The International Forum for Responsible Media Blog
Kennedy v. Charity Commission [2012] EWCA Civ 317. Tangled web, this one, but an important one. Many will remember George Galloway’s Mariam Appeal launched in response to sanctions imposed on Iraq in 1998, and the famous picture of George Galloway with Saddam Hussein. Well, the Appeal was then inquired into by the Charity Commission, and this case concerns an attempt by a journalist, unsuccessful so far, to get hold of the documents which the Inquiry saw. Continue reading
In a unanimous decision ([2012] UKSC 11) the Supreme Court today allowed the appeal of Times Newspapers Limited against a decision of the Court of Appeal ([2010] EWCA Civ 804) which had held that held that it could not rely on Reynolds qualified privilege. The Supreme Court restored the decision of Mr Justice Tugendhat ([2009] EWHC 2375 (QB)) who had ruled, on the hearing of a preliminary issue, that the Times was entitled to rely on the defence of Reynolds qualified privilege in relation to the printed publication of the article about the claimant. Continue reading
In R (Lord Carlile of Berriew CBE QC and others) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2012] EWHC 617 (Admin), the Divisional Court upheld, with evident reluctance, the Home Secretary’s decision to exclude Maryam Rajavi, “an eminent dissident Iranian politician”, from the UK – denying her the opportunity from meeting in the Palace of Westminster with 16 prominent cross-party members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons to discuss democracy, respect for human rights and other policy issues relating to Iran. Continue reading
The singer and X-factor judge Tulisa Contostavlos has obtained an interim injunction to restrain the publication of a purported “sex tape”. It is reported that the singer was approached by an unidentified man last year, who wanted to sell an alleged sex video of her for £500,000. The film went on sale online on Monday from a website charging £3.90 to download it. Continue reading
The trial of cricketer Chris Cairns’ libel claim against Lalit Modi came to an end at the High Court on Friday March 16. Both parties were in Court 15 as closing submissions were made by Andrew Caldecott QC for the Claimant. It was the eighth day of a hearing in front of Bean J, revolving around the Indian businessman and IPL founder’s 2010 tweet about the Claimant’s having departed the Indian Cricket League (‘ICL’) as a result of his alleged involvement in match-fixing. A blow by blow account of the trial can be found on ESPN’s Cricinfo. Continue reading
It’s a week since Hacked Off called for the disclosure, in a form redacted only to protect the target individuals, of the whole Motorman database – the thousands of logged transactions by which national newspapers gained access to private information. What has happened since? Continue reading
It was the thirteenth week of evidence at the Leveson Inquiry. As Natalie Peck reported for Inforrm here, the Inquiry heard from former Times in-house lawyer, Alastair Brett, crime reporters and senior figures from the Metropolitan Police force, including head of press Dick Fedorcio. Continue reading
On 15 March 2012 the Ministry of Justice Published its first statistical report on privacy injunctions, covering the period August to December 2011. The report showed that only 4 new privacy injunctions were granted during this 5 month period. None involved the media. In addition, there were 3 hearings for the continuation or variation of interim injunctions. Continue reading
Last week was Week 13 of evidence at Leveson Inquiry. The Chairman heard from several crime reporters and more senior figures from the Metropolitan Police force, including head of press Dick Fedorcio (pictured), who has been heavily referenced in the evidence of others over the past two weeks. The last witness of the week was former “Times” in house lawyer, Alastair Brett. Continue reading
Is
the Finkelstein Report as dangerous as the media imagines? Richard Ackland looks at the major recommendations as well as some of the darker arts of journalistic practice not even mentioned in the report
Judging by mainstream newspaper reaction, Ray Finkelstein and Professor Matthew Ricketson are proposing a government funded monster to regulate every corner of Australia’s media. Continue reading
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