The World Association of Newspapers and a coalition of the world’s leading news agencies have expressed ‘dismay’ and ‘deep regret’ at the decision of football organisation FIFA to abandon talks on the severe restrictions it has placed on press coverage of the 2006 World Cup.
FIFA has banned publication of World Cup photos through the Internet, including newspaper websites, during matches and has severely limited what can be published, regardless of time limits. It has also introduced editorial restrictions on how photographs can be used in print publications. A a letter to FIFA President Sepp Blatter slammed the move as “both an interference in editorial freedom and independence and a clear breach of the right to freedom of information”.

Heart FM presenter Ed James has become the newest director of the oldest press club in the world, joining the board of Birmingham Press Club.
The breakfast show presenter got his first break in radio when he won a competition on BBC Radio York, and after studying politics at university launched his breakfast show career in Manchester. Press Club chairman John Lamb said: “We’ve got board members from most areas of the media but were lacking someone from the West Midlands’ vibrant radio sector.”

Ian Nichol, an accountant and member of the Criminal Cases Review Commission, will join the Press Complaints Commission on March 1 as one of ten lay members following the death of Lord Michael Chan last month.
Paying tribute to Lord Chan, Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer said: “We will miss the calmness, wisdom and great depth of experience that he brought to all our debates.”

A first year student at the University of Central Lancashire will be using his extensive language skills to help make a BBC programme.
Imran Bashir, (19), who is studying Journalism and English Literature, will work in the production of a programme on Islamic Jihad – an act of war against aggressors of the Islamic faith – as a translator of Arabic and other Asian spoken languages.