Secrecy and the Media by Nicholas John Wilkinson

Secrecy and the Media by Nicholas John Wilkinson

This book traces the development of the D-Notice system, which controls the media's access to government secrets, from 19th-century colonial campaigns, through two world wars, to modern operations and counter-terrorism.

‘Secrecy and the Media..(a) magisterial history of censorship in Britain since the Boer War - and it goes to the heart of the awkward relationship between our Press and our Government.’ - James Delingpole, The Mail on Sunday

‘Thoroughly researched…surprisingly readable and packed with intriguing snippets’ - James Delingpole, The Mail on Sunday

'An important and absorbing book, surprisingly amusing at times for an official history. Admiral Wilkinson charts the troubled history of the D-Notice system, that great British compromise between national security and freedom of the press, and shows how it has been tested almost to destruction in peace and war over the past century, yet somehow survived. The D-Notice system is much misunderstood, even by journalists: this book will dispel many myths and provide an indispensable reference point for future debates.' Donald Trelford, former Editor of The Observer, Emeritus Professor in Journalism Studies at Sheffield University

'This book is a ‘must’-read for all journalists, espionage writers and other aficionados of the intelligence scene, historians and citizens who cherish the right to know, within the bounds of reasonable security, what is being secretly perpetrated in their name.' H. Chapman Pincher, journalist, author

'Nick Wilkinson has done us all an enormous service and at a crucial moment in history. Like all great stories, this one is fascinating, packed with information and facts, and brilliantly tells us about the struggles between Whitehall and the media. This is not just history for historians but a must for anyone who cares about our freedoms and how they are protected.'
André Singer, Adjunct Research Professor of Anthropology, University of Southern California

'In an open society there inevitably lies a fault-line where the guardians of national security meet the tribunes of a free press. Nick Wilkinson lived on top of that fault-line for years. It’s called the D-Notice System and, in this remarkable book, he takes us deep into that fissure and mines some real gems which illuminate the hidden history of British Government and the Media.' Peter Hennessy, Attlee Professor of Contemporary British History, Queen Mary, University of London

‘Thoroughly researched…surprisingly readable and packed with intriguing snippets’ - James Delingpole, The Mail on Sunday

'The history, written by Rear Admiral Nicholas Wilkinson, one of the more enlightened past secretaries of the Committee, provides telling insights into the relationships between editors and Britain's defence, security and intelligence establishment.' - Richard Norton-Taylor, the Guardian

Nicholas Wilkinson served in the Royal Navy 1959-98, and from 1999 to 2004 he ran the independent Defence, Press and Broadcasting Advisory Committee. He was a Press Complaints Commissioner from 2005 to 2008, and is a Cabinet Office Historian.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780415453752
ISBN 10	0415453755
Title	Secrecy and the Media
Author	Nicholas John Wilkinson
Series	Government Official History Series
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Taylor & Francis Ltd
Year published	2009-05-26
Number of pages	652
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.