In the wake of the hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry, the question of press regulation has generated a dynamic and divisive debate. Opponents of regulation emphasize that press freedom is vital to the operation of a democracy and should not be constrained by political forces. Yet those in favour of regulation point to the harms and abuses caused by an increasingly powerful press industry left unchecked.

We are pleased to announce that Hugh Tomlinson QC, a media expert and prominent voice in this debate, will join the Media Policy Project and the LSE Department of Law for a specialist seminar on the future of press regulation. Tomlinson is a barrister based at Matrix Chambers. He has a wide-ranging practice in both private and public law, and is a noted specialist in media and information law (including defamation, confidence, privacy, freedom of information and data protection). He is joint author of the leading practitioner texts on the law of human rights and on civil actions against the police. He has also been active in the public debates on the reform of libel and privacy laws, and on the future of press regulation. Tomlinson is also editor of the Inforrm blog, Chair of the ‘Hacked Off’ campaign, and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Law at LSE.

Hugh Tomlinson QC: Leveson, Politicians and Effective Regulation of the Press: is it “bonkers” and will it happen?
Date: Tuesday 12 March, 18.30-20.00
Venue: London School of Economics and Political Science, STC.S75