Intro to media law

Intro to media law

1. Branches of law

   • Civil
     • Hierarchy
       • Magistrates -> County -> High Court -> Court of appeal
     • Terms
       • Sue
       • Held liable
       • Claimant and defendant/respondent
       • Damages
       • Smith vs Coca Cola
       • Settlement
         • Two sides may settle before court without judgement
           • cannot report guilt even if settlement occurs
       • Injunction
         • Court order to do something or stop you doing something
           • restraining order
           • can't publish something
     • Torts
       • Civil wrongdoing/offence for which the court may award monetary damages
         • Rio failed when trying to sue for privacy invasion
           • press endeavour deemed it was of public interest
   • Criminal
     • Hierarchy
       • Magistrates -> Crown Court -> Court of appeal
         • Magistrates max sentence 1 year
           • 95% of cases dealt with by mags, 5% goes to crown, 1% with jury
     • Terms
       • Found guilty
       • Prosecutor and defendant
       • Convicted
       • Fines
       • R vs smith
         • regina, queen
     • 3 categories
       • indictable only
       • Either-way
         • defendant can choose for case to be dealt with by mags or crown with jury
       • Summary
         • for offences like speeding etc, dealt with by mags
   • Supreme court highest England and Wales

2. Human Rights

   • Passed 1998, comes into action 2000
   • Article no.s
     • 2: Right to life
     • 3: Freedom from torture
     • 8: Right to privacy
     • 10: Freedom of expression
       • to impart and receive info without inteference by pub auth
     • 6: Right to fair trial

3. The court

   • Lawyers: Solicitors, barristers, QC
     • Barristers wear wigs etc but not in magistrates court
     • group or sole barrister known as counsel
   • in camera; court is held in private
     • journos can listen but not write on it
   • contempt of
     • can't publish something that might influence jury/witnesses

4. Sources of law

   • EU
   • Custom
   • Precedent/case law
   • Statutory