Media Law

Topical News Headlines

Week 1

The Beckham 'torrid affair' story dominated all major headlines this week. The Daily Mail issued an article explaining how the Beckham's have hired a top legal team to find the 'kiss and teller', Irma Nici. It has been rumoured that she is facing a £16 million lawsuit, in the coming months. Money certainly talks, as Miss Nici's attempt at hiding failed, with the Beckham camp tracking her down, whilst she entered her own legal team's building. This story demonstrates the harsh severe implication of defaming one's reputation and invading one's privacy.

Next, in The Sun was a revelation concerning the Tiger Wood's sex scandals. One of his 'many' sexual partners is threatening to sell a 62 minute sex tape in exchange for a 'mere' £220,000.  Devon James, a porn star, claims 37 minutes of the video show her romping with Woods in 2008. The  e movie firm, Vivid Entertainment, who released the infamous Kin Kardashian sex tape, were  rumoured to be interested in viewing and getting the rights to the tape, although it has never emerged A spokesmen has said, 'Legally, we can't comment at this time.' Ironically, lawyers have barred all publication of naked pictures or videos of the star - but stressed it was not an admission that they existed! This shows how, unless a case becomes 'active' reports and details concerning a case, let alone a high profile case, are prohibited from being published.

In The Sun, an article titled Mothercare alert as sleep aids 'kill babies' concerns a warning not to use baby sleep positioners after a string of deaths. The high street chain, Mothercare, has had to take them off the shelves. This headline demonstrates how careful journalists have to be to stick to the facts, i.e. to keep 'kill babies', in inverted commas.

In the The Daily Express, a headline explaining how Katie Price has received fines and three points on her licence for driving whilst on her mobile phone. Katie claimed it was not a mobile phone and that she was spraying perfume. She was quoted as saying, 'All my friends know that I'm always spraying perfume. I'm obsessed with it.' Her husband, Alex Reid, used a young child to shield Katie from the police. This seems extremely odd, bearing in mind how much emphasis and cost celebrities, in particular, base on the importance of their privacy. If this was an average Joe, caught using his mobile, this would be pub gossip if that. The fact, Katie Price, was in her several tonne pink horsebox, only adds to the sensationalism of the story.

In the Daily Express, an article concerning how a Nazi’s fake £20 note is up for sale, demonstrates how previous tabloid and even possible television news can be re-printed and broadcast to capture the attention of readers and viewers, once more. The Bank of England discovered the notes in 1943 and so it is likely radio stations reported on them then. Some 67 years later, they have made their way back into the news to add a new dimension to the story.