The co-author of McNae’s Essential Media Law for Journalists is to deliver a seminar on the new Defamation Act next month.

Mike Dodd, who is also the Press Association’s specialist legal advisor and editor of Media Lawyer will lead the seminar at Bloomberg in London on 18 October.

The event is being organised by the National Council for the Training of Journalists and topics to be covered will include new rules on web libel law.

Mike will also be looking at how traditional defamation defences are being updated and redefined, new protections for scientific and academic comment, and the benchmark for defining a defamatory statement

NCTJ chief executive Joanne Butcher said:  “This seminar will benefit editors, journalists and tutors on NCTJ-accredited courses by providing them with the confidence to interpret and implement the new act in a practical way.

“Mike has over 40 years’ experience in journalism, as well as being a qualified barrister, so there is no better opportunity for delegates to get up-to-speed on the latest developments in media law.”

The cost of the seminar will be £50 plus VAT. It will run from 1.30 – 4.30pm at Bloomberg, City Gate House, 39-45 Finsbury Square, London. Tickets are available from the NCTJ website.