indicates articles I particularly recommend. For general critical information on Scientology, see Operation Clambake.Up: Martin Poulter > Scientology Criticism > UK Media Archive
"The liberal tendency in freedom of religion is to err on the side of neutrality, to accept as religious anything anyone says is religious. But this allows organisations with worldly dynamism (networks, wealth, an agenda and a willingness to play hardball with dissident members and sceptical outsiders) to claim protections designed for unworldly churches."
-Christopher Caldwell in the Financial Times
This symbol
indicates articles I particularly recommend. For general critical information on Scientology, see Operation Clambake.
| SOURCE: | DATE: | STORY: | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Telegraph | 07/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise 'Scientology second-in-command' | Claim by biographer Andrew Morton |
| The Times | 07/Jan/2008 | Cruise not our No 2, say Scientologists | |
| Daily Mail | 07/Jan/2008 | Diana author names Tom Cruise as 'World Number Two in Scientology' | |
| The Independent | 07/Jan/2008 | Cruise is second most powerful Scientologist, Morton book claims | |
| Reuters UK | 07/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise's lawyer calls book "sick stuff" | |
| The Sun | 07/Jan/2008 | Is Tom Mr Big in alien church? | |
| Daily Express | 13/Jan/2008 | Scientologists To Marry Britney | Celebrity gossip about Britney Spears |
| Sky News (24-hour news channel) returned to the topic of the leaked Tom Cruise video several times over the course of the 16th January, with different guests each time. Some extracts were captured and made it to YouTube, below. | |||
| Sky News | 16/Jan/2008 | [coverage of Tom Cruise video, part 1] | Martin Poulter comments on the leaked video |
| Sky News | 16/Jan/2008 | [coverage of Tom Cruise video, part 2] | |
| Sky News | 16/Jan/2008 | [coverage of Tom Cruise video, part 3] | Ex-scientologist Arnie Lerma is interviewed |
| Sky News | 16/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise video leak on web: can Scientology delete it? | Media lawyer Mark Stephens explains how Scientology's censorship attempts are counterproductive. |
| Daily Mail | 16/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise's Scientology rant: 'It's a blast - we can change the world' | |
| BBC News | 16/Jan/2008 | Cruise Scientology video leaked | [web site item: not clear if it was used in broadcasts] |
| More 4 News | 16/Jan/2008 | [Item on Tom Cruise video] | |
| Daily Mirror | 16/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise's bizarre rant | |
| The Guardian | 17/Jan/2008 | Tom's medal for services to Scientology | Tom Cruise's Freedom Medal of Valor revealed in leaked video |
| Press Association | 17/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise Scientology video leaked | Published in the Daily Record (Scotland) as "Cruise In Video Scientology Rant" |
| The Times | 17/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise Scientology video tops Oprah moment | [Not clear if this online article also appeared in the paper edition] |
| Daily Telegraph | 17/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise Scientology video leaked on web | |
| The Independent | 17/Jan/2008 | The Big Question: What is Scientology, and why have Tom Cruise's claims for it rebounded? | A primer on Scientology in question-and-answer format |
| Belfast Telegraph | 17/Jan/2008 | The Big Question: What is Scientology, and why have Tom Cruise's claims for it rebounded? | Reprint of the Independent article |
| The Independent | 17/Jan/2008 | Scientologists try to block Cruise YouTube rant | |
| Daily Express | 17/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise: Only Scientology can help people | |
| Daily Mail | 17/Jan/2008 | As his bizarre Scientology video is revealed - is Tom Cruise out of control? / Profile: Church of Scientology's efforts to block Tom Cruise video rant backfire | |
| Daily Record (Scotland) | 17/Jan/2008 | Bid To Block Cruise Rant Video Fails | |
| Daily Mirror | 19/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise in 9/11 'lies' web rant | |
| BBC News | 19/Jan/2008 | Cruise producer slams 'prejudice' | Web item(?): Paula Wagner defends her business partner |
| Financial Times | 19/Jan/2008 | Confusion over Scientology | |
| Sunday Times | 20/Jan/2008 | Scientologists enlist police to push antidrugs drive in school | Misleading leaflets promoting Narconon issued to police to distribute to schools |
| The Guardian | 21/Jan/2008 | German historian likens Cruise speech to Goebbels | Comparisons between leaked Scientology video and Nazi propaganda |
| The Times | 21/Jan/2008 | German historian compares Tom Cruise speech to Goebbels | |
| Metro | 21/Jan/2008 | Tom Cruise compared to Nazi Goebbels | |
| Daily Mail | 22/Jan/2008 | Scientologists hit back at German newspaper over Cruise-Goebbels comparison | |
| The Sun | 22/Jan/2008 | Scientology secrets revealed | Scientology reporter takes a bootleg video of the Orientation promotional video |
| The Times | 23/Jan/2008 | Is Scientology dangerous? | Feature article apparently based entirely on Scientology promotional material |
| The Times Online | 23/Jan/2008 | The Law Explored: the law and Scientology | Scantily researched summary of some legal cases involving Scientology by Gary Slapper of the Open University. No mention of Operation Snow White or the Latey judgement |
| NB: whether by heavy editing or slapdash research, the above article misrepresented the legal history of Scientology in the UK. See my open letter to Prof. Slapper | |||
| Sky News | 24/Jan/2008 | Anonymous Vs. Scientology: Can we stop the online hackers? | A computer security expert talks about Denial of Service Attacks being used against the Scientology web site |
| The Times | 25/Jan/2008 | Web vigilantes attack Scientology website | The "Anonymous" hacker group declaring war on Scientology |
| York Press | 25/Jan/2008 | 'Celeb' church opens in York | Opening of a Church of Scientology Mission of York |
| The Register | 25/Jan/2008 | Critics split over DDoS attacks on Scientology | Veteran critics of Scientology clash with early Anonymous over tactics |
| The Economist | 31/Jan/2008 | Fair Game: An online onslaught against Scientology | |
| Felix (Imperial College student newspaper) | 01/Feb/2008 | Anonymous posters on campus | Students put up posters in advance of the 10th February protest |
| The Guardian | 04/Feb/2008 | Hackers declare war on Scientologists amid claims of heavy-handed Cruise control | A new wave of online and street protests against Scientology |
| The Telegraph | 04/Feb/2008 | Hackers wage web war on Scientologists | |
| Metro | 04/Feb/2008 | Scientology under attack from online hackers | |
| The Telegraph | 05/Feb/2008 | Bad publicity 'helps Scientology recruitment' | Janet Laveau claims that the Church is receiving more inquiries as a result of recent coverage. |
| Edinburgh Evening News | 07/Feb/2008 | Demo against Scientology | |
| The Observer | 10/Feb/2008 | Why Tom Cruise would love our courts | Opinion column by Nick Cohen on Anonymous versus Scientology |
| Central News (Midlands local TV) | 10/Feb/2008 | [item about Birmingham protest] | Dozens of Anonymous protestors, one of whom is interviewed |
| The Press (York) | 10/Feb/2008 | Protesters in 'church' fight | Anonymous picket of the York branch of Scientology |
| The Sun | 11/Feb/2008 | Scientology Protest Drama | |
| The Scotsman | 11/Feb/2008 | Masked protesters hike up pressure on Scientologists | |
| The Herald (Plymouth) | 13/Feb/2008 | Masked Protest at Church of Scientology | |
| Daily Telegraph | 14/Feb/2008 | What do Tom Cruise and John Travolta know about Scientology that we don't? | Lengthy investigative article |
| Felix (Imperial College student newspaper) | 15/Feb/2008 | An Anonymous protest: page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4 | A lengthy report of the 10th February London protest with many photographs |
| New Statesman (Faith Column online) | 18/Feb/2008 | A Journey into Scientology | Gushing positive testimonial from OT6 Kenneth Eckersley |
| Daily Mail | 19/Feb/2008 | Tom Cruise cuddles up to a brunette who is NOT wife Katie Holmes | Celebrity gossip refers in passing to German condemnation of Scientology |
| New Statesman (Faith Column online) | 19/Feb/2008 | Scientology in Society | Continuing Kenneth Eckersley's series of articles |
| Nouse (York University student newspaper) | 20/Feb/2008 | Anonymous: Inside the war on Scientology | Thorough investigation of Anonymous and its claims |
| New Statesman (Faith Column online) | 20/Feb/2008 | Hubbard's aims | |
| New Statesman (Faith Column online) | 22/Feb/2008 | The Scientologist understanding of human rights | |
| BBC Radio 4 | 01/Mar/2008 | From Our Own Correspondent | item in which John Sweeney reports on the death of Shawn Lonsdale, whom he interviewed last year for Panorama |
| Metro | 04/Feb/2008 | Travolta's Scientology rehab cure | Pro-Scientology quotes from various celebrities |
| Metro | 05/Feb/2008 | Church under fire | Two readers' letters to the editor |
| News of the World | 09/Mar/2008 | Cruise Control: Scientology insider reveals the bizarre truth about superstar's cult-like "religion" | Allegations from a former Scientologist about the cult's effect on Tom Cruise's private life |
| The Register | 12/Mar/2008 | Wikileaks exposes Scientology's zeal to 'clean up rotten spots of society' | Billion-dollar contract and other materials are leaked online |
| Daily Star | 16/Mar/2008 | Stars Face Science Friction | Anonymous is described as a "sinister protest group" |
| Plymouth Herald | 17/Mar/2008 | Masked City Protesters Target Church Of Scientology | Former member Daniella Gibbs joins the Anonymous protest to speak out |
| Sunderland Echo | 17/Mar/2008 | Fawcett Street protest at church's preachings | Anonymous versus Scientology on the streets of Sunderland |
| Birmingham Mail | 17/Mar/2008 | Masked protest at "Cruise church" | |
| The Register | 17/Mar/2008 | Scientologists fight back against Anonymous | The Church's attempts at retaliation fail to stop another global wave of protests |
| Daily Mail | 18/Mar/2008 | Cruise is at it again in yet another wacky Scientology video | Leaked video of birthday party aboard Scientology's Freewinds |
| The Guardian | 19/Mar/2008 | Taking the Rick | Article about the Rick-Rolling phenomenon and its use by Anonymous |
| Birmingham Mail | 03/Apr/2008 | Scientologist 'Cult' sets up HQ in Birmingham; Sidebar: L Ron Hubbard, the sci-fi writer behind theories of pain and evil; Sidebar: Scientology's list of celebrity support; Scans: a, b, c | Front page article: Controversy as Scn announces plan for its second biggest building in the country in Moseley, Birmingham. Brief mention of Anonymous |
| Plymouth Herald | 04/Apr/2008 | Be More Open | Letter from a member of the public raising questions about Scientology controversy |
| Daily Star | 04/Apr/2008 | Alien cult moves in | Purchase of a building in Moseley, Birmingham |
| Daily Star | 06/Apr/2008 | Strain Man- Death Threats To Cruise And Scientology Chums | article based largely on Scientology press releases |
| Sunday Express | 06/Apr/2008 | A wholly unorthodox attack on Scientology; Scans a, b | Front of Review section |
| Edinburgh Evening News | 08/Apr/2008 | Protesters plan Scientology demonstration | Anonymous Scotland announces Operation Reconnect for Edinburgh city centre |
| The Register | 08/Apr/2008 | Scientology threatens Wikileaks with injunction | Lawyers react to Wikileaks hosting of Scientology-related documents |
| Sunday Times | 13/Apr/2008 | Rick Astley Clicks | The RickRolling phenomenon explained, including its use in Anonymous protests |
| The Observer | 13/Apr/2008 | Scientologists' HQ under siege | Brief report on the Anonymous protest at the City of London building (no mention of the Tottenham Court Road protest that took place the same day) |
| Birmingham Mail | 14/Apr/2008 | Demo against church move | Anonymous protests in Central Birmingham as part of Operation Reconnect |
| BBC Radio 4 | 14/Apr/2008 | PM: Scientology and WikiLeaks | Whistleblower site Wikileaks releases huge volumes of Scientology internal documents |
| Times Online | 17/Apr/2008 | TV actor Jason Beghe attacks Scientology in YouTube video | Former Scientology spokesman speaks out against the group in very strong terms |
| Times Online | 18/Apr/2008 | Jason Beghe Scientology video removed from YouTube | YouTube video is removed after receiving nearly 600,000 views |
| The Guardian | 18/Apr/2008 | Lifting the lid on Scientology's celebrities | Comment on Jason Beghe's allegations and the Scientology practice of recruiting celebrities |
| The Register | 24/Apr/2008 | Anti-Scientology crusader vaporized from YouTube | Mark Bunker's YouTube account cancelled |
| The Register | 02/May/2008 | YouTube rolls out Scientology double standard | Scientology allowed to re-launch their YouTube channel despite apparent violations of terms |
| Daily Star | 11/May/2008 | Tom put on cruise alert | Scientology ship the Freewinds is impounded because of asbestos |
| Now Magazine | 12/May/2008 | Tom Cruise urged to seek medical help after asbestos scare | Visitors to the Freewinds at risk of severe illness |
| The Register | 14/May/2008 | Google kills Anonymous AdSense account | Scientology was funding the Enturbulation dicussion boards via Google ads until the Church complained |
| SchNEWS (Brighton activist newsletter) | 16/May/2008 | Sects and the City: Cult friction as police harass anti-Scientology protest | Use of the word "cult" by Anonymous in the City of London is restricted by the police |
| The Guardian | 19/May/2008 | Will Smith funds school teaching Scientology creator's study method | |
| The Guardian | 20/May/2008 | Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult' | EpicNoseGuy, an Anonymous protestor, has his sign confiscated by City of London police. Online-only item |
| The Register | 20/May/2008 | Teen battles City of London cops over anti-Scientology placard | Excellent round-up of the EpicNoseGuy placard censorship issue |
| Daily Telegraph | 21/May/2008 | Church of Scientology: Boy faces court for 'cult not religion' placard | Various authorities weigh in on the prohibition of the word "cult" |
| Daily Telegraph | 21/May/2008 | Scientology arrest makes a mockery of the law | Opinion column by George Pitcher |
| BBC Breakfast (TV) | 21/May/2008 | [Item about the Anonymous protests and censorship of the word "cult"] | |
| Daily Mirror | 21/May/2008 | Teenager to face prosecution for calling Scientology a cult | |
| Press Association newswire | 21/May/2008 | Teen's appeal in placard probe | |
| The Scotsman | 21/May/2008 | Scientology protestor appeal | Very short item (possibly online only) |
| Daily Mail | 21/May/2008 | Teenager, 15, facing prosecution for holding a sign labelling Scientology 'a cult' | |
| Metro | 21/May/2008 | Teen in trouble for calling Scientology 'a cult' | |
| BBC News online | 21/May/2008 | Protest teenager may face charges | This item seems to have been prepared by the London local news team - not clear if used in broadcasts |
| BBC London News (TV) | 21/May/2008 | [Item about EpicNoseGuy] | Two-and-a-half-minute report in the evening local news programme (briefly mentioned again in the 10pm news) |
| Daily Mail | 23/May/2008 | Case dropped against boy, 15, who held up sign branding Scientology 'a cult' | |
| The Register | 23/May/2008 | City anti-Scientology protestor avoids court summons | |
| The Guardian | 23/May/2008 | Schoolboy avoids prosecution for branding Scientology a 'cult' | |
| BBC London | 23/May/2008 | No charges over Scientology demo | We hear from Liberty and from EpicNoseGuy's mother |
| Rye & Battle Observer | 23/May/2008 | No prosecution for scientology 'cult' protest boy | |
| Worthing Herald | 23/May/2008 | Liberty anger after scientology protest case dropped | Liberty spokesman expresses dissatisfaction that EpicNoseGuy was threatened with court |
| Bexhill-on-Sea Observer | 23/May/2008 | No prosecution for scientology 'cult' protest boy | |
| Press Association newswire | 23/May/2008 | Liberty backs 'cult' boy case | |
| The London Daily News | 23/May/2008 | 'Free speech victory' in Scientology protest | Article with photo from February 10th London protest |
| The Guardian | 23/May/2008 | The cult of free speech | Guest opinion column from James Welch of Liberty in the online-only "Comment is Free" section. |
| The Guardian | 24/May/2008 | Intergalactic tyrants beware: the boys in blue are after you | Opinion column by Marina Hyde about City of London Police's liaison with Scientology "community leaders" |
| The Times | 26/May/2008 | C-word incident makes me cringe with shame | opinion column by Caitlin Moran |
| Edinburgh Evening News | 27/May/2008 | Protesters celebrate city's 'cult' stance | Police and council in Edinburgh reaffirm their commitment to free speech for anti-Scientology protestors |
| Sunday Herald (Scotland) | 01/Jun/2008 | Anger as police ban placards branding Scientology a cult | Strathclyde Police ban the word "cult" from Anonymous protests in Glasgow |
| Marie Claire | 02/Jun/2008 | Will Smith's Scientology school | Smith's funding of the New Village Academy |
| Daily Echo (Dorset) | 03/Jun/2008 | In Ron They Trust | |
| Edinburgh Evening News | 03/Jun/2008 | Mixed feelings in cult dispute | Short note commenting on different reactions of Glasgow and Edinburgh police to Anonymous |
| East Grinstead Courier | 05/Jun/2008 | Police Request For Placard Removal Posted On Utube | About the Anonymous protest in East Grinstead on the 31st. YouTube is written as "Utube" throughout for some reason. |
| Kerrang! Radio | 10/Jun/2008 | [Interview with Chris Wrapson of the Birmingham Org, plus phone-in] | Mostly sympathetic interview in which Wrapson claims that Scientology is officially recognised as a religion |
| More4 (TV) | 12/Jun/2008 | More4 News: "How free is religious debate?" | Detailed report about how the police around the UK, using vaguely phrased legislation, are clamping down on Anonymous protests, with some footage from East Grinstead and Birmingham. |
| BBC Radio 2 | 14/Jun/2008 | The Russell Brand Show | Will Self briefly talks about Scientology |
| The Times | 20/Jun/2008 | Scientology: the Anonymous protestors | Probably the most detailed mainstream piece about the aims, tactics and background of the Anonymous protests |
| The Guardian | 21/Jun/2008 | Will and disgrace | Collection of tidbits about Will Smith mentions his attempt to recruit film crew into Scientology |
| University Radio York | 23/Jun/2008 | [Documentary about Anonymous and Scientology in York] | |
| The Scotsman | 24/Jun/2008 | Wake up and smell the booze | Opinion column briefly mentions Scientology's suppression of free speech |
| Birmingham Mail | 26/Jun/2008 | Church of Scientology deal funds blow | Scientology says it needs more money to buy new building in Birmingham |
| Metro | 30/Jun/2008 | Will Smith to build a school | Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith fund the New Village Academy |
| Sky News | 01/Jul/2008 | Actor Smith in Scientology row | School funded by Will Smith denies being a front for Scientology |
| The Times | 01/Jul/2008 | Will Smith's school deserves to avoid cult status | Opinion column about Will Smith's school |
| The Argus (Sussex) | 09/Jul/2008 | Scientology targets city | "Cult on lookout for new base to increase its foothold in the South" |
| Western Mail (Wales) | 14/Jul/2008 | Shock therapys still being used in Wales | Scientology front group CCHR are among the opinions in a long article about Electro-Convulsive Therapy |
| Sheffield Telegraph | 14/Jul/2008 | Church group slams 'waste' | Short item about how Scientology-backed front groups deny that psychiatric conditions exist |
| Sunday Sun [North West regional paper] | 03/Aug/2008 | Comics' ratings therapy | Mention of Narconon in short item about TV stars Ant and Dec |
| The Register | 04/Aug/2008 | Anonymous relaunches fight against Scientology | A shift in tactics is announced |
| The Register | 15/Aug/2008 | Google murders second Anonymous AdSense account | Google shuts down the AdSense account of another anti-Scientology site. |
| Wales on Sunday | 17/Aug/2008 | Lily's right on song to upset BNP | Round-up by regular columnist includes short mention of Scientology's mailing of publicity DVDs to every member of the Welsh Assembly |
| GWR Radio [West of England local radio] | 22/Aug/2008 | [morning item] | Mention of Scientology's apparent intention to open a "church" in Bristol |
| The Times | 26/Aug/2008 | The Web watcher: Tom Cruise and other bad ideas | Opinion column jokes about Tom Cruise's birthday party |
| The Observer | 31/Aug/2008 | Did I say that? Tom Cruise, Actor, 46 | Various quotes from Cruise's life, including some of his promotion of Scientology |
| New Humanist | Sep-Oct/2008 | Unmasked | Long article about Anonymous with some Old Guard interviews |
| The Register | 04/Sep/2008 | Anonymous fights Scientology in schools | Global protest with theme "Operation: School's Closed" |
| The Register | 09/Sep/2008 | Scientology critics fight YouTube takedown notices | Thousands of anti-CoS videos are taken down after complaints |
| Woman magazine | 15/Sep/2008 | "I had a baby to escape Scientologists" Page 1 Page 2 | Astra Woodcraft tells her story |
| The Times (Online) | 13/Sep/2008 | I didnt get where I am today without... | Interview with Juliette Lewis in which she praises Narconon |
| The Guardian | 17/Sep/2008 | "I'm a man-loving feminist" | Juliette Lewis praises Scientology in an interview |
| New Statesman | 18/Sep/2008 | Time to Take Notice | Becky Hogge of the Open Rights Group explains how the copyright law enables corporations such as the Church of Scientology to censor the internet |
| The Firm magazine | 22/Sep/2008 | Arrested Progress | A report on free speech in the UK mentions the Epic Nose Guy case |
| The Independent | 04/Oct/2008 | Richard Ingrams' Week: My friend Claud, and advice the high street might heed | Opinion columnist compares Scientology to the Nazis |
| Sunday Mirror | 05/Oct/2008 | Scientologists call Amy Winehouse to offer their help | Celebrity centre recommends Narconon treatment for the singer |
| The Register | 06/Oct/2008 | Anonymous plans zombie Scientology protest | October global protest theme involves zombies |
| Edinburgh News | 09/Oct/2008 | Protest threat as Scientologists set up tent 'mission' on Princes Street | A Volunteer Ministers tent sets up in central Edinburgh |
| The Register | 17/Oct/2008 | US teen admits to 'Anonymous' DDoS attack on Scientology | Dmitriy Guzner pleads guilty to denial-of-service attack on Scientology sites |
| Computer Weekly | 21/Oct/2008 | Cyber attacker faces 10 years in prison for hitting Scientologists | Dmitriy Guzner pleads guilty to denial-of-service attack on Scientology sites |
| The Inquirer | 24/Oct/2008 | Anti Scientology activist off the hook. Sort of | News of the case against Gregg Housh in Boston |
| The Sun | 01/Nov/2008 | I'd have killed for Cruise cult | Former Sea Org member John Duignan describes his experience |
| The Scotsman | 22/Nov/2008 | Scientology 'lousy' but not worth ban | Germany drops plan to ban Scientology |
| Contactmusic.com | 01/Dec/2008 | Cruise Hits Back in Scientology Book Row | Cruise and Amazon deny that Cruise influenced the bookshop to withdraw the book The Complex |
| The Guardian | 04/Dec/2008 | How Scientologists pressurise publishers | "Books blog" online item, not part of the official content of the paper. Author David V Barrett writes about Scientology's history of stifling critical books, including his own. |
| The Independent on Sunday | 21/Dec/2008 | Tom Cruise and the world of 'E-meter'-wielding Scientologists | Undercover reporter poses as an aspiring actor in Hollywood. |
This archive is for research purposes only. The Scientology Media Archive home page has links to media archives for other countries and some important information about this archive.
