10) Mass Media Law ( What is Media Law concerned with?)

Media means “communication ” the means used to communicate information. We can use a variety of Media(slides, video ) to communicate ideas through print media, newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, films and advertising. Much of the information transmitted by the media is neutral: does not offend anyone or interfere with the rights of others. However the right to communicate (freedom of expression) is limited with restrictions introduced to protect the rights to privacy, government secrecy, the right not to have one’s reputation ruined unjustifiably. Media Law , therefore, concerns itself with controlling the right to freedom of expression and considering whether these limits represent a reasonable balance between competing interests.

The actions in Mass Media causing trouble for which people bear legal responsibility are as follows:

1)National security. Secret or official info should not be revealed in Mass Media. 2) Breach of Confidence. A person should not take advantage of confidence gained from the plaintiff or anonymous sources. 3) Defamation. Discreditation of someone’s reputation by libel and slander. 4) Obscenity –presentation of morally disgusting facts. 5)Blasphemy – speaking in an irrelevant and insulting way about God.

Freedom of expression is protected by Article 10- European Convention on Human Rights.

11) Environmental Law (What factors can lead to the development of Environmental Law?).

The term Environmental means the natural world and would include such issues as global warming, radioactive pollution, and the protection of flora, fauna and vulnerable species of animals such as whales. It also includes all matters which affect the well being of people which would include Health and Safety measures to protect workers (for example, from asbestos on construction sites), noise pollution measures to protect neighbours from excessive noise or the protection of “ cultural heritage and material assets”. EL extends to the conservation of wildlife, the preservation of landscape (planning control), the disposal of waste, the provision of safe working environments, world population and so on.

The Political, Social and Economic Imperatives.A study of EL must be seen in political, economic and social context. Political and economic objectives and personal ambition are often incompatible with environmental goals. Economic growth and the rise in living standards has generated an “explosion” of waste products and development in agriculture have affected rural ecology as well as causing pollution to rivers.

The Sources of EL. There are 3 sources of EL which can give rise to rights and obligations: International Law, Domestic Law and European Union Law. It is important to be clear on the source of an obligation, the enforcement procedure and the development of UK law has been membership of the European Union.

International Law

The sources of IL are customs, decisions of international courts and judicial bodies and treaties. The principles of IL as they affect EL are no different from other fields of IL.IL has no direct in the UK but international agreements can dictate internal measures.

Administrative officers of the agencies, for example the National Rivers Authority, have duties to inspect and monitor for incident of pollution and they also have the initial decision whether to negotiate a compromise solution or instigate prosecutions. There are many bodies and organizations involved in developing and influencing policy as well as implementing and enforcing EL.