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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/greenslade/2016/nov/04/impress-dumped-as-sponsor-of-the-british-journalism-awards
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| Impress dumped as sponsor of the British journalism awards Impress dumped as sponsor of the British journalism awards | |
| (25 days later) | |
| Impress, the press regulator that secured royal charter recognition, has been dumped as a sponsor of the British journalism awards. | Impress, the press regulator that secured royal charter recognition, has been dumped as a sponsor of the British journalism awards. |
| Several of the judges warned that they would not be prepared to continue with the judging process if Press Gazette, which organises the annual contest, kept Impress as a sponsor. | Several of the judges warned that they would not be prepared to continue with the judging process if Press Gazette, which organises the annual contest, kept Impress as a sponsor. |
| They are said to have “felt uncomfortable” at Impress’s involvement and viewed the matter as “a point of principle”. | They are said to have “felt uncomfortable” at Impress’s involvement and viewed the matter as “a point of principle”. |
| Press Gazette’s editor, Dominic Ponsford, issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying: | Press Gazette’s editor, Dominic Ponsford, issued a statement on Friday afternoon saying: |
| “A number of the British Journalism Awards judges felt uncomfortable about the fact that Impress were a sponsor of the event. | “A number of the British Journalism Awards judges felt uncomfortable about the fact that Impress were a sponsor of the event. |
| Although the judging process is entirely independent of any sponsorship, they nonetheless felt troubled by their involvement because of their strongly held views on the issue of press regulation. | Although the judging process is entirely independent of any sponsorship, they nonetheless felt troubled by their involvement because of their strongly held views on the issue of press regulation. |
| The 49 independent judges are the backbone of the British Journalism Awards and the event cannot happen without their hard work and commitment. | The 49 independent judges are the backbone of the British Journalism Awards and the event cannot happen without their hard work and commitment. |
| We have therefore taken the decision to remove Impress as a sponsor of this year’s awards”. | We have therefore taken the decision to remove Impress as a sponsor of this year’s awards”. |
| The issue was first raised at a meeting of judges on Thursday. Some judges argued that the choice of Impress, the regulator founded as a rival to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), was inappropriate. | The issue was first raised at a meeting of judges on Thursday. Some judges argued that the choice of Impress, the regulator founded as a rival to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), was inappropriate. |
| They viewed Impress as a state-backed body that presents a threat to press freedom. One of them pointed out that Impress does not regulate any of the newspapers being considered for prizes. | They viewed Impress as a state-backed body that presents a threat to press freedom. One of them pointed out that Impress does not regulate any of the newspapers being considered for prizes. |
| Ponsford and his editorial team were not responsible for Impress being selected as a sponsor. It was a commercial matter arranged by the magazine’s publisher, Progressive Media Group. | Ponsford and his editorial team were not responsible for Impress being selected as a sponsor. It was a commercial matter arranged by the magazine’s publisher, Progressive Media Group. |
| Press Gazette is regulated by Ipso and its editorial line has been less than supportive of Impress. | Press Gazette is regulated by Ipso and its editorial line has been less than supportive of Impress. |
| The body is largely funded by charities linked to Max Mosley, the former head of Formula One motor racing, who is regarded as anathema by certain editors and publishers. | The body is largely funded by charities linked to Max Mosley, the former head of Formula One motor racing, who is regarded as anathema by certain editors and publishers. |
| The awards ceremony is due to be staged on 6 December at the Stationers’ Hall in London. | The awards ceremony is due to be staged on 6 December at the Stationers’ Hall in London. |