Services

Media Law Training

Anyone in traditional publishing – newspapers, magazines or books – needs to know the law. Now anyone with a website, or using social media, needs to understand the laws that apply to them.

We are all publishers now, and subject to the multiple laws in this area. Good training in the risks and what to do about them can help avoid costly and time-consuming legal problems.

Social Media

We advise private and public sector organisations on safe and effective use of social media.

Social Media Policies and Guidelines

We write social media guidelines and policy documents for use by organisations whose staff use social media.

These easy-to-use, plain-English guides highlight the main pitfalls of these media and what to do to avoid them, in an accessible format. They cover use of organisations’ official social media accounts, as well as personal use by staff.

Advisory Services

We provide editorial legal guidance to clients on an ad hoc or retained basis. This includes:

  • a pre-publication copy-checking service for clients concerned about possible legal problems in their publication, broadcast or website.
  • assisting publishers and broadcasters with letters and representations to be made to oppose court orders or gain access to hearings.
  • These services can be offered to organisations at a board level where editorial legal expertise is needed.

Media law for podcasters

Maintaining the spontaneous, conversational nature of podcasts, often tackling controversial topics , while at the same time keeping on the right side of the law can be quite a challenge.

This training session covers the main legal and ethical issues that can crop up for those producing podcasts. It is suitable for anyone taking part in a podcast as a presenter or guest and is also suitable for those producing and editing podcasts before they go live. The session also covers the issues that can occur when livestreaming.

Course aims: To provide those taking part in and producing podcasts with a good working knowledge of the laws that apply to such content. The course will enable anyone attending to understand when to edit content to make it legally safe, while maintaining the spontaneous and conversational nature of the podcast.

Topics covered: Libel, contempt of court, privacy and data protection, copyright, sexual offence anonymity, media ethics.

Delivery: The course can be delivered at your premises, or online via Zoom video conference.

Details: If you would like further information or would like to book this training, please email davidbanksmedialaw@gmail.com

Universities and Student Media

We have been providing training services in the university sector for more than ten years. This has involved working with students’ unions and their media societies as well as university comms teams and staff.

Law for Student Media – The course covers the range of subjects and issues that can arise for student publications and broadcasters. The session covers the law for print, online and broadcast content and uses many examples drawn from student media cases.

Writing Commissions

David has worked in UK regional and national newspapers, magazines and their associated websites for 30 years.

He has written for The Guardian, the Daily Mirror, the New Statesman, The Independent The International Business Times and Hello! magazine on media law, journalism, ethics, regulation and social media.

He is available for commissions and can work to tight deadlines to produce content for your publication or website.

To discuss a commission email David at davidbanksmedialaw@gmail.com.

%d bloggers like this: