The two day forum will cover legal areas relevant to day-to-day practice of journalism and laws in a media convergent environment focusing on mobile TV & internet TV that are increasingly becoming popular with the emergence of the new forms of journalism that is changing the media laws.

The importance of legal knowledge and awareness of legal risks has increased enormously in the recent years as the global media has become more competitive and journalistic techniques have become more sophisticated. Training in media law has become an important benchmark in terms of professionalism of media and telecommunication organizations.

PROFILE OF THE PARTICIPANTS
Journalists, lecturers, legal assistants and/or managers in the media, telecommunication and/or multimedia fields with an interest in media law from broadcasting organisations and higher learning organisations and NGO’s .

Participation is open to Non members of AIBD . The registration fee for Malaysian based private networks, institutes and individuals is RM 400.00 (They are also invited to stay on to attend the Asia Media Summit on 27 th and 28th May 2008.)

CONTENT

DEFAMATION
The session will examine and discuss the law of defamation and address such issues as: how far can a journalist go in challenging the reputation of individuals and corporate bodies in the course of their work? What are the precautions they need to take to avoid libel suits? What are the defences available when such suits are filed? Attention will also be paid to related risks such as suits for malicious/injurious falsehood which are sometimes filed against journalists in relation to stories involving investigative journalism. This session will also touch upon key aspects of online defamation.

CONTEMPT OF COURT
deals with a variety of risks associated with journalistic coverage of legal proceedings and of the courts in general. Issues discussed will include: how far can a journalist go in criticising a judge or the work of the courts? To what extent can a journalist comment on pending cases? What are the special precautions that need to be taken in reporting cases involving sexual offences? This session will also deal with the protection of journalistic sources.

• Case studies will follow on the above three topics

PANEL DISCUSSION
This session will involve an exchange of views, experiences and ideas on defamation, contempt of court, and hate speech among a panel of distinguished journalists/broadcasters who have a close familiarity with these areas of the law. It will allow workshop participants to discuss some of these issues with the panellists and to seek possible solutions to common problems across Asia and further afield.

JOURNALISM ETHICS IN THE ERA OF MEDIA CONVERGENCE
Discussion on the ethical challenges facing journalists in the new era of media convergence. It will identify particular areas of difficulty, e.g. sting operations involving sophisticated technology, implications of putting content on the web which may fall foul of the laws/customs of other countries whilst being acceptable in the host country, and so on, and attempt to find a consensus on some of the challenges.

CONSULTANT
The consultant is Dr. Venkat Iyer, who has extensive experience in the area of media law training. Dr Iyer is a barrister and a senior lecturer in law at the University of Ulster in United Kingdom. A former Nuffield Press fellow at the University of Cambridge, Dr. Iyer currently is the Editor of The Commonwealth Lawyer “ a journal published from London with a wide circulation though out the Commonwealth.

Last updated 22.03.08 20:06 by Manil, Project Reference R-252-MY-08