Day: 11 January 2011

Following Nick Clegg’s announcement of a draft Defamation Bill to be published in the Spring, in response to unprecedented pressure from the media and following what has been one of the most successful US lobbying campaigns since that initiated by the tobacco industry some years ago, it will be interesting to see the reaction to what has been a totally unjustified clamour for reform. Continue reading

The libel reform debate has tended to focus on the interests of journalists, scientists, bloggers and other potential defendants to libel claims.  There is obviously strong public interest in the free flow of information.  Journalists must be able to investigate and report on the powerful, scientific developments require free and open debate, NGOs must be able to campaign on issues of public interest.  There is, however, a countervailing public interest in truth and accuracy.  The difficult question is how to get the balance right. Continue reading