The Centre for Freedom of the Media (CFOM) has built a new site to provide information and training relating to Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs), launched to coincide with World Press Freedom Day 2026.
Legal threats against journalists are a pressing issue worldwide. From foreign agent laws to tightening of national security legislation and access to information, journalists regularly face multiple legal challenges to conduct public interest reporting.
One such challenge that has been identified by UNESCO and the Council of Europe is that of Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation (SLAPPs). These are legal actions which are threatened or pursued against journalists to stop a certain story from being published, typically coming in the form of letters from solicitors’ firms or management companies. The letters often have an aggressive to threatening tone, which can be especially intimidating for a journalist who has not experienced such threats before.
Researchers from the Centre of Freedom of the Media, housed within the School of Information, Journalism and Communication at the University of Sheffield, have set up a training website as a vital new resource about SLAPPs.
The website focuses on providing information on three main areas: Firstly, by exploring case law and current legislation to explain what SLAPPs are and how they are typically brought against journalists; secondly, by speaking with journalists who have been subject to SLAPPs for real-world advice on best protection from SLAPPs; and finally, by providing information on where to turn to if someone is subject to a SLAPP, and showing what SLAPP letters typically look like.
Dr Gemma Horton, Impact Fellow at the CFOM said: “In England & Wales, we have seen SLAPPs used to try and silence critical reporting on stories involving political corruption, economic crime and sexual misconduct. Journalists and outlets such as the Guardian and Bellingcat have been on the receiving end of these legal threats, but so have journalists writing for student publications.
“Public interest and investigative reporting often uncovers things that someone would prefer to keep hidden. While legislation has been passed in England & Wales to try to tackle SLAPPs, it is not strong enough.
“SLAPPs are clearly an issue that need addressing and CFOM has aimed to play a part in doing this by producing SLAPPsTraining.org. The website is open access and free for anyone to use. It has been designed by leading experts in SLAPPs from a range of industries including journalism, civil society and academia, with specific tailored advice for journalists in England & Wales.”
Visit the new website here.