ESFL Executive Board Member Gabrielle Shiner

Last week, European Students For Liberty Executive Board Member Gabrielle Shiner wrote a scathing article condemning censorship in UK publications.

In response to the July 2011 phone-hacking scandal involving Rupert Murdoch, the UK launched the Leveson Inquiry to investigate media ethics. Throughout the inquiry recommendations have been made on the future of press regulation and governance. One group of campaigners, Turn Your Back on Page 3, has seen this as an opportunity to lobby for the banishment of “Page 3″.

Page 3 refers to a tabloid feature that has been running in the UK since 1970. The term Page 3 is literally derived from the third page of the very popular national tabloid, The Sun, which daily features a large photograph of a topless glamour model. The tradition has now spread to similar tabloid newspapers beyond The Sun.

Over the years, Page 3 has been a target for conservatives and various women’s groups. The Leveson Inquiry merely gave them a platform and cause for hope, along with many other interest groups hoping to impose new regulations on the press. Turn Your Back on Page 3 is lobbying for the banishment of Page 3 on the terms that it is sexist, encouraging women’s insecurities as well as violence and hate towards women in society.

Gabrielle’s brilliant condemnation of the Turn Your Back on Page 3 movement was picked up by Spiked Online. Check it out!