Media law is ever changing and this index will strive to keep you abreast of developments in this complex and important area of journalism.
Our fortnightly column looking at the latest law issues, written by specialist media lawyers from Foot Anstey, also appears here.
Journalists are being invited to attend a seminar to learn more about how the Data Protection Act relates to their job. Hosted by Rowe Cohen solicitors, the Vital Topics seminar will aim to equip journalists with accurate and relevant legal
Confusion over a Soham father who assaulted his baby girl was averted when Ely Standard reporter Elaine King successfully applied in court to have the infant named. She argued that without the relationship being shown, it may have looked in
Human rights legislation is preventing a newspaper from publishing pictures of shoplifters banned from more than 200 city shops. The York Evening Press has published a ‘hit list’ of the top ten serial shoplifters in York. The thieves – all
A North Derbyshire newspaper has welcomed a judge’s decision to allow the naming of a doctor who secretly filmed a family as they undressed in a swimming pool changing room. District Judge John Friel lifted a naming ban on the
The Dorking Advertiser has won the right to name a teenage tearaway who urinated on students’ tents and threw stones into a school swimming pool. The Trinity Mirror newspaper made a successful court plea, arguing that the 17-year-old boy, who
The Halesowen News has carried first person stories from two indecent assault victims after they agreed to waive their anonymity to tell their tale in the paper. They came forward after a perverted plumber walked free from court despite clocking
The Southport Visiter has won the right to name a teenager jailed for nine years after attacking his grandmother with a claw hammer. Reporter Greg O’Keeffe successfully applied to overturn a Section 39 Order at Liverpool Crown Court. He argued
Police are investigating an allegation of contempt of court after a rape victim was inadvertently named by a Surrey newspaper. Under the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1976, the victims of certain sexual offences – including rape – have anonymity for
The Attorney General has outlined a series of ten guidelines for the media in an attempt to prevent prejudicial coverage of high-profile court cases. The controversial remarks came from Lord Goldsmith at a Law For Journalists Conference. He tackled examples
A Middlesbrough newspaper was able to identify a 13-year-old who received a five-year anti-social behaviour order after, in an unusual twist, the girl chose to be named. The Evening Gazette reported how the girl had carried out catalogue of attacks,
The Melton Times has won the right to print the names and pictures of five teenage gang members given anti-social behaviour orders by the courts. Editor Andy Plaice wrote to Leicester Crown Court in advance of their appearance and Judge
An editor has slammed a judge’s decision to allow his newspaper to name a teenage thug – but not publish the boy’s photograph. The Nottingham Evening Post won the right to name a 14-year-old boy who has been made the
The Lancashire Evening Post has slammed magistrates who ruled that the paper could not publish specific details about a boy made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order. The Johnston Press-owned newspaper successfully overturned a court order which would have
The Port Talbot Guardian has won a legal battle to identify a teenager who brought months of misery to residents. He had previously been handed an anti-social behaviour order banning him from the town centre, which he breached. The 16-year-old
Northeast Press has won a landmark ruling to name teenage offenders who appear before youth courts after they have reached the age of 18. The High Court said the test case of teenager David Lee Todd, who was named by
An employment law seminar for newspaper staff is to be hosted by The Newspaper Society next month. Chaired by Northcliffe’s Ken Thompson, the event will include presentations on discrimination law, stress-related absence, employee information and consultation, and the Data Protection