PAST EVENT: 20 July: Protecting reputations or strengthening freedom of speech: How should we reform our libel laws?

Protecting reputations or strengthening freedom of speech: How should we reform our libel laws?

6 pm 20 July 2010. Policy Exchange, London SW1

Policy Exchange, in association with The Libel Reform Campaign, invites you to attend an evening discussion to consider what reforms, if any, should be forthcoming on libel laws. There will also be an opportunity for a discussion from the floor.

Places at this event are restricted – to apply for a place, please email [email protected]

The Libel Reform Campaign (made up of English PEN, Index on Censorship and Sense About Science and a movement of 52,000 supporters), has opened up the debate on the state of our libel laws. In the Coalition Agreement, the Government stated that it would: “review libel laws to protect freedom of speech.”

CHAIR – Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve QC MP, Attorney General
Lord Lester of Herne Hill QC, Barrister and Liberal Democrat peer (whose own Defamation Bill is currently before Parliament)
Jo Glanville, Editor – Index on Censorship
Joanne Cash, Barrister – One Brick Court – Free Speech Campaigner
Nigel Tait, Partner – Carter-Ruck
Professor Alastair Mullis, LSE

Death of Sally Laird, editor of Index on Censorship, 1988-1989

Index on Censorship is sad to announce the death of Sally Laird  on 15 July 2010. Born in 1956, Laird was USSR editor for Index on Censorship between June 1986 and November 1988 and went on to become editor in chief until August 1989. During her time at Index she used her Oxford and Harvard education and knowledge of Soviet affairs to contribute regularly to the magazine on the topic of the USSR. Laird left Index to concentrate on her personal work and went onto translate a series of Russian novels. Later she co-authoredTill my Tale is Told: Women’s Memoirs of the Gulag and wrote Voices of Russian Literature: Interviews with Ten Contemporary Writers.

Obituary to follow

Malaysia: Fourth newspaper forced to close

A fourth newspaper has been forced to close in Kuala Lumpur following the government’s crackdown on publishing licenses. The suspension of Hakhah’s printing office follows the closure of the newspapers Suara Keadilan, Kabar Era Pakatan and Rocket on 30 June. Suara Keadilan, a leading critical voice in Malaysia, is reported to have been shut down for “publishing false news that could incite public unrest”. Local activists claim that Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government is attempting to silence critical publications ahead of national elections. Media regulators state they are applying broadcasting law uniformly.

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