British press culture, practices and ethics will be the burning hot topics of discussion at the Law Society free public debate on Tuesday 11 December.
As Lord Justice Leveson publishes his eagerly anticipated report into press ethics, the Law Society is gearing up for its final public debate of 2012, examining Lord Leveson's conclusions on media practices.
Supporters of free speech claim that the media acts as a check on the powerful and that the press should be free to criticise and therefore be kept apart from parliament. Opponents warn that the actions of some of the British press has destroyed confidence in existing regulation and therefore responsibility for press behaviour should be handed to Government.
A panel of experts from the media and legal sector will look at the implications the report is likely to have on the future shape of press regulation, freedom of speech, and protection of privacy. Speakers include:
- Hugh Tomlinson QC, Matrix Chambers and Chair of Hacked Off
- Gideon Benaim, Partner at Michael Simkins
- Martin Bentham, Home Affairs Editor, The London Evening Standard
- Brian Flynn, Investigations Editor at the Sun
Lord Leveson will not be giving interviews or taking questions on his findings, so the Law Society debate panel will provide an early in-depth legal and practical insight into what it all could mean.
The Law Society Public Debate Series is being held in association with the Huffington Post. The event takes place at 18:30, 11 December at the Law Society in Chancery Lane and will take the form of a Q&A session with the audience.
This event is free and open for anyone interested in the debate topic, including: Law Society members, academics, solicitors in not-for-profit organisations and students.
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Ends
Notes to editors:
Date: 11 December 2012
Time: Registration 18:00– Debate starts 18:30– Bar open from 19:45
CPD: 1.5 hours
Cost: This event is free to attend
Venue: The Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL
Book your place
Follow the debate live on Twitter at #LawSocDebates
Media contact: Catherine Reed, The Law Society
+44 (0)20 7320 5902