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Get updated by legendary libel lawyer Peter Carter-Ruck

Legendary libel lawyer Peter Carter-Ruck will be the main speaker at an update day on media law in central London on Saturday, November 18.

He is scheduled to look at recent changes in the practice of defamation and the spate of recent judgements which have drawn up the ground rules for libel actions against Web publishers.

The day has been organised by the National Union of Journalists and The Media Training Centre to update journalists and anyone concerned with publishing and the media on the raft of new laws, either just passed or just coming into effect.

The new Human Rights Act could help to give publishers more protection – but it could also give the people written about new rights against publications which never existed before in UK law.

Add to this major changes in court reporting restrictions, a completely new legal framework for local government, new restrictions on the use of personal information and landmark court decisions affecting the freedom of the press and you have probably the most comprehensive and far-reaching changes in media law for a generation.

Surveying some of these other new developments will be newsdesk lawyer Mike Dodd, who has 32 years’ experience in journalism, the last 20 of them as a copy editor with PA. He was one of the first journalists to realise the dangers posed to the press over reporting crime involving juveniles by the original terms of what is now the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.

Mike, who advises and assists PA reporters in cases where courts impose reporting restrictions which are open to challenge, took his law degree and a Masters studying part-time, and recently prepared an affidavit on behalf of PA which was instrumental in allowing the press to name three juveniles convicted over the murder of a student who was thrown off Hungerford Bridge in London. He has written on media law for newspapers and specialist journals and has also lectured to journalism and media students.

The Media Law Update day will be held at NATFHE in Britannia Street, near Kings Cross, and will cost £75 for NUJ members and £95 fornon-members. All delegates will receive an update reference pack with essential information on key new legislation and legal changes affecting journalists.

For bookings, or further information, contact Jeremy Dear at the NUJ on 020 7843 3709 or e-mail [email protected]

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