative freedom of all. If we cannot speak, we are enslaved. But let us be clear about why free speech is vital – so that we may tell the truth.
Free speech therefore is not enhanced by untruths, it is threatened by them.
Libel (or defamation) laws have been in use in England and the Commonwealth for several centuries. Defamation laws are important because they protect the truth via the punishment of lies. It is the truth that counts; it is the truth we must protect.
True political debate cannot take place in the midst of lies and smears. One cannot debate lies. There is no solid ground to stand on. Listeners become confused as to what is true, and those on the receiving end of smear will live with the fact that “mud sticks” (the person throwing mud also knows this), and their reputation, their message, their political offer to the electorate, will be forever sullied unjustly.
In this case, democracy itself is the victim.
I argue that a journalist should not use labels to describe political candidates, without offering evidence in support. A journalist cannot casually describe a public figure (repeatedly) as a mass murderer without evidence, why then can they can they casually and repeatedly refer to candidates as “far-right” or “neo-fascist” or “racist” without a single example of objective evidence that this is fair or appropriate?
It is time to take up this challenge, and I intend to do so, but I need your help.
I have contacted lawyers who are willing to examine recent articles written about me in the Guardian[1], the Telegraph[2], and elsewhere. They will look for defamatory remarks, but more importantly, will promote public discussion on this issue.
“Far-right”, “fascist” and “racist” are words with meaning. Far-right brings to mind Nazism, anti-Semitism, violent racist thugs. I have been so described on countless occasions despite my clear stances against racism, violence, anti-Semitism and Nazism.
I am not the only person to suffer these inaccurate labels. Many others, whose crime is merely to criticize a religion in an apparently free society, are designated as the worst of the worst by this mainstream press.
This must stop. Journalists must tell the truth and offer evidence for their assertions. The British electorate deserves to cast its vote on the basis of facts and not the personal biases and prejudices of journalists.
I now need to raise some funds for the legal review of the articles pertaining to me. The first target is £500 + VAT for initial consultation. We must move fast however. Please give what you can and please spread this message far and wide.
Thank you for helping me fight for the truth.
Anne Marie Waters
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/29/bigot-who-would-lead-ukip-is-a-product-of-our-times
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/22/neo-fascist-entryists-want-take-ukip-must-save-freedom-loving/
Freedom of speech, and by extension, freedom of the press, is the most imperative freedom of all. If we cannot speak, we are enslaved. But let us be clear about why free speech is vital – so that we may tell the truth.
Free speech therefore is not enhanced by untruths, it is threatened by them.
Libel (or defamation) laws have been in use in England and the Commonwealth for several centuries. Defamation laws are important because they protect the truth via the punishment of lies. It is the truth that counts; it is the truth we must protect.
True political debate cannot take place in the midst of lies and smears. One cannot debate lies. There is no solid ground to stand on. Listeners become confused as to what is true, and those on the receiving end of smear will live with the fact that “mud sticks” (the person throwing mud also knows this), and their reputation, their message, their political offer to the electorate, will be forever sullied unjustly.
In this case, democracy itself is the victim.
I argue that a journalist should not use labels to describe political candidates, without offering evidence in support. A journalist cannot casually describe a public figure (repeatedly) as a mass murderer without evidence, why then can they can they casually and repeatedly refer to candidates as “far-right” or “neo-fascist” or “racist” without a single example of objective evidence that this is fair or appropriate?
It is time to take up this challenge, and I intend to do so, but I need your help.
I have contacted lawyers who are willing to examine recent articles written about me in the Guardian[1], the Telegraph[2], and elsewhere. They will look for defamatory remarks, but more importantly, will promote public discussion on this issue.
“Far-right”, “fascist” and “racist” are words with meaning. Far-right brings to mind Nazism, anti-Semitism, violent racist thugs. I have been so described on countless occasions despite my clear stances against racism, violence, anti-Semitism and Nazism.
I am not the only person to suffer these inaccurate labels. Many others, whose crime is merely to criticize a religion in an apparently free society, are designated as the worst of the worst by this mainstream press.
This must stop. Journalists must tell the truth and offer evidence for their assertions. The British electorate deserves to cast its vote on the basis of facts and not the personal biases and prejudices of journalists.
I now need to raise some funds for the legal review of the articles pertaining to me. The first target is £500 + VAT for initial consultation. We must move fast however. Please give what you can and please spread this message far and wide.
Thank you for helping me fight for the truth.
Anne Marie Waters
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jul/29/bigot-who-would-lead-ukip-is-a-product-of-our-times
[2] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/22/neo-fascist-entryists-want-take-ukip-must-save-freedom-loving/
Organizer and beneficiary
Barbara Sparks
Organizer
Anne Marie Waters
Beneficiary
