Scientology in the UK Media: Home Page and Favourites

Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism

"We do not want Scientology to be reported in the press, anywhere else than on the religious pages of newspapers. Therefore, we should be very alert to sue for slander at the slightest chance so as to discourage the public presses from mentioning Scientology."
-L. Ron Hubbard, quoted in the Evening Argus

Despite Ron's threats, a lot of articles have been printed about Scientology in the UK over the years.

These "favourites" are a personal selection. By clicking on different years in the list above, you can go to full listings of the articles from those years.

SOURCE:DATE:STORY: 
The Observer 22/Nov/2009 Celebrities lead charge against ScientologyRound-up of recent troubles
The Register 20/May/2008 Teen battles City of London cops over anti-Scientology placardAnonymous' placards calling Scientology a "cult" are censored by City of London Police
Panorama (BBC TV) 14/May/2007 Scientology and MeReporter John Sweeney shows how the Church of Scientology tried to impede him from making a documentary about them
The Heaven and Earth Show with Gloria Hunniford (BBC TV) 13/May/2007 (Item about the Panorama documentary)Panorama editor Sandy Smith describes the pressure the film makers were under when investigating Scientology
Evening Standard 12/Jan/2007 How the Church of Scientology found its way into British politics / Labour given thousands by Scientology charity ABLE hires stalls at political party conferences
Sunday Times 07/Jan/2007 Revealed: how Scientologists infiltrated Britain's schoolsNarconon gets access to thousands of children in UK schools
Evening Standard (London) 23/Oct/2006 Tom's aliens target City's 'planetary rulers'Investigation uncovering the pseudo-military culture of Scientology and its hate campaign against psychiatrists
BBC Radio Five Live 02/Jul/2006 Five Live Report: Mind Games: Scientology vs. Psychiatry (Audio)Undercover investigation of Scientology's interference with help for disaster victims
Independent 18/Apr/2006 The Secrets of ScientologyAn undercover report from East Grinstead
Observer 09/Apr/2006 Inside Scientology Lengthy undercover investigation reprinted from Rolling Stone
Evening Argus (Brighton) 13/May/2000 Inside the ScientologistsReporter infiltrates for six weeks, quotes internal documents and also interviews Bonnie Woods
Daily Telegraph 21/Sep/1999 Scientologists on trial for fraud, violence and quackeryMajor trials in France
Daily Telegraph 20/Nov/1997 Detective on trail of TV pair Very good summary of the intimidation tactics used by Scientology against the team who made the Secret Lives documentary on the life of L Ron Hubbard
Secret Lives (Channel 4) 19/Nov/1997 L Ron Hubbard (biography) Lengthy biographic documentary, featuring interviews with several close associates of Hubbard as well as archive footage and documents
Independent on Sunday 09/Nov/1997 Why Channel 4 is haunted by Scientology Intimidation and harassment of the Secret Lives documentary film crew
Sunday Times 19/Jan/1997 Hounded by the church of stars and hype Extensive reporting about the harassment of Bonnie Woods
Big Story (ITV) 28/Nov/1996 The S Files Focusing on financial allegations, criminal charges and suicides.
BBC Newsnight 17/Sep/1996 Scientology adverts Interviews and report followed by studio discussion, featuring Heber Jentsch, Ian Haworth of Cult Information Centre, John Wadham of NCCL and David Mellor MP.
Big Story (ITV) 13/Jul/1995 Inside the Cult This report mixes interviews (with high-level defectors and independent researchers) with footage obtained by taking a hidden camera into the Poole mission and into Saint Hill.
The Net (BBC 2) 15/May/1995 Scientology versus the Internet Background to the raid on Dennis Erlich's home and the ensuing court case. Includes interviews with Helena Kobrin, Tom Klemesrud, Dennis Erlich and Shari Steele of the EFF.
Evening Argus (Brighton) 13/Jun/1994 Secret of a drugs 'cure' Comprehensive exposé of Narconon, its connection to Scientology and its dangers
Evening Argus (Brighton) 10/Jun/1994 The Missing Word Investigation of Greenfields School and its concealed links to Scientology
Evening Argus (Brighton) 12/Apr/1994 Victims who are Fair Game The harassment of Jon Atack
Sunday Times 03/Apr/1994 Cult accused of intimidation Describes Eugene Ingram's 1994 visit to Britain and his targetting of several Scientology opponent .
Evening Argus (Brighton) 30/Mar/1994 How a Church aimed to sell itself  
Evening Argus (Brighton) 29/Mar/1994 Just the worst two years of my life  
Evening Argus (Brighton) 28/Mar/1994 Secrets of Saint Hill  
Independent 31/Jan/1994 Prisoners of Saint Hill How scientology deals with its members going psychotic.
Independent 09/Dec/1993 Cult prosecuted over safety of commune: Scientologists deny misleading council on 'overcrowding' A leaked internal document exposes violation of health and safety regulations in a Scientology building in Sussex.
TVS (Regional TV)?/Nov/1987Facing South: Scientology, the Cult BusinessBroadcast date unknown: a documentary covering many aspects of Scientology and Hubbard's life
Sunday Times 18/Oct/1987Scientologists in dirty campaign to stop bookAttacks upon the author, publisher and serialising newspaper of Russell Miller's book "Bare-Faced Messiah"
The Listener 30/Apr/1987The 'extended sting operation' of ScientologyPanorama reporter John Penycate explains the history and ethos of Scientology and describes how the Church reacted to his documentary
Panorama (BBC TV)27/Apr/87Scientology - The Road to Total Freedom?Interviews with Scott Mayer, Hana Whitfield, Don Larson and others (details)
Sunday Times
Magazine
28/Oct/1984 Sinking the Master Mariner The coup that took place after LRH's death; the infamous Mission Holders' Conference; mass defections; allegations of imprisonment and forced labour
The Times 24/Jul/1984Judge brands Scientology 'sinister' as mother is given custody of childrenDetails of Mr. Justice Latey's damning judgement in the High Court
Guardian 09/Feb/1980 Sect framed journalist over "bomb threats"Operation Freakout against Paulette Cooper and Operation Italian Fog against Gabe Cezares
Guardian 08/Feb/1980 Scientology's bizarre manual of dirty tricksInternal documents give details of illegal tactics used to silence Scientology's enemies
Guardian 07/Feb/1980 Snow White's dirty tricksDetails of Operation Snow White, Operation Freakout and other surveillance and harassment operations
News of the World 04/May/1969 Bid to Muzzle us Fails Brief history of Scientology and its ill effects after its lawsuit against News of the World collapses
Daily Mail 22/Aug/1966 Minister is asked to investigate... The case of the processed woman Karen Henslow, a mentally ill woman, is told to "love death" and encouraged to disconnect from family and friends

Other Countries: For an archive of US media, go to Ron Newman's media archive. For german press reports, go to Tilman Hausherr. Karin Spaink has some Dutch articles. Some articles from the Republic of Ireland have been included in this archive

Attention Journalists: Any journalist who wants to investigate Scientology should read Robert Vaughn Young's Quill article.