Mélanie Dupéré | Université Rennes 2 (original) (raw)
Peer Reviewed Papers by Mélanie Dupéré
French Journal of British Studies / Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique (vol. XXVI, n°1), 2021
As the world’s oldest national broadcaster, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is unique ... more As the world’s oldest national broadcaster, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is unique in its contribution to British life and its level of international influence. The BBC is well known for its historic core mission (to inform, educate and entertain) and commitment to the principles of independence and impartiality. Yet the definition and practical application of these tenets are far from clear-cut. Considered by some to be a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization, the BBC has been subjected to much criticism throughout its long history regarding its ability to resist State and corporate pressures. This article seeks to explore State pressures in the context of calls for national unity in times of crisis when tensions with the BBC are at their greatest. To this end, a qualitative analysis of the 1956 Suez Crisis is conducted and is linked to the decline of the British Empire. This study shows the limited interpretation of impartiality by the BBC at that time. Anthony Eden’s Conservative government fought a propaganda war at home and abroad in the build-up to military intervention. The BBC’s independence was ambiguous at best, although it emerged from the crisis with its reputation intact due to its insistence on the notion of impartiality.
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Brazilian Journalism Research: Journalism Theory, Research and Criticism (Vol. XI, n°1), 2015, pp. 278-291., 2015
This paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of journalists to protect thei... more This paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of
journalists to protect their sources’ anonymity in the United Kingdom, particularly in light of the Snowden revelations of June 2013, and the significance of collaboration between the global online media organization Wikileaks and mainstream news organisations. It explores two key difficulties faced by journalists: the notion of a qualified professional privilege and the unknown extent of covert requests by public authorities for disclosure involving communications data and metadata. In doing so, it comments upon the opening filled by Wikileaks, which protects its sources’ anonymity through high data security and
encryption. This paper’s findings tend to show that the covert practice of blanket mass digital surveillance of individual communications including journalists’ is undermining source protection and the rise of Wikileaks as an alternative model is challenging the traditional role of journalists as mediators and gatekeepers in the digital era.
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French Journal of British Studies / Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique (Vol. XX, special issue in honour of Professor Jean-Claude Sergeant), January 2015, pp. 21-36., 2015
This paper first seeks to explore the British model of independent public inquiry as a means to s... more This paper first seeks to explore the British model of independent public inquiry as a means to scrutinize illegal and unethical behaviour in light of phone-hacking revelations at the now defunct News of the World tabloid newspaper, news of which was first published by The Guardian in 2009. It then assesses the difficulties encountered in moving from Lord Justice Leveson’s November 2012 report recommendations to action. Finally, it considers the unresolved issue of media plurality in the context of business magnate Rupert Murdoch’s extensive market hold.
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Book Reviews by Mélanie Dupéré
![Research paper thumbnail of 'Reckoning: Journalism's Limits and Possibilities', by Candis Callison and Mary Lynn Young [Review]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/67455836/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly (Vol. 98, n°3), September 2021, pp. 952-954.
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![Research paper thumbnail of 'Surveillance and the Surrender of the Free Autonomous Self' [Review of 'Exposed: Desire and Disobedience in the Digital Age', by Bernard Harcourt]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/64360897/thumbnails/1.jpg)
](Cultural Politics (Vol. XIII, n°2), July 2017, pp. 263-265., Jul 2017
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Other Publications by Mélanie Dupéré
Three-D: The Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association's Newsletter (issue 34), Aug 2020
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Three-D: The Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association's Newsletter (issue 29), Dec 2017
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Conference Presentations by Mélanie Dupéré
Press Ethics and Media Freedom: One Day Symposium, University of Derby (event held at Bridewell Hall, London), 2022
This symposium paper takes as its starting point the deeply-seated right of UK Members of Parliam... more This symposium paper takes as its starting point the deeply-seated right of UK Members of Parliament to express themselves freely without fear of legal action in all matters relating to parliamentary proceedings and the historic right of the press to report thereon. Members of Parliament and journalists thus play a key role in the public interest, particularly when condemning corruption and malpractice. However, ethical, legal and regulatory questions arise regarding what constitutes the public interest as well as the weight to be given to competing claims and rights whenever Members of Parliament choose to go against pre-publication injunctions, commonly referred to as super-injunctions. The findings of this paper are based on archival work for the period since the passage of the 1998 Human Rights Act. Several key cases are discussed, beginning with Trafigura [2009] EWHC 2540 (QB) in the wake of a toxic waste dump in the Ivory Coast, which led The Guardian to coin the term super-injunction. This paper demonstrates how Members of Parliament and journalists contribute towards strategies of circumventing the judiciary in such cases despite the separation of powers.
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State of Crisis, State in Crisis: British democracy in a time of change and challenges, 1997-2020. Université Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III, 2021.
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Communication, Media and Journalism Research Group PGR and ECR Conference : Global Crises / Crises in Journalism, University of Sheffield, 2021
The British newspaper industry has a long-standing and complex relationship with notions of crisi... more The British newspaper industry has a long-standing and complex relationship with notions of crisis from an ethical, politico-economic and regulatory perspective. Challenges to the legitimacy of the press as a Fourth Estate purveyor of the public interest and a guardian of democracy abound. Despite repeated public policy statements in favour of media pluralism and freedom, the British news environment has become increasingly deregulated over the last two decades and changes to relevant competition rules have led to a greater concentration of ownership and cross-media ownership against a backdrop of economic austerity and technological change. Consequently, investigative journalism often struggles to receive the necessary support to fulfil its watchdog role. Yet this situation has opened up opportunities to shift away from the traditional model of highly competitive investigative practices towards collaboration between news organizations and journalists in large-scale projects. This paper applies archival research, including news content, political debate and public opinion surveys, to the qualitative analysis of case-studies regarding collaborative transnational partnerships and involving the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Attention is firstly drawn to the challenges posed by mass surveillance and the impact on journalistic activity as well as source protection in the United Kingdom. Consideration is then given to the anonymous mass leaks known as the Panama Papers (2016) and the Paradise Papers (2017), which are amongst the largest collaborative investigations in the history of journalism. This paper’s findings tend to show that the ability of journalists to collaborate on global projects in the public interest is having a profound impact as subsequent public policy debate continues in relation to issues such as fiscal justice, the insufficiency of government mechanisms, transparency and corruption.
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Digital Culture Conference, University of Nottingham, 2018
This paper explores the contemporary relationship between traditional media players, whistle-blow... more This paper explores the contemporary relationship between traditional media players, whistle-blowers and digital platforms in the United Kingdom and beyond. As high impact investigative journalism finds itself under pressure in the context of budget cuts, some traditional media players are looking towards opportunities for stories offered by anonymous sources using digital platforms and revealing unprecedented quantities of information. This study examines the ethical and legal responsibilities of media players, whistle-blowers and digital platforms in terms of civil disobedience, breach of confidence and public interest values. In order to do so, several key cases are commented upon with reference to communication theories of the public sphere, framing analysis and qualitative impact: From the United States war logs and cable leaks of 2010 to the so-called Paradise Papers leaks in 2017. This paper’s findings tend to show that digital platforms contribute to immediacy and interactivity with whistle-blowers and media players, enabling information to be shared anonymously with audiences beyond geopolitical borders and government control. In the face of such vast amounts of available data, professional journalists are demonstrating the importance of their ability to select and interpret material for consumption by audiences and readers in this vast digital landscape.
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Research Conferences for Masters Students in Journalism, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III / Diderot Paris VII, 2017
Cette conférence explore l’impact des Avis aux médias en matière de défense et de sécurité sur la... more Cette conférence explore l’impact des Avis aux médias en matière de défense et de sécurité sur la liberté des médias au Royaume-Uni. Adoptés sur le fondement d’un cadre de réglementation volontaire par une autorité administrative indépendante (QUANGO), ces Avis constituent un instrument non juridiquement contraignant mais souvent respecté par les médias traditionnels. Ils posent ainsi des questions en termes de censure en amont de la publication et de la diffusion audio-visuelle, quant aux moyens de défense de l’intérêt public, à la responsabilité du gouvernement, à la viabilité du système médiatique actuel à l’ère du numérique. ALin d’examiner ces enjeux, trois cas récents d’Avis aux médias en matière de défense et de sécurité seront analysés : ceux-ci ont trait à la révélation de renseignements diplomatiques par Wikileaks en 2010, à la mise en évidence des programmes de surveillance de masse par Edward Snowden en 2013, et à la collusion supposée entre Donald Trump et le gouvernement russe pendant la course aux élections présidentielles étatsuniennes de 2016.
This conference paper explores the impact of the Defence and Security Media Advisory Notice system on media freedom in the United Kingdom. As a voluntary regulatory framework implemented by a quango whose advisory notices are non-legally binding and yet often respected by mainstream media, questions are raised as to pre-publication and pre-broadcast censorship, public interest defence, government accountability and sustainability of the current system in a digital era. In order to examine these issues, three recent cases of Defence and Security Media Advisory Notices issued in the United Kingdom are analysed in relation to news of the diplomatic cables leak by Wikileaks in 2010, the global mass surveillance programs leak by Edward Snowden in 2013 and alleged collusion between Donald Trump and the Russian government in the build-up to the 2016 US presidential election.
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Australian and New Zealand Communication Association 2017 Conference: Communication Worlds - Access, Voice, Diversity, Engagement, University of Sydney, 2017
This conference paper explores continuing debate over those interim injunctions in English law co... more This conference paper explores continuing debate over those interim injunctions in English law commonly referred to as super-injunctions, and their impact on media freedom in the public interest, with special reference to the role of digital media and mass communication. To this end, several key cases are commented upon, with reference to communication theories of the public sphere, framing analysis and qualitative impact. Beginning with the Trafigura case [2009] EWHC 2540 (QB) – in the wake of a toxic waste dump in the Ivory Coast – which led The Guardian newspaper to coin the term super-injunction in relation to this affair, questions of legitimate public interest and competing claims are explored. This paper’s findings tend to show that, given the historical absence of a privacy tort in English law, the passage of the 1998 Human Rights Act has had a profound impact upon the balance between the right to privacy and media freedom. Additionally, the inherent lack of transparency in super-injunction cases sometimes undermines the ability of mainstream media to share information in the public interest. However, alternative media are surpassing legal and geographical boundaries in order to reach audiences and influence perceptions. This begs the question as to the practicality of such injunctions.
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Challenging Media Landscapes 2014 Conference: Exploring Media Choice and Freedom, University of Salford, 2014
This conference paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of journalists to p... more This conference paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of journalists to protect their sources’ anonymity in the United Kingdom, particularly in light of the Snowden revelations of June 2013, and the significance of collaboration between the global online media organization Wikileaks and mainstream news organisations. It explores two key difficulties faced by journalists: the notion of a qualified professional privilege and the unknown extent of covert requests by public authorities for disclosure involving communications data and metadata. In doing so, it comments upon the opening filled by Wikileaks, which protects its sources’ anonymity through high data security and encryption. This paper’s findings tend to show that the covert practice of blanket mass digital surveillance of individual communications including journalists’ is undermining source protection and the rise of Wikileaks as an alternative model is challenging the traditional role of journalists as mediators and gatekeepers in the digital era.
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French Journal of British Studies / Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique (vol. XXVI, n°1), 2021
As the world’s oldest national broadcaster, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is unique ... more As the world’s oldest national broadcaster, The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is unique in its contribution to British life and its level of international influence. The BBC is well known for its historic core mission (to inform, educate and entertain) and commitment to the principles of independence and impartiality. Yet the definition and practical application of these tenets are far from clear-cut. Considered by some to be a quasi-autonomous non-governmental organization, the BBC has been subjected to much criticism throughout its long history regarding its ability to resist State and corporate pressures. This article seeks to explore State pressures in the context of calls for national unity in times of crisis when tensions with the BBC are at their greatest. To this end, a qualitative analysis of the 1956 Suez Crisis is conducted and is linked to the decline of the British Empire. This study shows the limited interpretation of impartiality by the BBC at that time. Anthony Eden’s Conservative government fought a propaganda war at home and abroad in the build-up to military intervention. The BBC’s independence was ambiguous at best, although it emerged from the crisis with its reputation intact due to its insistence on the notion of impartiality.
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Brazilian Journalism Research: Journalism Theory, Research and Criticism (Vol. XI, n°1), 2015, pp. 278-291., 2015
This paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of journalists to protect thei... more This paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of
journalists to protect their sources’ anonymity in the United Kingdom, particularly in light of the Snowden revelations of June 2013, and the significance of collaboration between the global online media organization Wikileaks and mainstream news organisations. It explores two key difficulties faced by journalists: the notion of a qualified professional privilege and the unknown extent of covert requests by public authorities for disclosure involving communications data and metadata. In doing so, it comments upon the opening filled by Wikileaks, which protects its sources’ anonymity through high data security and
encryption. This paper’s findings tend to show that the covert practice of blanket mass digital surveillance of individual communications including journalists’ is undermining source protection and the rise of Wikileaks as an alternative model is challenging the traditional role of journalists as mediators and gatekeepers in the digital era.
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French Journal of British Studies / Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique (Vol. XX, special issue in honour of Professor Jean-Claude Sergeant), January 2015, pp. 21-36., 2015
This paper first seeks to explore the British model of independent public inquiry as a means to s... more This paper first seeks to explore the British model of independent public inquiry as a means to scrutinize illegal and unethical behaviour in light of phone-hacking revelations at the now defunct News of the World tabloid newspaper, news of which was first published by The Guardian in 2009. It then assesses the difficulties encountered in moving from Lord Justice Leveson’s November 2012 report recommendations to action. Finally, it considers the unresolved issue of media plurality in the context of business magnate Rupert Murdoch’s extensive market hold.
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Three-D: The Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association's Newsletter (issue 34), Aug 2020
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Three-D: The Media, Communication and Cultural Studies Association's Newsletter (issue 29), Dec 2017
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Press Ethics and Media Freedom: One Day Symposium, University of Derby (event held at Bridewell Hall, London), 2022
This symposium paper takes as its starting point the deeply-seated right of UK Members of Parliam... more This symposium paper takes as its starting point the deeply-seated right of UK Members of Parliament to express themselves freely without fear of legal action in all matters relating to parliamentary proceedings and the historic right of the press to report thereon. Members of Parliament and journalists thus play a key role in the public interest, particularly when condemning corruption and malpractice. However, ethical, legal and regulatory questions arise regarding what constitutes the public interest as well as the weight to be given to competing claims and rights whenever Members of Parliament choose to go against pre-publication injunctions, commonly referred to as super-injunctions. The findings of this paper are based on archival work for the period since the passage of the 1998 Human Rights Act. Several key cases are discussed, beginning with Trafigura [2009] EWHC 2540 (QB) in the wake of a toxic waste dump in the Ivory Coast, which led The Guardian to coin the term super-injunction. This paper demonstrates how Members of Parliament and journalists contribute towards strategies of circumventing the judiciary in such cases despite the separation of powers.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
State of Crisis, State in Crisis: British democracy in a time of change and challenges, 1997-2020. Université Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III, 2021.
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Communication, Media and Journalism Research Group PGR and ECR Conference : Global Crises / Crises in Journalism, University of Sheffield, 2021
The British newspaper industry has a long-standing and complex relationship with notions of crisi... more The British newspaper industry has a long-standing and complex relationship with notions of crisis from an ethical, politico-economic and regulatory perspective. Challenges to the legitimacy of the press as a Fourth Estate purveyor of the public interest and a guardian of democracy abound. Despite repeated public policy statements in favour of media pluralism and freedom, the British news environment has become increasingly deregulated over the last two decades and changes to relevant competition rules have led to a greater concentration of ownership and cross-media ownership against a backdrop of economic austerity and technological change. Consequently, investigative journalism often struggles to receive the necessary support to fulfil its watchdog role. Yet this situation has opened up opportunities to shift away from the traditional model of highly competitive investigative practices towards collaboration between news organizations and journalists in large-scale projects. This paper applies archival research, including news content, political debate and public opinion surveys, to the qualitative analysis of case-studies regarding collaborative transnational partnerships and involving the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Attention is firstly drawn to the challenges posed by mass surveillance and the impact on journalistic activity as well as source protection in the United Kingdom. Consideration is then given to the anonymous mass leaks known as the Panama Papers (2016) and the Paradise Papers (2017), which are amongst the largest collaborative investigations in the history of journalism. This paper’s findings tend to show that the ability of journalists to collaborate on global projects in the public interest is having a profound impact as subsequent public policy debate continues in relation to issues such as fiscal justice, the insufficiency of government mechanisms, transparency and corruption.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Digital Culture Conference, University of Nottingham, 2018
This paper explores the contemporary relationship between traditional media players, whistle-blow... more This paper explores the contemporary relationship between traditional media players, whistle-blowers and digital platforms in the United Kingdom and beyond. As high impact investigative journalism finds itself under pressure in the context of budget cuts, some traditional media players are looking towards opportunities for stories offered by anonymous sources using digital platforms and revealing unprecedented quantities of information. This study examines the ethical and legal responsibilities of media players, whistle-blowers and digital platforms in terms of civil disobedience, breach of confidence and public interest values. In order to do so, several key cases are commented upon with reference to communication theories of the public sphere, framing analysis and qualitative impact: From the United States war logs and cable leaks of 2010 to the so-called Paradise Papers leaks in 2017. This paper’s findings tend to show that digital platforms contribute to immediacy and interactivity with whistle-blowers and media players, enabling information to be shared anonymously with audiences beyond geopolitical borders and government control. In the face of such vast amounts of available data, professional journalists are demonstrating the importance of their ability to select and interpret material for consumption by audiences and readers in this vast digital landscape.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Research Conferences for Masters Students in Journalism, Université Sorbonne Nouvelle Paris III / Diderot Paris VII, 2017
Cette conférence explore l’impact des Avis aux médias en matière de défense et de sécurité sur la... more Cette conférence explore l’impact des Avis aux médias en matière de défense et de sécurité sur la liberté des médias au Royaume-Uni. Adoptés sur le fondement d’un cadre de réglementation volontaire par une autorité administrative indépendante (QUANGO), ces Avis constituent un instrument non juridiquement contraignant mais souvent respecté par les médias traditionnels. Ils posent ainsi des questions en termes de censure en amont de la publication et de la diffusion audio-visuelle, quant aux moyens de défense de l’intérêt public, à la responsabilité du gouvernement, à la viabilité du système médiatique actuel à l’ère du numérique. ALin d’examiner ces enjeux, trois cas récents d’Avis aux médias en matière de défense et de sécurité seront analysés : ceux-ci ont trait à la révélation de renseignements diplomatiques par Wikileaks en 2010, à la mise en évidence des programmes de surveillance de masse par Edward Snowden en 2013, et à la collusion supposée entre Donald Trump et le gouvernement russe pendant la course aux élections présidentielles étatsuniennes de 2016.
This conference paper explores the impact of the Defence and Security Media Advisory Notice system on media freedom in the United Kingdom. As a voluntary regulatory framework implemented by a quango whose advisory notices are non-legally binding and yet often respected by mainstream media, questions are raised as to pre-publication and pre-broadcast censorship, public interest defence, government accountability and sustainability of the current system in a digital era. In order to examine these issues, three recent cases of Defence and Security Media Advisory Notices issued in the United Kingdom are analysed in relation to news of the diplomatic cables leak by Wikileaks in 2010, the global mass surveillance programs leak by Edward Snowden in 2013 and alleged collusion between Donald Trump and the Russian government in the build-up to the 2016 US presidential election.
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Australian and New Zealand Communication Association 2017 Conference: Communication Worlds - Access, Voice, Diversity, Engagement, University of Sydney, 2017
This conference paper explores continuing debate over those interim injunctions in English law co... more This conference paper explores continuing debate over those interim injunctions in English law commonly referred to as super-injunctions, and their impact on media freedom in the public interest, with special reference to the role of digital media and mass communication. To this end, several key cases are commented upon, with reference to communication theories of the public sphere, framing analysis and qualitative impact. Beginning with the Trafigura case [2009] EWHC 2540 (QB) – in the wake of a toxic waste dump in the Ivory Coast – which led The Guardian newspaper to coin the term super-injunction in relation to this affair, questions of legitimate public interest and competing claims are explored. This paper’s findings tend to show that, given the historical absence of a privacy tort in English law, the passage of the 1998 Human Rights Act has had a profound impact upon the balance between the right to privacy and media freedom. Additionally, the inherent lack of transparency in super-injunction cases sometimes undermines the ability of mainstream media to share information in the public interest. However, alternative media are surpassing legal and geographical boundaries in order to reach audiences and influence perceptions. This begs the question as to the practicality of such injunctions.
Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact
Challenging Media Landscapes 2014 Conference: Exploring Media Choice and Freedom, University of Salford, 2014
This conference paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of journalists to p... more This conference paper focuses on recent developments in the right and ability of journalists to protect their sources’ anonymity in the United Kingdom, particularly in light of the Snowden revelations of June 2013, and the significance of collaboration between the global online media organization Wikileaks and mainstream news organisations. It explores two key difficulties faced by journalists: the notion of a qualified professional privilege and the unknown extent of covert requests by public authorities for disclosure involving communications data and metadata. In doing so, it comments upon the opening filled by Wikileaks, which protects its sources’ anonymity through high data security and encryption. This paper’s findings tend to show that the covert practice of blanket mass digital surveillance of individual communications including journalists’ is undermining source protection and the rise of Wikileaks as an alternative model is challenging the traditional role of journalists as mediators and gatekeepers in the digital era.
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