This volume deals with questions of political and constitutional principle and theory that affect the law and regulation of content in new media that are based on digital technology. In the light of convergence between different forms of communication, it examines whether the justifications for government intervention in traditional analogue broadcasting and programme delivery continue to be persuasive. The essays examine in general whether new approaches to freedom of expression are required in the digital era and whether there is a continued role for public service broadcasting or its...

Bringing together the most seminal articles written by leading international experts, this volume discusses all aspects of freedom of the press. The papers in the first part of this volume discuss the meaning of press freedom and its relationship to freedom of speech, while those in the second part discuss the extent to which self-regulation is a satisfactory alternative to legal controls. The essays in parts III and IV explore the various solutions adopted in the USA and in some Commonwealth countries to balancing the freedom of the press and other media against the laws of libel and...

The essays discuss the restrictions imposed by contempt of court and other laws on media freedom to attend and report legal proceedings. Part I contains leading articles on the open justice principle. They examine the extent to which departures from that principle should be allowed to protect the rights of parties, in particular the accused in criminal proceedings, to a fair trial, and their interest in being rehabilitated in society after proceedings have been concluded. The essays in Part II examine the topical issue of whether open justice entails a right to film and broadcast legal...

In recent years, the changing nature of audiovisual services has had a significant impact on regulatory policy and practice. The adoption of digital technology means that broadcasting, cable, satellite, the Internet and mobile telephony are converging, enabling each of them to deliver the same kinds of content and allowing users to exercise much greater choice over the kind of material that they receive and when they receive it. The essays examine the implications for regulatory design, asking whether there is still a role for traditional-style state controls, or whether other techniques,...