Press - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition press

Definition :

Press. By the (English) Local Authorities (Admission of the Press to Meetings) Act, 1908 (8 Edw. 7, c. 43), passed inconsequence of the decision in Tenby Corporation v. Mason, (1908) 1 Ch 457, the ex-pression 'representatives of the Press' means duly accredited representatives of newspapers and duly accredited representatives of news agencies which systematically carry on the business of selling and supplying reports and information to newspapers. Though the Act gives a general right of admission, there is power by resolution temporarily to exclude the Press. See LOCAL AUTHORITY.

There is no longer any censorship of the Press in this country, and any man may write and publish whatever he pleases concerning another, subject only to this--that he must take the consequences, if a jury should deem his words defamatory (Odgers on Libel, p. 10). 'The liberty of the Press consists in printing without any previous licence, subject to the consequences of law', R. v. Dean of St. Asaph, (1784) 3 TR 431, n., Per Lord Mansfield, C.J.

The case of Stockdale v. Hansard, (1839) 9 A&E 1, led to the passing of the (English) Parliamentary Papers Act, 1840 (3 & 4 Vict. c. 9), which Act made reports published by order of Parliament absolutely privileged, and the printing of any extractor abstract of such report, subject to qualified privilege; if found published bona fide and without malice, a verdict of 'not guilty' is to be entered.

See the (English) Newspaper Libel and Registration Act, 1881 (44 & 45 Vict. c. 60), whereby (s. 4) a Court of summary jurisdiction may make inquiry as to newspaper libel being for public benefit or being true; and the (English) Law of Libel Amendment Act, 1888 (51 & 52 Vict. c. 64), extended the privilege to reports of proceedings in court, public meetings, etc.; and requires the leave of a judge before criminal proceedings can be brought against the Press. See also CONTEMPT OF COURT; LIBEL.