Female Journalists Rally Around Allison Pearson Amid Fears for Press Freedom

[Social Media]

 

The investigation into journalist Allison Pearson has sparked a wave of support among female journalists, who warn they could face similar scrutiny over their work or social media posts. Pearson, a columnist for *The Telegraph*, is currently under investigation by three police forces for a now-deleted tweet. The controversy has ignited broader discussions about freedom of expression and the role of the police in regulating speech.  

 

 

On Remembrance Sunday, Pearson was visited at her home by Essex Police. They informed her of a complaint related to her tweet but declined to provide details about the alleged offense or the identity of the complainant. This incident has drawn criticism from fellow journalists, including *Daily Mail* columnist Sarah Vine, who described the situation as a "frightening moment for press freedom."  

 

 

Vine remarked on the pressures faced by journalists, particularly women, saying: “Journalists, and especially female journalists, are used to receiving a lot of abuse. It’s not easy, but it comes with the territory. We console ourselves with the thought that the police and responsible authorities have our back. What has happened to @AllisonPearson has shown that is no longer true. It’s a frightening moment for press freedom. The fact that @Keir_Starmer seems okay with it is even more chilling.”  

 

 

*Daily Mail* journalist Rachel Johnson, the sister of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, echoed these concerns. Sharing an article written by her brother in Pearson’s defense, she stated: “Hear hear – and so say all of us standing with @AllisonPearson. They messed with the wrong Welshwoman this time, but any one of us could be next.”  

 

 

The investigation centers on whether Pearson’s tweet constituted a Non-Crime Hate Incident (NCHI) or violated the Malicious Communications Act. Although NCHIs are not criminal offenses, they are recorded by police. Essex Police recently clarified that Pearson is now being investigated under section 17 of the Public Order Act for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with a post made in November last year.  

 

The controversy has prompted a government review of how police handle NCHIs. Donna Jones, the former chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, criticized the approach, arguing that police should not be engaging with individuals unless a crime has been committed. “The police should not be going to somebody’s home if they have not committed a crime,” Jones stated. She added, “If it is a non-crime, it should stop there. Yes, collect the data, feed it into the Home Office, but going further only wastes police resources.”  

 

The sentiment was shared by Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, who told *The Telegraph*: “We need to stop this behavior of people wasting police time on trivial incidents because they don’t like something, as if they’re in a nursery.” Other politicians, including Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, and Suella Braverman, former home secretary, have voiced similar frustrations with the policing of speech.  

 

Renowned barrister Geoffrey Robertson KC also criticized the investigation, calling it “a waste of public money.” The incident, he suggested, illustrates the need for a reassessment of priorities in policing.  

 

As the debate over Pearson’s case continues, the outpouring of support highlights concerns among female journalists about the implications for press freedom. “Any one of us could be next,” Rachel Johnson warned, a sentiment that resonates widely in a profession increasingly under scrutiny for expressing contentious views.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-11-18

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

As the debate over Pearson’s case continues, the outpouring of support highlights concerns among female journalists about the implications for press freedom.

 

Why only women?

 

This disgusting approach should concern everyone who values free speech and liberty.

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, JonnyF said:

 

Why only women?

 

This disgusting approach should concern everyone who values free speech and liberty.

It doesn’t concern me, I don’t post hate messages online.

 

 

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It doesn’t concern me, I don’t post hate messages online.

 

 

 

In other words, you hold the state sanctioned opinions. Lucky for you.

 

For now at least...

 

It's fine to post hate and spread misinformation if you are David Lammy, for example. Or many of the race baiters on the left. 

[BritManToo]

30 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It doesn’t concern me, I don’t post hate messages online.

Your posts are full of hate for those that don't share your opinions.

Edited Monday at 01:50 AM by BritManToo

[Gsxrnz]

The Left believe that people should be arrested for expressing a valid opinion that is contrary to their worldview. 

 

The Right would go to war to defend a Leftists' right to express their opinion.

 

It shouldn't really be a moral dilemma. 

Edited Monday at 02:00 AM by Gsxrnz

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

In other words, you hold the state sanctioned opinions. Lucky for you.

 

For now at least...

 

It's fine to post hate and spread misinformation if you are David Lammy, for example. Or many of the race baiters on the left. 

I’m right behind the idea of all freedoms coming with responsibility.

 

The law does govern online abuse, it has nothing to do with the hyperbole ‘press freedoms’.

 

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, Gsxrnz said:

The Left believe that people should be arrested for expressing a valid opinion that is contrary to their worldview. 

 

The Right would go to war to defend a Leftists' right to express their opinion.

 

It shouldn't really be a moral dilemma. 

Erm I’m on the left and I don’t hold that belief you invented.

 

I don’t know anyone on the left who does.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Your posts are full of hate for those that don't share your opinions.

I look forward to you providing examples of me posting ‘hate’.

 

 

[JonnyF]

6 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

I’m right behind the idea of all freedoms coming with responsibility.

 

Unlike under the 2 tier system where the "responsibility" one has to accept depends on which side of the political spectrum you are on. 

 

I have seen your attitude to freedom of speech somewhere before.

 

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

54 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Unlike under the 2 tier system where the "responsibility" one has to accept depends on which side of the political spectrum you are on. 

 

I have seen your attitude to freedom of speech somewhere before.

 

 

 

There is no two tier system Jonny and no amount of ripped memes doing your thinking for you will make it so.

[JonnyF]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

There is no two tier system Jonny and no amount of ripped memes doing your thinking for you will make it so.

 

Back to the gaslighting I see. 

[Black arab]

Torygraph been doubling down on misinformation and she's been lying about what the police officer said to her whilst at her house , it's come out on police cam video. But hey right wingers love to moan nowadays, snowflakes 🤣

[James105]

10 minutes ago, Black arab said:

Torygraph been doubling down on misinformation and she's been lying about what the police officer said to her whilst at her house , it's come out on police cam video. But hey right wingers love to moan nowadays, snowflakes 🤣

 

Do you have a link to the police video that you say has come out?  Not seen this and would like to see it myself.  

[RichardColeman]

Its the people that cannot understand criticism, understand a joke or that other people have a different viewpoint that should be investigated, not those that make their voices known. 

 

Should all the followers of books saying kill the infidel be in prison for hate speech ? 

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, RichardColeman said:

Its the people that cannot understand criticism, understand a joke or that other people have a different viewpoint that should be investigated, not those that make their voices known. 

 

Should all the followers of books saying kill the infidel be in prison for hate speech ? 

Racist slurs are not jokes or legitimate criticism.

[Chomper Higgot]

 “The force has since lodged a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) regulator over the Telegraph's reporting of the incident. “

 

The police have also released a transcript from the attending officer’s body camera.

 

Ms Pearson needs to get her story straightened out.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cev9nxnygzpo.amp

 

 

Edited Monday at 08:58 AM by Chomper Higgot

[James105]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 “The force has since lodged a complaint with the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) regulator over the Telegraph's reporting of the incident. “

 

The police have also released a transcript from the attending officer’s body camera.

 

Ms Pearson needs to get her story straightened out.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cev9nxnygzpo.amp

 

 

Think you need to get your story straightened out.  The police have released a partial of the transcript.  What was in the rest of it they didn't release I wonder and why wouldn't they just release the whole thing?   

[Chomper Higgot]

7 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

Think you need to get your story straightened out.  The police have released a partial of the transcript.  What was in the rest of it they didn't release I wonder and why wouldn't they just release the whole thing?   

Oh I don’t mind waiting for the whole story.

 

Ms Pearson and the police have each given different t accounts of the incident, the police have body camera footage and have filed a press complaint.

 
I have feeling the wait for the full story won’t be long now.
 

[scottiejohn]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

the police have body camera footage

Then why not show it all?

[James105]

24 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Oh I don’t mind waiting for the whole story.

 

 

You didn't wait for the full story though. Based on a partial transcript you have jumped to the conclusion that the journalist needs to get her story straight but not the police.  Let's hope you are never selected for any kind of jury service where the full facts are important.  

[Chomper Higgot]

26 minutes ago, James105 said:

 

You didn't wait for the full story though. Based on a partial transcript you have jumped to the conclusion that the journalist needs to get her story straight but not the police.  Let's hope you are never selected for any kind of jury service where the full facts are important.  

Neither did you James, you’ve been triggered since this ‘story’ broke.

 

And it’s looking like a ‘whopper’ of a ‘story’.

 

 

[Chomper Higgot]

51 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Then why not show it all?

My bet would be to let the Independent Press Standards Organization deal with the matter.

 

The police have lodged a complaint.

[scottiejohn]

27 minutes ago, James105 said:

Let's hope you are never selected for any kind of jury service where the full facts are important.  

I do not think that "facts" ever get in the way of his posts!

He (@Chomper Higgot) MUST always win in every thread!

[scottiejohn]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Neither did you James, you’ve been triggered since this ‘story’ broke.

 

And it’s looking like a ‘whopper’ of a ‘story’.

 

 

To you!

[Chomper Higgot]

Just now, scottiejohn said:

I do not think that "facts" ever get in the way of his posts!

He (@Chomper Higgot) MUST always win in every thread!

As a member of this forum I’m e turned to participate in any thread I wish.

 

However, and please do take note, I am not the subject of any thread.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, scottiejohn said:

To you!

It’s quite straightforward John.

 

Ms Pearson has made some categorical statements regarding her interaction with the police. She’s repeated these statements and her employer The Telegraph have published them.

 

The police have countered Ms Pearson’s the statements with their own version of events, which they have stated are recorded on body camera.

 

The police are so sure of their position that they have lodged a complaint against The Telegraph’s reporting with the Independent Press Standards Organization.

 

The truth will out.

 

[scottiejohn]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

As a member of this forum I’m e turned to participate in any thread I wish.

 

However, and please do take note, I am not the subject of any thread.

What has that "post" got to do with my comment you replied to?

If, by any chance, you seem to think it is relevant it just proves my point!

[scottiejohn]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The truth will out.

Why don't you stop the Sherlock Holmes conjecture and wait till the FULL facts come out.

 

PS;  I emphasise "facts"!

Edited Monday at 10:28 AM by scottiejohn

[portisaacozzy]

6 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Unlike under the 2 tier system where the "responsibility" one has to accept depends on which side of the political spectrum you are on. 

 

I have seen your attitude to freedom of speech somewhere before.

 

 

 

love it !!!