Articles on Media law
August 19, 2024
With more lawsuits potentially looming, should politicians be allowed to sue for defamation?
Brendan Clift, The University of Melbourne
As Linda Reynolds’ defamation trial against Brittany Higgins continues, Peter Dutton is apparently considering suing fellow MP Zali Steggall. Our legal system is out of step with democracy.
July 31, 2024
Why is there so little Olympics footage in the news? Here’s how the multibillion-dollar video rights industry works
With Channel Nine holding the broadcast rights to the Paris games, other networks are hamstrung. Here’s how the system works.
May 17, 2024
Why the New Yorker blocked UK website readers from its Lucy Letby story – an expert explains
Given the forthcoming retrial, anyone reporting or publishing must take care not to breach the law on contempt of court.
April 15, 2024
Judge finds Bruce Lehrmann raped Brittany Higgins and dismisses Network 10 defamation case. How did it play out?
Brendan Clift, The University of Melbourne
In one of the biggest legal sagas of recent times, Justice Michael Lee has delivered his verdict. What did he say?
April 3, 2024
A judgment in Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation trial against Network 10 has been delayed. What’s going on?
Rick Sarre, University of South Australia
Just days before Justice Michael Lee was due to pass down his judgment, Network 10 threw another spanner in the works.
April 2, 2024
‘Fake news’ legislation risks doing more harm than good amid a record number of elections in 2024
Samuel Jens, Stony Brook University (The State University of New York)
Vague definitions and heavy penalties mean that legislation could be used to stifle a free press.
November 13, 2023
Australia’s media classification system is no help to parents and carers. It needs a grounding in evidence
Elizabeth Handsley, Western Sydney University and Fae Heaselgrave, University of South Australia
We’re all familiar with a green ‘G’ or a red ‘MA’ on a movie poster, but those ratings don’t have any basis in what we know about child development. They’d be much more useful for parents if they did.
September 19, 2023
Russell Brand investigation: what good journalists should have to go through to report sexual assault allegations
An expert on media law explains how newspapers avoid defamation when investigating a story.
May 22, 2023
Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith: Supreme Court rules for income streams over artistic freedom
Hannibal Travis, Florida International University
The decision may make it hard to report the news, make documentary films, write biographies or even teach a class.
May 1, 2023
Why was Bruce Lehrmann given the all-clear to sue media for defamation? A media law expert explains
The trial is likely to go ahead in November this year, and last for around four weeks.
April 20, 2023
Defamation was at the heart of the lawsuit settled by Fox News with Dominion – proving libel in a court would have been no small feat
Nicole Kraft, The Ohio State University
It’s far easier to throw around accusations of damage to one’s reputation than it is to actually prove it in court. A journalism scholar explains the criteria that must be met.
September 2, 2022
The merger of TVNZ and RNZ needs to build trust in public media – 3 things the law change must get right
Major public media reform in New Zealand is coming at the same time as trust in government and media declines. The proposed new law needs to make political and editorial independence a top priority.
June 22, 2022
Why was the Brittany Higgins trial delayed, and what is ‘contempt of court’? A legal expert’s view on the Lisa Wilkinson saga
Rick Sarre, University of South Australia
Complicating things is the fact the prosecution plans to call Wilkinson as a witness in the trial.
November 25, 2021
Ending online anonymity won’t make social media less toxic
Calls to reveal the true identities of social media users won’t make the internet safer without deeper reform of online platforms.
September 24, 2021
Nevermind at 30: why the Nirvana baby lawsuit is a warning for parents
The Nirvana baby lawsuit serves as a timely reminder to parents to be careful about what they are sharing about their children online.
June 26, 2021
Why Matt Hancock’s private life is very much in the public interest
A media law expert explains why the Sun was right to report on Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s personal life.
March 10, 2021
How a silent movie informs the current debate over the right to be forgotten
At the end of the 1925 movie ‘Red Kimono,’ the protagonist, Gabrielle Darley, throws away her garment and moves on to a better life. Real life is more complicated.
February 24, 2020
Albania’s plan against disinformation lets Facebook and powerful politicians off the hook
New laws in Albania show one approach to dealing with disinformation – and highlight some pitfalls of selective regulation.
November 11, 2019
Media Files: Media companies are mad as hell at tech giants and don’t want to take it anymore. But what choice do they have?
Matthew Ricketson, Deakin University and Andrew Dodd, The University of Melbourne
Media companies are mad as hell at tech giants and don’t want to take it anymore. But what choice do they have? The Conversation 64.5 MB (download)
No wonder that, according to a new international survey, media companies are increasingly unhappy with their lot. In this episode we hear from the survey's author, Robert Whitehead.
July 23, 2019
Ghana’s constitution is meant to protect the media: but does it?
The state in Ghana still justifies taking steps that amount to suppression of the media.
Related Topics
Top contributors
- David Rolph Professor of Law, University of Sydney
- Mark Pearson Professor of Journalism and Social Media, Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research, Griffith University, Griffith University
- Polly Rippon University Teacher in Journalism, University of Sheffield
- Michelle Grattan Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra
- Tim Crook Professor in Media and Communication, Goldsmiths, University of London
- Brendan Clift Lecturer in Law, The University of Melbourne
- Rick Sarre Emeritus Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia
- Michael Douglas Senior Lecturer in Law, The University of Western Australia
- John Jewell Director of Undergraduate Studies, School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, Cardiff University
- Robin Callender Smith Honorary Professor of Media Law, Queen Mary University of London
- Derek Wilding Co-Director, Centre for Media Transition, University of Technology Sydney
- Denis Muller Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne
- Andrew Dodd Director of the Centre for Advancing Journalism, The University of Melbourne
- David Rowe Emeritus Professor of Cultural Research, Institute for Culture and Society, Western Sydney University
- John McGarry Senior Lecturer in Law, Department of Law / Centre for Crime, Justice and Security, Leeds Beckett University
