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Editorial Law

Individual editorial law advice covers libel, pre-publication copy advice, contempt of court, court reporting restrictions, breach of confidence and other editorial areas.

The department provides immediate legal advice to editors and journalists of subscribing companies, with the objective of assisting maximum publication with minimum risk. Lawyers are available during office hours to offer fast, practical advice on editorial copy, prior to publication.  Our lawyers' experience in advising publishers on media law is uniquely combined with their detailed lobbying on legal and self-regulatory developments.

Areas include:

  • Libel: Fast, practical pre-publication advice on lessening libel risks in news stories or other editorial content, scope and use of defences including advice on sources and source material in relation to availability of any privilege.
  • Contempt of court and reporting restrictions:Immediate advice on the contempt risks arising from a story and how to minimise them, as well as on the validity of any reporting restrictions and how to challenge unnecessarily restrictive orders.
  • Access to information & challenging official secrecy:Advice on the various routes to obtaining information from local and central government, quangos, police and emergency services and private entities, and on data protection, privacy, the law of confidence and protection of sources.
  • Advice on the industry's Code of Practice and self-regulatory system, upheld by the Press Complaints Commission.

The Society's lawyers can also provide in-house editorial law seminars, which are available to members and non-members of the Society, irrespective of subscription to the Editorial Law Advice Service.

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