Defamation and subsequent libel cases are a constant pain for journalists. From my own experiences writing stories or scripts, I have realised how vital it is for a journalist to have their legal head screwed on at all times.
It was shocking to see an article in Monday's Guardian, revealing a 10-year high for libel cases in the UK. According to a leading law company, the 'weaker' defamation laws set the bar so low that defamation writs to the high court have increased by 15% in the past year alone and over the past 3 years, have nearly doubled.
These are frightening statistics and highlight precisely how easy it is to manipulate the libel laws in the UK. Is this however, just a sign of the world that we live in? Jason Lewis, a partner of the law firm Reynolds Porter Chamberlain says that libel action has increased because of the digital age and the huge data resource of the internet. Defamatory material can now be read or watched all over the world.
The Coalition Government announced in July that it will oversee a major overhaul of the libel laws in this country. The libel culture has become such an easy way to make money let's hope the powers that be don't renege on another of their promises...
(Article from The Guardian -http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jul/09/libel-law-review)
No comments:
Post a Comment