The exhibition launches online here: https://truthtopowerexhibition.com/ on 18 May 2021.

Press Release

11 October 2021

For immediate release

Arts Council England/ Truth to Power Exhibition/ Festival of Social Justice

 Multimedia photography exhibition celebrates UK journalists speaking Truth to Power

The last 12 months have been like no other in recent memory; Brexit is done, a pandemic rages, in lockdown millions witnessed George Floyd’s murder. Joe Biden was elected President  and insurrectionists stormed the Capitol building. The pace of events has required laser-sharp wits, enormous courage and steely determination from journalists covering stories in broadcast, print and online.

‘TRUTH TO POWER’ is a multimedia photography project led by photographer and journalist Eddie Botsio, launching on 18 May 2021. It celebrates the reporters, producers and editors who have covered some of the most challenging stories of the past year. 

In a combination of intimate portraits, audio and video, we hear directly from journalists who bore witness to recent history. All this in a year in which every tool of the trade was needed to expose the truth, when truth was frequently denied and unwelcome.

Eddie Botsio says: 

‘I’ve seen former colleagues abused simply for doing their job, attempting to hold power to account. In lockdown I felt hopeless, helpless, dread and fear. Pictures from Minneapolis of three generations of black men protesting to have their humanity recognised, moved me to tears. I was reminded of Toni Morrison’s quote: “No time for self-pity, no room for fear. In times of dread artists must never choose to remain silent.”  I picked up my camera and ‘Truth to Power’ was born. I’m grateful to every participant and especially to Arts Council England which has supported my vision.’

Participants include:

Victoria Derbyshire (BBC) passionately champions journalists who pursue the truth, hold power to account, to whom people turn in challenging times.

Pippa Crerar (Mirror) and Matthew Weaver (The Guardian) reveal how they and Jeremy Armstrong built the case to expose Dominic Cummings’ visit to Durham and Barnard Castle – combining forces to bring the story over the line and win ‘Scoop of the Year’.

Sophie Alexander (ITV News) describes the moment she along with correspondent Robert Moore and cameraman Mark Davy entered the Capitol Building in Washington with insurrectionists, on January 6, the only TV crew to do so.

Andy Aitchison (freelance photographer) details how he was arrested and held in a cell, simply for photographing a protest outside Napier Barracks in Folkestone, where asylum seekers are housed.

Jess Brammar (HuffPost UK) recounts the year in which she ran a newsroom going into lockdown, while heavily pregnant; returned to battle a government minister, before leaving her job when Buzzfeed took over.

Richard Watson (BBC Newsnight) discusses his film ‘Hate Crime’ which has been long-listed for the Orwell prize for journalism in the category ‘Exposing Britain’s Social Evils’, and talks about the challenges of returning to work after he contracted Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM).

Haroon Siddique (The Guardian) shares how he attracted more than 300 signatures to an open letter challenging the Society of Editors which had denied there was bigotry in the UK press. His series ‘How and why Black Britons suffer unequal outcomes at the hands of the police’ has been long-listed for the Orwell prize for journalism in the category, ‘Exposing Britain’s Social Evils’.

Nick Wallis (freelance) tells how a tweet led him to investigate how the Post Office covered up evidence and jailed hundreds of sub-postmasters and postmistresses in the UK’s most widespread miscarriage of justice. Nick also discusses how he raised money by crowdfunding to report live via Twitter from inside the High Court.

The exhibition is curated by Cheryl Newman, former Photography Director of the award-winning Telegraph Magazine and is funded by Arts Council England. 

The exhibition launches online here: https://truthtopowerexhibition.com/ on 18 May 2021.

Follow updates on Twitter: @Truthtopowerexb

The ‘Truth to Power Exhibition’ will open Stamford and Rutland Amnesty International Group’s online Festival of Social Justice from 18th May.

 

A physical exhibition will be held at a later date.

ENDS

For further information, interviews, images and audio please contact Malcolm Mellon: [email protected] :

See participants and download a selection of images here:https://v3rted.com/truth_to_power_press_resources/

Credit: Eddie Botsio

Notes to Editors

Eddie Botsio is a photographer and journalist who has worked in news and current affairs at the BBC and ITN.

Arts Council England is the national development agency for creativity and culture. www.artscouncil.org.uk

Stamford and Rutland Amnesty Group’s Festival of Social Justice, runs until the 30th May. https://www.amnesty.org.uk/groups/central-england

 

Pin It on Pinterest