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Judge puts reporting ban on Alfie Patten 'dad at 13' story
Paul McNally Press Gazette
DATELINE: 20/2/09
A High Court judge in London has today (Wednesday 18 February) imposed reporting restrictions on the story of "father at 13" Alfie Patten.The order, made by Mrs Justice Baron in the Family Division, does not prevent publication of details already in the public domain, but bans the revelation of any new information.On Friday, The Sun published a front-page splash following the birth of a baby girl to 15-year-old Chantelle Stedman in Eastbourne, East Sussex. It has been reported that 13-year-old Alfie Patten is to undergo a DNA test to determine whether he is the father of baby Maisie.Following a hearing in private today, a statement was provided to reporters explaining the judge's reasons for making the order.
It said the ban had arisen "as a result of press intrusion" and also "because of allegations made by at least two others that they may be the putative fathers of Maisie". "The court received information that the private and family life of the mother and baby had been disrupted to such an extent that the court was concerned about the mother and baby being unable to lead a normal family life," the statement said. "It was equally important to the court that the young putative father should be able to live his life and return to school."
The restrictions remain in place until 6pm on 10 March, when a further hearing is scheduled. East Sussex County Council confirmed earlier today that it had written to the Press Complaints Commission, which has launched its own inquiry into the story, expressing "serious concern about the level of media interest".
A council spokesman told Press Gazette this afternoon: "We believe the interests of the children are not being well-served by the current media coverage."
Last modified: Thursday, March 5, 2009
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World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
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DATELINE: 26/3/10
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Previous stories
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Enoch Powell: how the 'Rivers of Blood Speech' was spun in advance
What lies behind the front page apology
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Ken's Islam study
War spin fall-out 'will be traumatic'
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