Protest to defend journalism

LONDON PHOTOGRAPHERS' Branch member Jason Parkinson is in the High Court on Wednesday 25 April for a Judicial Review hearing, challenging a production order ordering him to hand over to Essex police footage from the Dale Farm traveller site evictions in October.

The application, granted on 19 March, also covers ITN, the BBC, Hardcash Productions and BskyB, all of which were also ordered to hand over footage from the evictions.

The National Union of Journalists has called a protest at 9.15am outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand (map), to defend journalism and to send a clear message the police: we will not be forced through production orders into being evidence-gatherers for the police. The event has been dubbed "Not FIT" in reference to police evidence-gathering units known as Forward Intelligence Teams (FIT).

And in advance of the hearing there will be an NUJ-organised meeting on the protection of sources and journalistic freedom at the Houses of Parliament on Thursday 19 April. Confirmed speakers include John Battle of ITN, Gavin Millar QC, NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet and Jason Parkinson. Our host is Austin Mitchell MP. Kick-off is at 6.30pm; only if you start queuing for security checks by 6pm will the queue not be enormous, and vice versa. RSVP via campaigns@nuj.org.uk