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Welcome to our main news index. Here you will find all the news stories that have appeared on the site since our launch in February 2000.

If you want to look up a story from a certain month you can use our Journalism News Archive which lists stories by date and also according to which channel or category they appeared in (eg law, campaigns, awards.)

If you are looking for a story about a particular newspaper or media company, you can use the links in the ‘Main News Links’ list to the right to take you to our directory pages. Here you will find indexes of all the stories we have written about each of the newspapers and media companies featured on the site.

Paper clears up legal muddle on 'adult' in youth court

The South Shields Gazette has set a legal precedent in its fight to identify a young defendant. Because the defendant was 17 at the time of his offence, he was dealt with by South Tyneside Youth Court – but he

Teen hooligans named thanks to Courier

A legal application by the Halifax Courier has led to the identity of two teenage hooligans being revealed in print. The paper was keen to report on a pair of youngsters, aged 14 and 15, who were both given anti-social

Evening Post names teenage drug dealer

The South Wales Evening Post has named a teenage drug dealer after it made a successful request to identify him. The 17-year-old was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court, but could not be named in press reports of the case after

Named at last

The Evening Gazette has finally been able to name a 14-year-old who was made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order. In December the paper was prevented from identifying the boy by district judge James Prowse, sitting at Teesside Magistrates

Herald fined £1,500 over picture of youth

The Plymouth Evening Herald has been fined £1,500 after a court ruled that a photograph published in the paper identified a 15-year-old boy – even though it was partially blacked out. The newspaper had denied a summons, under Section 49

Robber identified as Mail persuades judge

A newspaper argued that a 17-year-old knife-wielding robber should be identified in the press because the public should be made aware of who had carried out the crimes – and he could hardly be described as “vulnerable”. He was appearing

Judge makes a U-turn on his U-turn – and bans the press

A judge who reversed a decision on what could and could not be reported at certain drugs hearings at Gloucester Crown Court has expelled the press – after changing his mind again. Judge Gabriel Hutton agreed to re-admit the press

Quick-thinking Mike overturns ban – and secures pic

A quick-thinking trainee reporter has successfully overturned an order that would have prevented his newspaper from naming a young gang member who had terrorised his neighbourhood. Mike Sherburn, (26), who works for the Eastern Daily Press in its Lowestoft office,

Paper names thug who tried to gag it

The North West Evening Mail has named a teenage thug who attempted to gag the paper. The 17-year-old boy, who is the subject of an anti-social behaviour order, threatened the newspaper with legal action in a bid to stop his

Anonymity to be removed on ASBOs, says Home Secretary

Moves to end automatic reporting restrictions on young people subject to anti-social behaviour orders have been announced by the Home Secretary, David Blunkett. The proposals form part of the Anti-Social Behaviour White Paper Respect and Responsibility. It would mean newspapers

Press freedom case success for Post

An evening newspaper has persuaded a court to lift reporting restrictions on a case concerning arms cash deposits by the Middle Eastern state of Qatar. Jersey’s Royal Court has agreed to lift its ban on reporting a case in which

Defendants named as two papers overturn court orders

Two newspapers have overturned bans on identifying people involved in crown court proceedings after appealing to the judges involved. The Southern Daily Echo persuaded Judge David Griffiths, sitting in Southampton, that to name a 15-year-old who admitted robbery and grievous

Law expert calls for contempt review

A newspaper law expert has called for a review of the Contempt of Court Act, and suggested a study into the actual impact on jurors of pre-trial publicity surrounding a case. Express Newspapers’ legal advisor Justin Walford said the fault

Jimmy Nail accepts damages from NC&J

Newcastle Chronicle and Journal Ltd has agreed to pay substantial undisclosed libel damages to actor Jimmy Nail for comments made by a columnist in the Sunday Sun in May. Gossip columnist Karen Wight also agreed to pay damages after she

Gazette's naming bid fails

The Evening Gazette has lost its bid to name a 14-year-old who terrorised a Middlesbrough estate. The teenager was made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order last week, but district judge James Prowse, sitting at Teesside Magistrates Court, banned

Banished to the stands – still surrounded by stewards

Hull Daily Mail sports staff have been banned from Hull City’s football ground by the club chairman.Football writer John Fieldhouse tells what happened when he turned up to report on the latest home game. Hull City chairman Adam Pearson has