Channel 4 admits phone-in misled viewers since 2004 – The Independent

Posted August 2nd, 2007 in media, news by sally

“Channel 4 admitted yesterday that the problems with the Richard and Judy competition You Say We Pay dated back to 2004 – as it announced plans to axe all profit-making phone-in competitions. The broadcaster could have to pay out £2.2m to viewers following the discovery that they had been misled on the Richard and Judy quiz for so long.”

Full story

The Independent, 2nd August 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Man cautioned for pinching TV journalist’s bottom on air – The Times

Posted August 2nd, 2007 in media, news, public order, sexual offences by sally

“The man who pinched a journalist’s bottom on live national television was given a police caution yesterday, and said that the prank had been a drink-fuelled effort to ‘brighten up’ the mood during last month’s floods.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd August 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Grade orders inquiry into TV death scene – The Times

Posted August 2nd, 2007 in media, news by sally

“Michael Grade, ITV’s executive chairman, has ordered an independent inquiry into a documentary about an Alzheimer’s sufferer that wrongly claimed to show the man’s death.”

Full story

The Times, 2nd August 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

BBC must protect privacy of woman in documentary, rules High Court – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 13th, 2007 in adoption, media, news, privacy by michael

“The BBC must obscure the identity of a young woman in a documentary on adoption in order to protect her privacy despite the woman consenting to participate in the programme.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 13th July 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

Tintin book is crude, racist and must be banned, says watchdog – The Times

Posted July 12th, 2007 in media, news, racism by sally

“A cartoon adventure featuring Tintin, the heroic Belgian journalist, should not be sold in Britain, the Commission for Racial Equality said yesterday. The racism watchdog said that it was unacceptable for any shop to sell or display Tintin in the Congo, a comic book written in 1930 that features crude racial stereotypes.”

Full story 

The Times, 12th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Kate Middleton “hounded” say MPs – BBC News

Posted July 11th, 2007 in media, news, privacy by sally

“Prince William’s ex-girlfriend was ‘hounded’ by the paparazzi and the press watchdog took too long to protect her, MPs have said.”

Full story

BBC News, 11th July 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

MPs back press self-regulation – The Guardian

Posted July 11th, 2007 in media, news, privacy by sally

“MPs have rejected calls for statutory regulation of the press following the News of the World phone tapping affair but have accused some editors of becoming ‘complacent’ about the excesses of their staff.”

Full story

The Guardian, 11th July 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

BBC fined £50,000 for Blue Peter phone-in scandal – The Times

Posted July 10th, 2007 in media, news by sally

“The BBC must pay an unprecedented £50,000 fine over the Blue Peter phone-in scandal in which a young studio guest posed as a competition winner.”

Full story

The Times, 10th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Richard & Judy phone company fined over “misleading” TV quiz – The Times

Posted July 6th, 2007 in media, news by sally

“A fine of £150,000 is to be levied on the phone company involved in the Richard & Judy phone quiz scandal – but the broadcaster, Channel 4, and the producer, Cactus Television, face a further inquiry to learn whether they will be punished.”

Full story

The Times, 6th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007

Posted June 22nd, 2007 in data protection, legislation, media, social security by sally

Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act 2007 published.

Full text of Act (PDF)

Source: www.opsi.gov.uk

New Diana coroner thwarted in media ban – Daily Telegraph

Posted June 14th, 2007 in coroners, inquests, media, news by sally

“The new coroner for the inquest into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales yesterday pledged an “open, fair and transparent” inquiry – then immediately attempted to gag the press.”

Full story

Daily Telegraph, 14th June 2007

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Court report ban ‘could be eased’ – BBC News

Posted May 25th, 2007 in juries, media, news by sally

“Research should be carried out into whether juries are prejudiced by media reports of criminal cases, Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has said.” 

Full story

BBC News, 25th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Competition regulator to probe Sky’s stake in ITV – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 25th, 2007 in competition, media, news by sally

“The Competition Commission will investigate BSkyB’s acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has referred the purchase to the Commission after reports from the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and media regulator Ofcom.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 24th May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

PCC issues privacy guidelines on undercover reporting – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 23rd, 2007 in media, news, privacy by sally

“Newspaper regulator the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) has issued new guidelines on privacy and data protection for newspapers conducting investigations which involve subterfuge.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 23rd May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

BBC v. Sugar – Times Law Reports

Posted May 22nd, 2007 in freedom of information, law reports, media by traceydennis

Appeal impossible before decision notice served

BBC v Sugar

Queen’s Bench Division

“There could be no appeal to the Information Tribunal unless the Information Commissioner had decided whether the requirements of Part I of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 had been complied with by a public authority and where a decision notice had been served.”

The Times,  22nd May 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.

Stricter rules will govern premium rate TV quizzes – OUT-LAW.com

Posted May 8th, 2007 in media, news by sally

“Callers to television programmes which use premium rate phone lines must now be told how many others are calling the programme and must be told when their charges reach £10 in a single day.”

Full story

OUT-LAW.com, 4th May 2007

Source: www.out-law.com

British Broadcasting Corporation v. Sugar – WLR Daily

Posted May 1st, 2007 in freedom of information, law reports, media by sally

British Broadcasting Corporation v. Sugar [2007] EWHC 905 (Admin) 

“It was only in respect of information held by the British Broadcasting Corporation otherwise than for the purposes of journalism, art or literature that the BBC was a public authority subject to the requirements of Pts I to IV of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.”

WLR Daily, 27th April 2007

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

BBC wins battle to withhold Middle East report – The Times

Posted April 27th, 2007 in freedom of information, media, news by sally

“The BBC has won a High Court bid to overturn an information tribunal’s decision that gave a member of the public access to an internal report on the corporations’ [sic] Middle East coverage.”

Full story

The Times, 27th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Sky is abusing its position to destroy us, says Virgin – The Guardian

Posted April 27th, 2007 in competition, media, news by sally

“Cable TV operator Virgin Media has accused Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB of trying to weaken and eventually eliminate it with anti-competitive behaviour, according to high court papers filed against the satellite broadcaster.”

Full story

The Guardian, 27th April 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Virgin Media sues BSkyB in High Court – The Times

Posted April 13th, 2007 in competition, media, news by sally

“Virgin Media has filed legal proceedings against BSkyB in the High Court, making good a threat to sue the rival pay-TV group over a dispute over the carriage fees paid to air channels.”

Full story

The Times, 13th April 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk