Media Legal Defence Initiative Set Up

Thu, 12 Nov 2009

A new legal organisation has been launched aimed at supporting journalists working in high risk countries with oppressive laws . The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) was set up last week by a number of journalists, lawyers and solicitors, with the aim of helping lawyers in a wide range of countries where legislation threatens the freedom of the press .

Executive Director of the MLDI, Gugulethu Moyo, revealed that journalists working in such countries can be faced with ruined careers, huge damages for defamation, or even prison sentences. Moyo claims that good legal representation in the form of a good lawyer can be the only escape route for such journalists.

However, the plight of these journalists has been worsened by the reluctance of lawyers to take on such cases. The political risks of defending journalists can result in a vast reduction in client levels for some law firms . The MLDI believes that if a lawyer is acting on behalf of a large international organisation, they would feel more secure in taking on the work.

The organisation will help journalists to pay legal costs, and will also help to train lawyers in media law . They will also seek to bring cases before international courts and conduct trial observations.
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