On this morning’s Today programme former Formula 1 boss Max Mosley reiterated his call for individuals to have a “right to notification” before newspapers published allegations about their private lives. It was a fascinating interview, and well worth a listen here.
Mr Mosley, who won £60,000 in damages from the News of the World after it alleged he had been involved in a “Nazi orgy” is to deliver a speech on whether the press should be allowed to publish details of a public figure’s private life.
Interviewed by Today presenter John Humphrys, Mr Mosley said that individuals should have a “right to notification” before any allegations are printed about them. “so that if you wish you can go to a judge and if you can convince the judge he’d stop publication”.
Mosley added that he felt there was “no public interest” in the John Terry case. Mosley will be debating this issue tomorrow evening at an event titled Gagging the press: Is the public bound to suffer?. The discussion will be chaired by Lord Justice Moses. Other speakers include Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger and Index on Censorship trustee Sir Ken Macdonald QC.
Mosley’s proposal raise some interesting questions about the right of reply, legal fees etc, which we will be back to discuss later.
