The National Union of Journalists is backing Nottingham photographer Alan Lodge after he was arrested and charged with wilfully obstructing a police officer after attempting to photograph armed police in the St Ann’s area of the city.
He formally denied the charge when he appeared before Nottingham magistrates, and a pre trial review has been scheduled for next month.
Union branch secretary Kevin Stanley said outside court: “Cases like these raise important questions about the right for photographers to carry out their duties in a public place. We will continue to argue vigorously that Alan has done nothing wrong and should not have been arrested.”

Journalists at the Belfast Telegraph National Union of Journalists’ chapel have voted to suspend a ballot on a work to rule, accepting a pay offer to NUJ members at Sunday Life and the Telegraph itself.
Chapel members voted to accept a 2.5 per cent pay offer, £350 payment and have the rise backdated.

Sunderland Echo new recruit Andi Upwist let his love of his local paper go to his head.
The Echo is supporting Andi through a journalism course at Sunderland University, and in return, he has agreed to wear the Echo’s logo on his forehead for the duration of his three year Master’s course. Or has he? The story was dated… April 1.

Independent News & Media has agreed to acquire PropertyNews.com, the largest internet property site in Ireland, which covers Northern Ireland and the neighbouring counties of the Republic. Site traffic in February reached a new record of 10m page impressions.

Lincolnshire Echo chief photographer Roy Ealden is to run the city’s 10k race to raise money for Monks Abbey School Summer Holiday Meals Project, to give some of the pupils a nutritious hot meal during the five-week summer break.
It is 14 years since Roy last took part in the run.