Camden Gazette https://camdengazette.co.uk Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:03:03 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 NMA Coordinates National SLAPPs Day of Action With UK Anti‑SLAPP Coalition https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-coordinates-national-slapps-day-of-action-with-uk-anti-slapp-coalition/ Wed, 15 Apr 2026 00:03:03 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-coordinates-national-slapps-day-of-action-with-uk-anti-slapp-coalition/ 15 April 2026 Local news organisations across the UK are today taking part in a coordinated Day of Action against abusive legal threats known as SLAPPs, led by the News Media Association in partnership with the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition. The day brings together publishers to highlight the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation […]]]>

15 April 2026

Local news organisations across the UK are today taking part in a coordinated Day of Action against abusive legal threats known as SLAPPs, led by the News Media Association in partnership with the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition.

The day brings together publishers to highlight the growing use of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation to intimidate journalists and suppress reporting in the public interest, and to urge the Government to deliver robust anti-SLAPP legislation.

Publishers are marking the Day of Action through op-eds and letters to MPs, underlining the particular vulnerability of local and regional newsrooms to costly and time-consuming legal intimidation.

The NMA and the UK Anti-SLAPP Coalition are calling on the Government to include comprehensive, cross-cutting anti-SLAPP measures in the King’s Speech in May.

Owen Meredith, NMA chief executive, said: “SLAPPs thrive in silence, using the threat of costly and intimidating legal action to shut down journalism in the public interest.

“This SLAPPs Day of Action is a timely opportunity to shine a light on the growing misuse of the legal system and its chilling effect on journalists and newsrooms, particularly at a local level.

“As the Government sets out its priorities in the King’s Speech, there is a clear and urgent need for comprehensive anti-SLAPP legislation to properly safeguard public interest journalism and uphold freedom of expression.”

David Higgerson, chief content officer at Reach plc, said: “SLAPPs are not about seeking justice – they are about silencing journalism. When legal threats are used as a weapon, they chill reporting and deprive the public of information they have a right to know.”

James Mitchinson, editor at The Yorkshire Post, said: “Journalists should not have to weigh the public interest against the threat of financial ruin. Strong, effective anti-SLAPP protections are essential if scrutiny journalism is to survive.”

Jon Gripton, group editorial director, Tindle Newspapers, said: “Freedom of expression and accountable journalism are cornerstones of our democracy. Tackling SLAPPs is about protecting those principles and ensuring they endure.”

Notes to editors

  • Strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) are legal actions used to harass and intimidate those speaking out on matters of public interest.
  • The Day of Action is coordinated by the News Media Association with the UK Anti‑SLAPP Coalition, a network of free‑expression, media freedom and civil society organisations.
]]> NMA Appoints Theo Bamber As Next Chief Executive https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-appoints-theo-bamber-as-next-chief-executive/ Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:53:07 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-appoints-theo-bamber-as-next-chief-executive/ 13 April 2026 The News Media Association, the voice of the UK’s local and national news media industry, has announced the appointment of Theo Bamber as its next chief executive. Theo is currently chief policy and public affairs officer at the Music Publishers’ Association, with a wealth of experience working in agencies to support a […]]]>

13 April 2026

The News Media Association, the voice of the UK’s local and national news media industry, has announced the appointment of Theo Bamber as its next chief executive.

Theo is currently chief policy and public affairs officer at the Music Publishers’ Association, with a wealth of experience working in agencies to support a range of clients, including many in the creative sectors.

Theo will succeed Owen Meredith, the current chief executive, who is joining dmg media in May.

NMA chairman Lord Black of Brentwood said: “We are delighted that Theo will be joining us as the NMA’s CEO, as the news industry focusses on the long-term sustainability of frontline news gathering and reporting. As AI continues to disrupt how users discover information and makes generation and dissemination of misleading content ever easier, news brands deliver readers with trusted news and information, a vital antidote to mis and disinformation. Theo has an outstanding track record in political and government affairs and brings a wealth of experience to lead the NMA’s advocacy as this critical time.

“I pay enormous tribute to Owen Meredith for his exemplary leadership of the NMA over five tumultuous years for our industry. He has led the Association with the greatest skill, energy and vision at a time of rapid change – not least in the legislative environment in which we operate.

“He has transformed the NMA’s communications and its profile within Westminster, built formidable relationships with stakeholders – not least with the Make It Fair campaign – and successfully navigated landmark legislation, including the Online Safety Act, the Digital Markets Act and the Media Act. I am delighted he is staying within the industry. We wish him well and look forward to continuing to work with him.”

Theo Bamber said: “The UK’s news media is the heartbeat of our democracy, but its vital role is too often taken for granted. The NMA’s next chapter is about turning recent, hard-won legislative progress into long-term commercial security and sustainability for the entire industry.

“I am privileged to be leading the NMA at such a pivotal time— championing our free and diverse press, promoting professional journalism and its role in holding power to account, and protecting the value created in newsrooms across the country.”

Theo will join the NMA on 18 May.

]]> News Media Association Responds to Government Statement on AI and Copyright https://camdengazette.co.uk/news-media-association-responds-to-government-statement-on-ai-and-copyright/ Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:02:05 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/news-media-association-responds-to-government-statement-on-ai-and-copyright/ News Media Association Responds to Government Statement on AI and Copyright – News Media Association Skip to main content 18 March 2026 Responding to the statement made today on AI and copyright by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall MP, News Media Association chief executive, Owen Meredith, has said: “We […]]]>




News Media Association Responds to Government Statement on AI and Copyright – News Media Association

















18 March 2026

Responding to the statement made today on AI and copyright by the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, Liz Kendall MP, News Media Association chief executive, Owen Meredith, has said:

“We are pleased that the government has listened to concerns and taken the unworkable opt-out copyright exception off the table, recognising that giving away our goldmine of creative content is not the way to drive UK growth. By the same logic, the government must now swiftly dismiss other exceptions that could be even more harmful, particularly an exception for ‘science and research’ or ‘commercial research’.

“AI firms should now focus on meaningful engagement with news publishers to secure licenses to access their rich breadth of content, and the government must make clear that this is what they expect. Scaling a dynamic licensing market will support the government’s ambition for the UK to have the fastest AI adoption in the G7, with the presence of high-quality news content being crucial to building trust in AI models”.


]]> Big Tech ‘Fantasy Economics’ Fails To Demonstrate Weakening UK Copyright Law Will Lead to Growth https://camdengazette.co.uk/big-tech-fantasy-economics-fails-to-demonstrate-weakening-uk-copyright-law-will-lead-to-growth/ Tue, 10 Mar 2026 06:02:00 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/big-tech-fantasy-economics-fails-to-demonstrate-weakening-uk-copyright-law-will-lead-to-growth/ 10 March 2026 Claims by big tech firms and their allies that weakening UK copyright law would boost AI growth and the economy are not supported by their own evidence, according to a new review by Oliver & Ohlbaum. Their analysis examines three economic modelling reports from Microsoft/Public First, the Computer & Communications Industry Association […]]]>

10 March 2026

Claims by big tech firms and their allies that weakening UK copyright law would boost AI growth and the economy are not supported by their own evidence, according to a new review by Oliver & Ohlbaum.

Their analysis examines three economic modelling reports from Microsoft/Public First, the Computer & Communications Industry Association and the Centre for British Progress, and finds that none of the studies actually demonstrates that introducing a broad copyright exception for AI training would deliver net economic growth for the UK. Also absent is any evidence that degrading copyright would give the UK a competitive advantage internationally.

All three reports wrongly assume that copyright is the main constraint on AI growth, while ignoring more significant barriers such as skills shortages, compute capacity, infrastructure, energy and land. None explains why copyright should be decisive for UK competitiveness, particularly when compared with these factors.

Crucially, none of the studies assesses the impact on the UK’s creative and media sectors, despite creative industries being one of the government’s priority growth sectors and contributing around £146bn in GVA. As a result, the headline growth figures fail to show whether the proposals would benefit the UK overall or simply redistribute value away from rightsholders to US tech firms.

The analysis – commissioned by the News Media Association, Publishers Association, and Publishers’ Licensing Services – also finds that all three studies ignore the rapidly growing market for licensing content for AI training and grounding, and assume – without evidence – that licensing cannot scale. In reality, licensing deals already exist and new collective solutions are being developed. And, as the analysis sets out, licensing supports the transparency and auditability of inputs to AI model, which can support trust and adoption across the economy.

Under the government’s Green Book, regulatory intervention requires evidence of market failure. None of the studies demonstrates such a failure, and none comes close to meeting the government’s standards for economic appraisal. They fail to assess losses in other sectors, impacts on consumers or regions, or the overall net effect on UK investment and GDP.

Owen Meredith, NMA chief executive, said: “O&O’s rigorous analysis exposes Big Tech’s claims that degrading copyright will deliver growth for what they are: fantasy economics. The modelling they rely on ignores the real constraints on AI deployment in the UK and completely fails to account for the catastrophic consequences that weakening copyright would have for our world‑leading creative and media sectors.

“Most astonishingly, these studies simply pretend that licensing is not happening – when in reality a licensing market for AI training and grounding is already emerging and is capable of scaling to meet demand. With clarity and confidence from government in a robust copyright regime, the UK can build a genuinely pro‑growth AI economy in which both AI developers and creators prosper. We do not need to tear down copyright to get there – we just need certainty so we can get on with it.”

Tom West, chief executive of Publishers’ Licensing Services, said: “What this analysis makes clear is that the economic case for weakening copyright has not been demonstrated. The reports reviewed rely on assumptions that overlook both the scale of the UK’s creative industries and the licensing solutions already emerging to support AI development.”

“Licensing is a proven and adaptable framework that enables innovation while ensuring publishers and authors are properly remunerated for the use of their work. We are working with our partners to develop new collective licensing solutions to give AI developers clear, practical routes to access published content lawfully. With the right policy certainty, the UK can support both a thriving AI sector and strong creative industries.”

Dan Conway, chief executive of the Publishers Association, said: “O&O’s independent review provides a comprehensive takedown of the flawed and misleading arguments employed by the tech lobby.

“As the review identifies, not one of the three reports proves that copyright is a barrier to growth, nor considers the impact a copyright exception would have on the UK’s leading knowledge and creative industries. The value of the UK’s established AI licensing market is ignored completely. This is despite proof that publishers have been licensing high-quality content to support AI innovation and scientific progress for years.

“Calls for a commercial TDM exception in the name of AI growth are – yet again – a flimsy excuse for the wholesale transfer of value from UK companies to US big tech for free. The government needs to stick to its guns and back UK business, including publishing and the wider creative industries, through upholding copyright and standing firm against an increasingly egregious tech lobby.”

]]> NMA Welcomes Lords Select Committee Report On AI And Copyright https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-welcomes-lords-select-committee-report-on-ai-and-copyright/ Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:47:13 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-welcomes-lords-select-committee-report-on-ai-and-copyright/ NMA Welcomes Lords Select Committee Report On AI And Copyright – News Media Association Skip to main content 6 March 2026 Welcoming the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee report on AI and copyright published today, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: “More than a year after the Government floated unworkable opt […]]]>




NMA Welcomes Lords Select Committee Report On AI And Copyright – News Media Association

















6 March 2026

Welcoming the House of Lords Communications and Digital Committee report on AI and copyright published today, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: “More than a year after the Government floated unworkable opt out proposals – now rightly abandoned – jurisdictions around the globe have moved decisively to protect their sovereign data assets.

“At the same time, AI companies have recognised a simple truth: access to new, high quality journalism is indispensable to training and grounding their models, and have begun to licence trusted journalistic content.

“This Report is right to conclude that the Government must decisively rule out any copyright exception, including for so called ‘commercial research’. Prolonged Government-generated uncertainty has been exploited by AI firms and has chilled the licensing market for UK content. There is one swift, simple step the Government can take to unlock growth in UK intellectual property: publicly rule out changes to copyright law and allow the market to scale at pace.”


]]> NMA Questions Whether Tech Giants’ App Store Commitments ‘Worth Paper They Are Printed On’ https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-questions-whether-tech-giants-app-store-commitments-worth-paper-they-are-printed-on/ Tue, 10 Feb 2026 14:38:27 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-questions-whether-tech-giants-app-store-commitments-worth-paper-they-are-printed-on/ 10 February 2026 Responding the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement that it is seeking views on commitments from Apple and Google to deliver improvements to the way UK developers publish apps and how they access Apple’s tools, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: “It is very disappointing that the Competition Markets Authority has […]]]>

10 February 2026

Responding the Competition and Markets Authority’s announcement that it is seeking views on commitments from Apple and Google to deliver improvements to the way UK developers publish apps and how they access Apple’s tools, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith said: “It is very disappointing that the Competition Markets Authority has chosen not to use the toolkit created for them by Parliament, with cross-party support, under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. Given the highly dubious track record of these tech giants, we would question whether these voluntary commitments are really worth the paper they are printed on.

“Although the thrust of the commitments from Apple and Google are welcome, the failure to propose robust, legally enforceable conduct requirements – which would kick in if the firms fail to comply – will inevitably further delay the urgently needed improvements for app developers and consumers.

“Government must give the CMA its unequivocal support and the resources it needs to go much further and faster to deliver the regime as Parliament intended. The regulator must now accelerate its work on other interventions and conduct requirements – especially on steering – to ensure a fair, competitive, and healthy mobile ecosystem supporting domestic growth and British consumers. Further delays risk undermining the will of Parliament the intent of the new regime.”

]]> NMA Welcomes CMA Proposals On Google Search But Stronger Remedies Are Needed https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-welcomes-cma-proposals-on-google-search-but-stronger-remedies-are-needed/ Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:12:27 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-welcomes-cma-proposals-on-google-search-but-stronger-remedies-are-needed/ 28 January 2026 Responding to the Competition and Markets Authority’s proposed measures to improve Google search services in the UK, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith has said: “This is a critical next step in bringing the new digital markets regime to life – and with-it fair competition to the digital economy. We strongly […]]]>

28 January 2026

Responding to the Competition and Markets Authority’s proposed measures to improve Google search services in the UK, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith has said:

“This is a critical next step in bringing the new digital markets regime to life – and with-it fair competition to the digital economy. We strongly welcome the CMA’s proposals to allow news publishers to control whether their content is used in AI Overviews while remaining visible in Google Search results and to ensure fair ranking of publisher content. The CMA rightly recognises that Google is able to extract valuable data without reward, harming publishers and giving the company an unfair advantage over competitors in the AI model market, including British startups.

“Opening up model development to competition is vital to attracting inward investment to the UK, while licensing our high-quality journalistic content could unlock significant economic growth. However, given the seriousness of Google’s anti-competitive impact on news media and the AI market, we are sceptical that weaker behavioural remedies will be sufficient, and we urge the CMA to consider full physical separation of crawlers for Search and individual AI products.

“Ensuring the CMA is properly resourced and supported by the government will allow the regulator to move faster on other essential interventions, including requiring Google to negotiate fair and reasonable payment terms with publishers. Without a clear duty on Google to negotiate, publishers will continue to face significant barriers to securing a fair price for their valuable content. It is critical that Ministers support the CMA to move at pace.”

]]> Lord Black of Brentwood Becomes NMA Chairman https://camdengazette.co.uk/lord-black-of-brentwood-becomes-nma-chairman/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:14:24 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/lord-black-of-brentwood-becomes-nma-chairman/ 14 January 2026 Telegraph Media Group deputy chairman Lord Black took over as NMA chairman on 1 January, succeeding Tindle Newspapers chief executive Danny Cammiade. Jeremy Spooner, Baylis Community Media CEO and chair of the NMA’s Independent Publishers Forum, has become NMA vice chairman. Lord Black said: “Danny has done a superb job leading the […]]]>

14 January 2026

Telegraph Media Group deputy chairman Lord Black took over as NMA chairman on 1 January, succeeding Tindle Newspapers chief executive Danny Cammiade.

Jeremy Spooner, Baylis Community Media CEO and chair of the NMA’s Independent Publishers Forum, has become NMA vice chairman.

Lord Black said: “Danny has done a superb job leading the NMA over the past two years and I look forward to continuing his work.

“The role of the news media sector in providing the public with trusted and accurate information is more important than ever before, yet we face threats and challenges on multiple fronts.

“Through strong campaigning and advocacy, the NMA will continue powerfully to make the case for a truly sustainable news media sector.”

NMA chief executive Owen Meredith said: “Guy’s deep knowledge of the whole media sector and expertise in crucial topics such as press freedom and digital competition, alongside his political acumen, is a huge asset to the NMA.  

“With so many critical opportunities and challenges facing the sector, I know that the NMA will continue to go from strength to strength under his chairmanship.”

]]> NMA Responds To DCMS’ BBC Charter Review https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-responds-to-dcms-bbc-charter-review/ Tue, 16 Dec 2025 15:02:11 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-responds-to-dcms-bbc-charter-review/ NMA Responds To DCMS’ BBC Charter Review – News Media Association Skip to main content 16 December 2025 In response to the publication of the BBC Charter Review by DCMS today, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith has said: “We are pleased that the Charter renewal process will look at the BBC’s impact on […]]]>




NMA Responds To DCMS’ BBC Charter Review – News Media Association

















16 December 2025

In response to the publication of the BBC Charter Review by DCMS today, News Media Association chief executive Owen Meredith has said:

“We are pleased that the Charter renewal process will look at the BBC’s impact on the commercial news sector, with a specific focus on local media. Ofcom has acknowledged that the BBC’s expansion into digital local news is impacting commercial providers, so decisive action is urgent.

“We look forward to engaging fully with the Charter renewal to ensure that the process results in a BBC which can continue to deliver value for the British public while complementing, not competing with, a thriving commercial news ecosystem, which includes ensuring any attempts to generate more commercial revenue do not have a detrimental impact on the wider market. The suggestion that the BBC could carry advertising online or across its platforms would be hugely damaging and distort the commercial marketplace. It should be ruled out.”


]]> NMA Responds to Government’s AI & Copyright Update, Urging Clear Licensing Rules https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-responds-to-governments-ai-copyright-update-urging-clear-licensing-rules/ Mon, 15 Dec 2025 13:35:14 +0000 https://camdengazette.co.uk/nma-responds-to-governments-ai-copyright-update-urging-clear-licensing-rules/ NMA Responds to Government’s AI & Copyright Update, Urging Clear Licensing Rules – News Media Association Skip to main content 15 December 2025 Responding to the government’s Statement of Progress on AI and Copyright, NMA chief executive Owen Meredith has said: “The overwhelming response to the AI and copyright consultation – with 95 per cent […]]]>




NMA Responds to Government’s AI & Copyright Update, Urging Clear Licensing Rules – News Media Association

















15 December 2025

Responding to the government’s Statement of Progress on AI and Copyright, NMA chief executive Owen Meredith has said:

“The overwhelming response to the AI and copyright consultation – with 95 per cent of respondents unequivocally stating that copyright works must be licensed for AI training – gives the government a clear course of action.

“The Secretary of State must now definitively rule out any new copyright exception, bringing an end to the uncertainty created by this prolonged process over the past year. This will send a clear message to AI developers that they must enter into licensing agreements with the UK’s media and creative copyright owners, unlocking investment and strengthening the market for the high-quality content that is the most valuable ingredient in producing safe, trustworthy AI models.”


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