New SLAPP guidance and advice hub for journalists facing legal intimidation
SLAPPstraining.org provides case studies and interviews with prominent journalists who have faced legal threats designed to silence their work
– 1 min read
Sign up for Journalism UK
A one-minute read, every weekday. Unsubscribe anytime.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
A new website dedicated to helping journalists defend against Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) has been launched by the University of Sheffield’s Centre for Freedom of the Media. The platform, SLAPPstraining.org, offers practical advice, case studies, and interviews with prominent journalists who have faced legal intimidation, including Bellingcat’s Eliot Higgins and Guardian reporter Sirin Kale.
It comes as the UK slips two places in the World Press Freedom Index amid stalled progress on legal threats to silence reporting.
The site provides guidance on recognising SLAPP tactics, best practices for legal protection, and where to seek help if targeted. It also includes example legal letters and tracks evolving legislation in England and Wales, with plans to expand internationally.
SLAPPs are increasingly used by wealthy individuals to silence public interest reporting. The launch comes as global organisations warn of the chilling effect such lawsuits have on journalism. The new resource aims to ensure no journalist faces these threats alone.
This article was drafted by an AI assistant before it was edited by a human.
Written by
Jacob Granger is the community editor of JournalismUK