On April 28, more than 80 participants across the province and country attended a virtual Law and the Media Workshop organized by the Law Society and the Jack Webster Foundation to refresh and enhance journalists’ knowledge of the laws on reporting and journalism.
This year’s workshop followed the fictional story of an anonymous tipster who claimed to have found a missing child decades later. A panel of experts followed an unfolding scenario and provided insights on navigating anonymous tipsters, prison and court access, publication bans and potential for defamation. Attendees heard from media lawyer Dan Burnett, QC, investigative reporter John L. Daly at AM980 CKNW, city editor Cassidy Olivier at the Vancouver Sun/the Province, and Farid Muttalib, legal counsel for CBC/Radio-Canada.
The workshop had very positive feedback: 93 per cent of attendees surveyed said the workshop improved his/her understanding of the legal issues around reporting and journalism and 97 per cent said the panellists were excellent or good.
A recording of the workshop is available on the Law Society's YouTube channel.