Who we are

SLAPPs Training is a dedicated online resource that has been put together by academics, media organisations and members of civil society to provide an online platform dedicated to providing training on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation, or as they are more commonly known, SLAPPs. The website has been developed by the Centre for Freedom of the Media based at the University of Sheffield. CFOM is an interdisciplinary research centre focused on providing a global outreach on issues of media freedom, journalism safety, editorial standards and impunity. Find out more about us here.

What are SLAPPs? 

SLAPPs have become a predominant issue in recent years, with concerns being raised from numerous organisations around the world that they are being used to silence critical and public interest reporting. SLAPPs are generally considered to be legal actions that are brought against an individual with the intention of threatening, harassing or intimidating their target to prevent free expression on matters of public interest reporting. You can find out more about the different definitions of SLAPPs here. 

How we can help 

On this website, we will provide you with the information you need to be able to recognise what a SLAPP is and how they are typically brought. We will also discuss how you can give yourself the best protection against SLAPPs, but also where you can turn to if you think you have been subjected to a SLAPP action.