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Protecting people who offer the media important information is a fundamental obligation for journalists. Chris Cooke quit TVNZ after it didn't keep a promise to Erin Leighton, whose off-the-record… Audio

The new justice minister has said name suppression in our courts “is not working” because it’s granted too often to people with the means to make a strong bid for it. That puts Kiri Allan on the same… Video, Audio

Defamation law expert Ursula Cheer looks at an Australian High Court ruling that found media are liable for comments people post on their social media pages and contrasts it with a similar Court of… Audio

As the lockdown in Auckland lengthened, the exposure of one couple’s rule-breaking prompted a predictably intense pile-on. Ironically, that actually helped to keep their names out of the headlines -… Audio

The Government is under pressure to explain exactly what the proposed new hate laws would mean for criminal offending.

A new, clearer offence in the Crimes Act may be created with penalties that… Audio

 Long awaited reforms on hate speech have gone before Cabinet - and they're stirring up unease and discontent. Audio

Law commentator Dr Ursula Cheer from the University of Canterbury digs down into some of the decisions from the Broadcasting Standards Authority following the March 15 mosque shootings.  Audio

Three police raids on journalists and newsrooms have called into question abuses of Australian law.  Audio

Any complacency about extremism here was extinguished by the attack in Christchurch on 15 March. The media claimed it marked “the end of our innocence”. We're still in the top ten for global press… Audio

The news of Grace Millane’s murder prompted a flood of media coverage and comment this week. A lot of it was devoted to the news media’s frustration over not being able to name the accused man.  Audio

The University of Canterbury's Dean of Law Ursula Cheer loves dogs, poetry, John Clark and Private Eye. She's also the first woman to hold the position at Canterbury's law school - and she came into… Audio

In a landmark decision this week The Court of Appeal created a new public interest defence in defamation cases. Mediawatch takes a look at what it means for the media. Audio

The police apology to Nicky Hager has helped clarify - at last - important principles of journalistic privilege and protection for sources. But it’s the third time in recent years that state agencies… Audio

Claims of hate speech and the right to free speech made the news this week in response to racially-charged commentary in the media. One case played out in the court of public opinion, the other in a… Audio

The Labour MP Louisa Wall has failed to have cartoons depicting Polynesian families in a disparaging light declared illegal. She took the case to the High Court after also failing before the Human… Audio

As reporters tried in vain to work out which way Winston was leaning and what he wants from political partners, the issue of sport on TV suddenly appeared on the agenda again. Audio

Can you really catch up on sleep? What the Panelists Niki Bezzant and John Barnett want to talk about. Dean of Law at the University of Canterbury Ursula Cheer explains how name suppression works… Audio

Andrew Little says he's looking forward to getting back to the job of being the Leader of the Opposition after a week spent in court defending a defamation action. Video, Audio

The Newsroom website launched this week with a scoop on caged eggs being passed-off as free range that was undoubtedly in the public interest, but did it justify the use of hidden cameras? Mediawatch'… Audio

Canterbury University Dean of Law Ursula Cheer talks about the privacy issues with the government's data for funding scheme. Audio

Canterbury University Dean of Law Ursula Cheer talks about the privacy issues with the government's data for funding scheme. Canterbury University Dean of Law discusses potential privacy issues in… Audio

When a court injunction prevented English and Welsh media from publishing a celebrity sex story, it didn't stop media in some other countries naming names. New Zealand outlets were left wondering… Audio