Index on Censorship

Index on Censorship is a United Kingdom-based organisation devoted to defending freedom of expression. Its best-known public expression is a quarterly magazine, also called Index on Censorship, which publishes reporting, analysis, literature and commentary about censorship and threats to free speech around the world. The organisation combines publishing with advocacy, cultural programming and practical support for journalists, writers, artists and other people whose work is restricted or threatened. The organisation grew out of the international response to Soviet repression. Its immediate inspiration was an open letter written by Soviet dissidents Pavel Litvinov and Larisa Bogoraz after the 1968 trial of Alexander Ginzburg and Yuri Galanskov. Poet Stephen Spender responded with a public declaration of support and subsequently worked with philosopher Stuart Hampshire, Observer publisher and editor David Astor, Soviet-affairs writer Edward Crankshaw and critic and translator Michael Scammell to establish a regular publication. The founding editor was Scammell, who led the magazine from 1972 to 1981 and later became a patron. Although the Soviet dissident movement supplied the original impetus, Index was conceived with a broader remit. From its first years it covered censorship under military and authoritarian governments in Latin America, Greece, Portugal, Spain and elsewhere, as well as restrictions in the Soviet Union and its satellite states. Its editorial scope later expanded to religious extremism, nationalism, internet censorship, restrictions on journalism, artistic self-censorship and the use of law to suppress criticism. The magazine has served as a platform for writers and thinkers including Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Milan Kundera, Václav Havel, Nadine Gordimer, Salman Rushdie, Doris Lessing, Arthur Miller, Noam Chomsky and Umberto Eco. It has published translated and suppressed writing, including material connected with Charter 77, Soviet psychiatric abuse, Argentina’s disappeared, Cuban poets, the 1989 Tiananmen protests and imprisoned Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. Its editorial record also includes early English-language publication of Solzhenitsyn’s Nobel lecture and reporting by writers such as Anna Politkovskaia. Index developed from a publication into a more visible campaigning organisation during the 2000s. Its advocacy has addressed defamation law, libel tourism and strategic lawsuits against public participation, or SLAPPs. The organisation has also operated arts and international programmes supporting journalists, broadcasters, artists and writers in countries affected by intimidation and repression, including Afghanistan, Burma, Iraq and Tunisia. In the United Kingdom, it has created platforms for marginalised communities and used artistic work to explore political change and self-censorship. The magazine was published and distributed by Routledge, part of Taylor & Francis, from 2005 to 2009, and has been published by SAGE Publications since 2010. The organisation is directed by Writers and Scholars International, Ltd. in association with the UK-registered Index on Censorship charity, founded as the Writers and Scholars Educational Trust. At the time covered by the supplied reference material, the structure was chaired by Trevor Phillips and the chief executive was Jemimah Steinfeld. Index remains active as a publisher, campaigner and international free-expression network.

Index on Censorship emerged from international concern over the treatment of Soviet dissidents. Pavel Litvinov and Larisa Bogoraz issued an open letter after the 1968 Ginzburg–Galanskov trial, calling for international attention to the proceedings and the conditions surrounding them. Stephen Spender publicly supported the appeal and then joined Stuart Hampshire, David Astor and Edward Crankshaw in developing a permanent publishing initiative. Michael Scammell became the founding editor. The first issue appeared in May 1972. The title referred to historic lists of prohibited books, but the phrase “on Censorship” was added to make the subject clear. The project was never limited to the Soviet Union. It documented censorship in Southern Europe, Latin America, South Africa and other authoritarian settings while publishing material that could not circulate freely in its country of origin. The organisation maintained an informal relationship with Amnesty International: human-rights material was directed to Amnesty, while censorship reports were passed to Index. During the Cold War, Czechoslovakia received sustained attention. The magazine published work by Václav Havel, material about police censorship and banned books, and translations associated with the country’s dissident theatre and literary culture. It also published international material relating to Argentina’s disappeared, Cuban writers, China after the 1989 Tiananmen protests, Soviet psychiatric abuse and imprisoned Nigerian writer Ken Saro-Wiwa. Its pages became a venue for translated journalism, essays, fiction, poetry and political documents. The publication’s mandate broadened after the Cold War. Index addressed religious extremism, nationalism, press restrictions, online censorship and the chilling effect of defamation law. The magazine’s recurring “Index Index” section catalogued cases of free-expression abuse until the end of 2008, when that function moved to the organisation’s website. The publication also produced thematic issues on China, the Middle East, Russia, internet censorship and the political uses of culture. From the 2000s onward, Index increasingly combined editorial work with public advocacy. Under chief executive John Kampfner and chair Jonathan Dimbleby, it developed a stronger campaigning profile, including work on English defamation law and libel tourism. Its joint report with English PEN, Free Speech is not For Sale, argued that legal costs and defamation procedures could discourage legitimate journalism, academic commentary and criticism. More recently, the organisation has made opposition to SLAPPs a central UK campaign. Index has also run arts and international programmes. These projects have supported journalists, broadcasters, artists and writers facing intimidation, and have used creative work to involve young people and marginalised communities in debates about expression and self-censorship. The organisation’s publishing model has evolved from print distribution to a combination of print subscriptions, digital access and web-based reporting. Routledge handled publication and distribution from 2005 to 2009; SAGE Publications has published the magazine since 2010. The organisation continues to operate through Writers and Scholars International, Ltd. and the associated UK charity.

• 2010

  SAGE becomes magazine publisher

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  SAGE Publications began publishing the magazine after its earlier Routledge period.

• 2008

  Index Index moves online

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  The recurring roundup of global expression abuses ceased to appear as a regular magazine section and moved to the website.

• 1997

  Ken Saro-Wiwa writings appear in the magazine

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine published writings by the Nigerian author and activist from prison.

• 1989

  Tiananmen-related writings published

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  Index published the Hunger Strike Declaration associated with student leaders of the Tiananmen Square protests.

• 1977

  Charter 77 material published

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  The magazine published an English translation of the Czechoslovak Charter 77 manifesto.

• 1972

  First issue of Index on Censorship

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Scammell edited the first issue, which established the magazine’s international free-expression mission.

• 1968

  Soviet dissident appeal inspires the project

  [1]Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org

  Pavel Litvinov and Larisa Bogoraz issued an open letter after the Ginzburg–Galanskov trial, creating the immediate impetus for an international publication on censorship.

An independent, international freedom-of-expression organisation combining journalism, cultural publishing, public campaigning and support for people facing censorship.

• Quarterly magazine · 1972

  Index on Censorship magazine

  The organisation’s principal publishing product is a quarterly magazine covering censorship and freedom of expression. Issues commonly focus on a country, region or recurring global theme and combine reporting, essays, commentary, translated writing, fiction, poetry and documentation of restrictions on speech. The magazine has published work by prominent writers and dissidents, as well as material that could not be freely circulated in its country of origin. It is distributed in print and through digital platforms.

• Digital publication · 2008

  Index on Censorship website

  The website extends the magazine’s mission through current articles, campaign material and documentation of threats to free expression. It also took over the magazine’s recurring global roundup of censorship cases after that feature ended in print in 2008.

• Cultural and advocacy programme · 2009

  Arts and international programmes

  These programmes commission and support journalism, photography, film, visual art, performance and other creative work while examining censorship and self-censorship. International projects have supported practitioners in difficult environments, and UK work has created opportunities for young people and marginalised communities to participate in free-expression debates.

• 2024StopSLAPPs

  United Kingdom

  Index campaigned against strategic lawsuits against public participation, which can use litigation costs and legal procedures to intimidate critics and investigative publishers.

  Outcome. A private member’s bill addressing SLAPPs was tabled in the UK Parliament after the campaign’s advocacy.

  Source
• 2009Free Speech is not For Sale

  United Kingdom

  Index on Censorship and English PEN published a joint report on libel tourism and the chilling effect of English defamation law on journalism, scholarship and public criticism.

  Outcome. The report’s recommendations contributed to public debate, and Justice Secretary Jack Straw pledged to pursue fairer defamation laws.

  Source
• 2009International freedom-of-expression programmes

  Afghanistan · Burma · Iraq · Tunisia · United Kingdom · International

  Index supported journalists, broadcasters, artists and writers working amid intimidation, repression and censorship, while using arts projects to engage communities in free-expression issues.

  Outcome. The programmes expanded the organisation’s role beyond publishing into practical international and cultural advocacy.

  Source

• 2010

  Change of magazine publisherOther

  Background

  The magazine had been published and distributed by Routledge, part of Taylor & Francis, from 2005 through 2009.

  Action taken

  SAGE Publications became the magazine’s publisher from January 2010.

  Aftermath

  The quarterly publication continued in print and digital formats under an independent academic publishing partner.

  Source

• 2008

  Move the global censorship roundup to the webStrategy

  Background

  The magazine’s recurring Index Index section had documented individual cases of expression restrictions in each issue.

  Action taken

  After December 2008, the roundup function was transferred from the print magazine to the website.

  Aftermath

  The organisation could continue case documentation through a more current digital publishing channel.

  Source

• 2005

  Strengthening public advocacyStrategy

  Background

  The organisation sought a more visible campaigning role while retaining its editorial and publishing identity.

  Action taken

  Under chief executive John Kampfner and chair Jonathan Dimbleby, Index increased advocacy on free-expression law and policy.

  Aftermath

  Campaigns on defamation, libel tourism and later SLAPPs became an important part of the organisation’s public work.

  Source

1. 1Index on Censorshipen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Index on Censorship official websiteindexoncensorship.org