The announcement that a number of UK journalists and defence figures would be barred from entering the country as part of sanctions came on Tuesday and includes well-known reporters included the BBC’s Clive Myrie, Sky’s Stuart Ramsey, Channel 4’s Cathy Newman and journalists and senior figures from The Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian, the FT and ITV.
Commenting on the barring, Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors described the accusation that UK journalists had deliberately disseminated fake news in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as “ludicrous”.
She said: “Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, UK journalists have reported the facts fairly and accurately and have put their lives at risk to do so.
“To accuse British journalists – and editors of national titles including the Telegraph, The Times, the FT, the Mail and The Guardian – of engaging in deliberate dissemination and bias in relation to their coverage of Ukraine is ludicrous.
“The Society of Editors vehemently condemns this blatant attack on press freedom by Russia which is nothing more than a deliberate attempt to avoid scrutiny and accountability. UK journalists will continue to report on the war in Ukraine without fear or favour and the industry will never waver from telling the truth and accurately reporting the facts.”
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