How you can help: Appeal in Defence of Free Speech Fundraising initiatives > Sign the appeal in defence of free speech Messages of support Send a message of support Can you help? Tell us how LM magazine is being sued for libel by ITN, in a case which threatens to bankrupt the magazine and also raises issues about the use of libel to censor criticism. As the publishers of LM, we have launched an Appeal in Defence of Free Speech. It has already won support from many eminent writers, journalists, academics and artists. Here are some of the signatories. We will be building support for the appeal until the case is won. Helene Guldberg and Claire Fox Free Speech Appeal We, the undersigned, believe that all open and democratic societies should acknowledge the public's right to read critical and dissenting views. Without the right, the sphere of public debate and expression is dangerously narrowed. No public figure or organisation should be exempt. Nothing should be above criticism. In February 1997 LM magazine published an article criticising ITN's award-winning footage from Trnopolje camp in Bosnia. Throughout Europe and in the United States the debate has become a matter of public interest and has been discussed widely in the media. In the UK, by contrast, the debate has been stifled because ITN issued a libel writ against the editor and publishers of LM magazine. We encourage others to join us in condemning ITN's decision to act in this manner as a deplorable attack on ITN has displayed contempt for the public's right to decide the relative merits of two sides of an important argument. We call on all those who value their freedom to join us in demanding the right to make up our own minds. Fleur Adcock Lisa Appignanesi Rasheed Araeen Gill Barnes John Berger William Boyd Jenny Diski Ariel Dorfman Margaret Drabble Christopher Dunkley Felipe Fernandez-Armesto Anne Fine Professor Johan Galtung Steven Alan Green Viv Groskop Professor Jim Haynes Paolo Hewitt Richard Hoggart Michael Holroyd Patrick Hughes Geraldine James Jackie Kay Professor Wilhelm Kempf Francis King Phillip Knightley Donu Kogbara Angela Lambert David Leavitt Doris Lessing Liz Lochhead David Lorimer Jake Lynch Shena Mackay William McIlvanney Candia McWilliam Deborah Moggach Bel Mooney Blake Morrison Ursula Owen Nikos Papastergiadis Matthew Parris Per Petterson Mike Phillips Gillian Reynolds Bruce Robinson Laetitia Sadier Nicholas Spice Judith Stamper David Starkey Henrik Stenius Chris Tame Paul Theroux Colm Toibin Joanna Trollope Penny Vincenzi Auberon Waugh Fay Weldon Edmund White AN Wilson Hundreds of people have helped the Off The Fence Fund raise over £60,000. But much more than this is needed to see the case through and to defend press freedom whenever it is attacked. Libel cases are notoriously expensive, and can cost in excess of £200,000 for lawyers and barristers. This does not even take into account the costs of paying barristers in court. Professional legal advice needs to be taken at every step to ensure the best chance of victory. To send a donation, please make cheques payable to OFF THE FENCE FUND and send to: c/o LM, Signet House, 49-51 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JB Now go to sign the appeal and find out how you can raise money