Ongoing work by, senior lecturer in media and information law, uses research to inform the development of communications and digital policy and law on freedom of expression, particularly access to information and the protection of public interest journalism. Her recent publications include ‘ with Lorna Woods and Lawrence McNamara (2021), (2020) and ‘ (2019). Initiatives building on this body of work include:
Open justice
- In autumn 2021, Townend gave written and oral evidence to the House of Commons select committee on justice for a on court reporting and open justice. The committee’scalled for “a new approach across the court system that makes it clear that access for the media and members of the public is a fundamental element of sound justice”. The committee cited Townend and other stakeholders’ evidence on the importance of informational transparency and governance. The report recognises the status and role of the wider public, as well as that of media organisations, and adopts Townend’s recommendation to create a new court user information group, involving members from NGO, academic and legal tech backgrounds [para 132; 134].
- to ‘justice system data’ in three countries: Australia, Canada and Ireland. Commissioned by The Legal Education Foundation, this report by and analyses the ways in which the information generated by the process of justice is managed. It considers how data-sharing methods are perceived to relate to judicial independence, innovation, and public understanding of, and confidence in, the justice system. The report was launched with chaired by legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg QC in July 2021, and is designed to inform national level and international policymaking on open justice and access to justice system data.
- A pilot research project conducted by Townend with Law, Politics and Sociology (LPS) colleague through the Crime Research Centre, and involving LPS Criminal Justice Law Clinic students, informed an raising concerns about provisions for public access to court hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic period. The letter, coordinated by Townend, received a from the CEO of HMCTS, and has led to further policy engagement with MOJ and HMCTS. It was also cited by the House of Commons select committee on justice in its .
- Recommendations on the transparency of privacy injunctions data by Dr Townend, on behalf of the Transparency Project charity, , on which Townend sits as public interest representative. These changes are reflected in the .
- In 2019, Townend authored a for the UK NGO Spotlight on Corruption and the Open Government network, to inform the development of a commitment by the UK Government to open justice in the next .
Confidentiality of journalistic sources and whistleblowers
- With external collaborators Professor Lorna Woods and Dr Lawrence McNamara, Townend met with the Law Commission of England and Wales to discuss their draft proposals for the reform of official secrets laws. Their submission of evidence was cited in the Commission’s , on several aspects, including the Commission’s revised position on the inclusion of a public interest defence. As part of this process, she with Woods and McNamara published in the Modern Law Review in 2021.
Facilitation of charitable journalism
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As an advisor to the Public Benefit Journalism Research Centre (), Townend’s informed a to the House of Lords communications and digital committee’s inquiry on the future of journalism, which focused on the facilitation of charitable funding of journalism. The submission was directly cited in the , informing the and encouragement of the Charity Commission to continue to recognise public interest journalism as a charitable purpose.