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Media Law Stories 2007

Journalists team up to persuade judge to lift anonymity order
Brighton Argus court reporter helped persuade a judge to lift an anonymity order

Hendon Times challenges gagging order on adult defendant's ID
Children and Young Persons Act order allows adult to remain anonymous

Could the Darwins ever get a fair trial?
Canoe man story was every editor's dream - but did the coverage go to far?

Reporting ban lifted after journalist appeals to judge
Reporters were able to report vital details from a murder trial after restrictions were challenged

Media Law update: Source protection – and the latest privacy and libel payouts
Two European rulings support the protection of journalistic sources

Trainee journalist persuades judge on reporting restrictions
Judge agrees to lift ban on identifying 13-year-old who molested a grandmother

Evening Post told to pay out £7,000 after report identifies sex victims
Fines imposed in relation to a report on court proceedings involving a brothel

Journalist set to appeal against youth court pic prosecution
Crawley News man fined £1,000 over picture showing teen with eyes and nose blacked out

Jailed mother named after public interest protest from reporter
Journalist argues publicity would give minimal risk of adverse impact on the child involved

'Responsible journalism' bid fails in court
Crunch meeting on Thursday to decide the way forward

Post overturns youth court restrictions 'in the public interest'
Crime reporter passed a note to the bench to spark successful bid to name defendant

Libel action halted as jury fails to reach a verdict on newspaper publisher
No word on whether there will be further High Court proceedings in MP vs Dewsbury Press action

Libel and the internet
The world wide web's relationship with defamation

South coast title baffled by coroner's anonymous witness decision
Paper had no chance to challenge a decision to withhold witness's name at public hearing

Newsquest fined £3,000 for breaching court order on naming teen stab victim
Report in Gazette & Herald broke rules after a S39 order was imposed

Protection for sources and private identities is limited
Disclosure issues move to the top of the media law agenda after recent rulings

Navy man wins libel damages from Cornish newspaper
Misleading report costs Newsquest undisclosed damages

'Make allowance for editorial decisions' – Court of Appeal
Reassuring ruling gave unambiguous guidance to libel judges

Defence team bid to gag press talked down by trainee reporter
Attempt on S11 order was challenged by Advertiser man

Trainee challenges court clerk on validity of S39 order
Judge had not imposed a full or partial order but clerk disagreed

Govt ditches plans to curb FOI and restrict coroners' court access
Raft of pledges to open up government and information in "liberty" speech by Gordon Brown

Bent Coppers libel victory – and 'greater problems' over data protection
Important victory for press freedom as responsible journalism is recognised

Unlawful court order over dead baby is overturned by reporter
Journalist consulted law books and wrote to the magistrate

'Chilling precedent' avoided as Lords refuse fair comment appeal
Burstein's attempt to appeal to the House of Lords was hopeless - lawyer

Court order bid fails to block naming of 'home alone' mum
Defence team fails to sway court after journalist raises vital issues

Athlete settles 'drug dealer' libel action with local newspaper
Apology is published as offer of amends is made before case was heard in court

Five judges to decide if child porn case defendant can be named
Appeal case "so serious" that Croydon Advertiser and Croydon Guardian bid will get unusual treatment

Copyright – how much can be safely plagiarised?
Recycled news may be legal, but what can publishers get away with?

Press bid wins naming of youth who shot and killed his sister
Judge agreed there was an overriding public interest to allow case to be reported fully

Success as trainee challenges bid for reporting ban on murder accused
Reporter told court that Section 11 did not apply in the circumstances of the case

London weekly vows to fight sex offender's anonymity order
"Public has a right to know who is living on their doorstep" - editor

Judge refuses to ban reports of abuse claims - despite lack of a conviction
Court is told that press should be allowed to publish a balanced report and give details of mitigation

Footballer's pic in paper pre-empted identification in court: Law round-up
Our legal eagle casts an eye over contempt case, plus news on legal aid for libel cases

Paper gets 'pointless' ID ban lifted on witnesses named in open court
Reporter said orders were unreasonable as names were already in the public domain

JK Rowling decision avoids media 'revolution'
Our legal expert looks at "test case" which could have seen a radical shift in British media culture

Trainee reporter persuades judge to lift S39 order on two rapists
Letter to court ensures guilty men can be named in the press

Weekly paper overturns defendant naming ban in child abduction case
Deputy editor argued Section 11 could not be used as defendant's name had been openly used in court

Latest privacy landmarks – and the PCC talks tough north of the border
Boundaries of privacy law in sharper focus after two High Court cases

How the press can encourage parish councils to stick to the rules
Several options open to journalists who believe they have a right to attend meetings

Latest appeal court guidance on reporting restrictions: Media law update
Every erroneous restriction challenged by the media gives reporters and judges an important steer

Judges to be sent reminder on media restrictions after contentious case
Courts to get a refresher for advice on avoiding unlawful or unnecessary reporting restrictions

Damages for marine wrongly identified as murder accused in Herald Express
Herald Express makes "unqualified offer of amends" after in-paper apology

Gagging order 'first' delays reporting of murder trial evidence
Island judge feared coverage could influence witnesses before they gave evidence

'Reportage' flowers in BNP case: Media law update
Court of Appeal rules that political magazine was protected by a qualified privilege known as reportage

Rookie reporter secures naming of ASBO youth
Classroom simulation helps prepare trainee for first successful court challenge

Media Law round-up: House of Lords under fire as f
"Constitutional duty" row gives pointers to privacy law development: media law round-up

Media Law round-up: House of Lords under fire as free speech loses ground to privacy
"Constitutional duty" row gives pointers to privacy law development: media law round-up

Legal dangers highlighted after weekly's report
Attorney General's Office highlights actions of Coventry Times in "public interest"

Editors call for action on 'unlawful' reporting restrictions
Legal expert says chance for press to appeal is not enough and "serious problem" needs to be addressed

Media Law round-up: No sleep for editors without sea change in law
Our legal expert takes a look at the issues surrounding the recent Macclesfield Express case

Part of gagging order on paedophile is lifted - but he still cannot be named
Judge accepts media submission on man but moves to protect identity of children

Editor not guilty of naming sex victim as newspaper is fined £1,500
£1,500 compensation order to woman who was named in print

Media Law round-up: Why you should stick to privileged facts
Advice on the risks journalists face if they embellish defamatory material

Contempt of court laws should be re-examined, says Attorney General
Call for research into whether pre-trial and in-trial media coverage influences jurors

Right to report should be balanced with quest for justice - Lord Chancellor
Free press hailed but privacy can help the courts to do their job, according to Lord Falconer

Editor clashes with Lord Chancellor on reporting of inquests
Reporting restrictions fears voiced by local newspaper boss

Six newspapers pay 'bomb plot' libel damages to Birmingham businessman
"Significant embarrassment and distress" was caused at a time of heightened sensitivity

Media Law: How to challenge reporting restrictions
Tactics for challenging reporting restrictions are under the spotlight after child porn defendant remains anonymous

Media Law round-up: Victory for privacy over free speech
Latest update on privacy issues, including McKennitt's action and Prince Charles's journals

Toddler fight women named after media steps in
Judge amends S39 order on grounds of public interest and the gravity of the case

Media Law: Da Vinci Code's cryptic copyright ruling
Our legal expert takes a look at the complicated issue of copyright

Judge rejects press appeal against paedophile anonymity ruling
Court stands by decision to protect defendant's family from "social exclusion, teasing and taunting"

News groups appeal against paedophile anonymity ruling
Lawyers to argue the court does not have the powers to make order

Judge bans naming of paedophile - in case it embarrasses his family
Editors slam "perplexing" decision to allow man to remain anonymous despite media challenge

Media Law: Confusion in contempt - and copyright galore
Our legal expert casts his eye over the issues currently affecting the industry

Media Law: Background to reporter's victory in battle to protect sources
Appeal judgment may be welcomed by the media, but unusual facts are unlikely to recur

Reporter persuades magistrates to let neglected baby be identified
Court was told child could not be affected by publicity and that S39 order would only protect defendant

Telegraph overturns court's ASBO ID ban
Magistrates agree with Derby paper so that public can monitor 12-year-old's behaviour

Court sides with Mail after being told it can't reimpose teen's ID ban
Paper wins "protracted battle" with magistrates to name a teenage yob

Fresh talks planned on proposed restrictions to inquest reports
Government to discuss media concerns on right to report details after a death

Media Law: Claim that 'inappropriate' rules could undermine new media
Plus: Privacy, the PCC and personal data are all covered in the latest round-up of legal news

Media Law: Open justice victory in terrorism case - lawyers' update
"Judges should trust journalists and jurors rather than use precautionary gagging orders"

Newspaper company fined as reader's 'detective work' identifies sex victim
Victim of childhood abuse gets £2,500 compensation

New law on kidnappers 'within days' after Press fight success
Judges could soon have the power to place child abductors on sex offenders' register

'Ridiculous' Section 39 order overturned thanks to Advertiser
Bid to ban naming of victim already pictured in the press is tackled in court by crime reporter

Echo hits out at secrecy over persistent offender's ID
"No justification" for keeping identity under wraps - news editor

Media Law: Formal warning and policy change - update from the lawyers
Legal experts touch on proposed FOI changes, Prince Charles and contempt laws

Examiner devotes six pages to taxi driver murder verdict
Newspaper follows every day of six-week trial to craft reports and comment

Media Law: Their Lordships deliver another privacy ruling
Tony Jaffa and Nigel Hanson from Foot Anstey give more legal pointers in new HTFP column

Government debates law change on anonymity for rape victims
Ministers are "actively" considering the issue to prevent miscarriage of justice

Media Law: Notable victories for press freedom
Tony Jaffa and Nigel Hanson from Foot Anstey unravel legal points in fortnightly HTFP column