The House of Commons Select Committee on Culture Media and Sport yesterday heard evidence from four former “News of the World” executives, Jon Chapman, Daniel Cloke, Colin Myler and Tom Crone (pictured). The Committee also published correspondence with a range of witnesses, including a number of solicitors. Continue reading
The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Month: September 2011 (Page 5 of 6)
Newspaper groups, phone hacking victims, the former News International chief executive, police and politicians were amongst those who have applied for core participant status at the Leveson Inquiry today.
They made their submissions to Lord Justice Leveson in court 76 of the Royal Courts of Justice this morning (Tuesday, 6 September 2011). Continue reading
In July this year, The Mirror and The Sun newspapers were fined £50,000 and £18,000 respectively by the Divisional Court for strict liability contempt under s.2 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 for the “vilification” of Christopher Jefferies, who had been arrested for the murder of his former tenant Joanna Yeates. He had been released without charge shortly after his arrest but whilst he was the subject of investigation “extreme” material had been published about him by both newspapers including suggestions that “he was linked to both … paedophile offences and … [an] earlier murder offence”. The case was unusual and raises as many question as it answers. Continue reading
On 22 August 2011 the President of the Family Division, Sir Nicholas Wall (pictured), gave two judgments in cases involving Vicky Haigh, who had been named in the House of Commons by John Hemming MP on 26 April 2011, on a point of order. We have previously posted about these judgments and about some of the background. The two judgments are now available on the invaluable Bailii site. Continue reading
The release of murder suspect Rebecca Leighton this week once again raised questions about press monstering of those arrested for serious crimes. We had a post on this, following up on posts on the Politicised Correctly, Angry Mob and Fleet Street Blues blogs. As Ms Leighton’s solicitor told the BBC she was “made a scapegoat“. Continue reading
The UK press may show more restraint in reporting of high-profile cases if contempt laws are vigorously enforced, says Brian Cathcart.
The next time there is a sensational murder — something on the scale of the Ipswich or Soham cases — you may notice something different about the media coverage. Reporters may show restraint of a kind that is not familiar. In fact, they might actually obey the law.
The military use of “spy drones” is very well established. United States Air Force drones have now done more than a million “combat hours”. Drones have been used by the police in Britain for some time. It is now reported that they are being used for news gathering purposes by News Corporation in the United States.
Continue reading
On 23 July 2011 a nurse, Rebecca Leighton, was charged with with six counts of causing damage with intent to endanger life at Stepping Hill Hospital where she was an acting ward sister. Five patients had died at the hospital, apparently as the result of the contamination of saline bags. Continue reading
On 30 August 2011 the Ontario Superior Court of Justice handed down judgment in the case of Baglow v. Smith, 2011 ONSC 5131. The decision suggests that an allegedly defamatory statement made in a debate on a blog or internet forum may not be found to be defamatory if the plaintiff previously engaged in the debate but did not respond to the statement despite having the opportunity to do so. Continue reading
It will probably surprise many people — I wish I could say it surprised me — to know that the Press Complaints Commission still thinks it has a future. If recent weeks have taught us anything about the PCC, you might think, it is that the so-called regulator has failed to uphold press standards and a new approach is needed. The prime minister thinks so, Labour thinks so, the public thinks so and the Leveson inquiry has been asked to Continue reading
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