...as couple renew their campaign against ‘bigoted’ British media

THE Sussexes have renewed their campaign against the British media after backing a fierce attack on the industry body that represents newspaper editors.

Archewell, the couple’s campaign and media organisation, has thrown its support behind a group of journalists who accused the Society of Editors of a ‘ham-fisted blanket denial of racism’.

The move could reignite the row sparked during the couple’s interview with Oprah Winfrey in March, when Prince Harry claimed the UK tabloid media was ‘bigoted’ and created a ‘toxic environment’ of ‘control and fear’. ITV, which bought the UK rights to the interview, was later forced to edit out some misleading and distorted headlines which portrayed British press coverage of the couple as racist.

Society of Editors executive director Ian Murray said the couple’s accusations were ‘not acceptable’ and the UK media ‘has a proud record of calling out racism’. However,

his comments prompted a backlash that led to his resignation and the postponement of the society’s press awards.

Some 123 journalists – 36 of whom work for the Left-leaning Guardian – last week issued a letter in which they accused the society of a failure of ‘moral leadership’.

Supporting the letter, Archewell said it was ‘seeking to bring awareness to a coalition of UK journalists calling for stronger initiatives to combat the under-representation, inequity and racial bigotry that still persists in this important industry’.