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Celebrity injunctions; Economist sale; FT editorial independence; football bans

Celebrity injunctions, the sale of the Economist, calls for the FT's editorial independence to be 'enshrined', and a Channel 4 journalist banned from asking about footy bans.

A prominent sportsman has been granted an injunction preventing The Sun newspaper from publishing a story about a relationship he had before he was married, based on the woman's account. The case has raised questions over how injunctions like this, relating to kiss-and-tells, impact on journalism, especially tabloids. Andrea Catherwood talks to The Sun's editor David Dinsmore, and discusses the efficacy of injunctions in an internet era with two media lawyers; Mark Stephens from Howard Kennedy, and Kirsten Sjovoll from Matrix Chambers.

Publishing group Pearson has agreed to sell its fifty per cent stake in the Economist Group for Β£469m. Exor, the holding group of the Agnelli family, has agreed to buy most of Pearson's shares. Media analyst from Liberum Ian Whittaker explains why Pearson's selling, and why Exor's buying.

Following Pearson's sale of the FT to Japanese media group Nikkei, journalists at the paper have written to Nikkei management asking for assurances that editorial independence will be maintained. Nikkei has promised to protect the independence of the FT, but in a letter, writers have called on the Nikkei to "enshrine" its editorial independence. Andrea Catherwood talks to Financial Times journalist Martin Sandu about what guarantees staff are looking for.

Last week, the NUJ called on the FA to act on what it described as "a worrying trend" amongst clubs about banning journalists from their grounds if they don't like their reporting. Then on Friday, Channel 4 news was banned from Newcastle United's press conference for wanting to ask the club a question about banning journalists! We hear from Channel 4 news correspondent Alex Thomson about what happened.

Producer: Katy Takatsuki.

Available now

30 minutes

Chapters

  • Economist sale

    Ian Whittaker is a Media Analyst at Liberum

    Duration: 04:00

  • FT editorial independence

    FT journalists' representative Martin Sandhu

    Duration: 04:37

  • Celebrity Injuctions

    David Dinsmore, Editor of the Sun. Lawyers Kirstin Sjovoll and Mark Stephens.

    Duration: 14:47

  • Football bans

    Channel 4 news' Chief Correspondent Alex Thomson

    Duration: 04:04

Broadcast

  • Wed 12 Aug 2015 16:30

Podcast