Amid concerns that any restrictions on the British media recommended by the Leveson inquiry could adversely impact media in countries where it is already oppressed, former UK Solicitor-General Vera Baird (picture, right) suggested that the Commonwealth Journalists Association outline its fears in a submission to the judge heading the inquiry.

On Wednesday 1 February, the third day of the CJA conference in Malta, journalists led by Debbie Ransome of CJA-UK said some governments would be looking for any restrictions on the media and adapt them in order to clamp down on their own media.

Ms Ransome suggested that Commonwealth media should rigorously examine their own practices and ethical standards “if not governments will step in.”

Ms Baird agreed that the inquiry into phone hacking and media ethics could have such an unintended impact and suggested that Judge Leveson, who is conducting the inquiry, should be made aware of their fears.

The inquiry is being held in London and accepts submissions from interested parties.

Among other speakers, CJA-UK’s William Horsley, who is also International Director of the Centre for Freedom of the Media at the University of Sheffield, said that while there was an obvious cover-up for major criminality and that media abuse had destroyed people’s characters, it was not wise to limit what the media reports on public affairs.

And Raymond Louw, former editor of the Rand Daily Mail of South Africa, whose country’s media is protesting against a Bill which removes the defence of public interest for possession and publication of classified government information, suggested that it was the UK police rather than the media which should be the main focus on the Leveson inquiry.

Also on Day Three of the CJA conference:

Journalists discussed the new skills required by sports writers covering doping, corruption and other scandals in sport, and how the media can prepare itself for covering disasters and climate change. In the last session, Commonwealth Assistant Secretary-General Steve Cutts was joined by Commonwealth Foundation Deputy Director Vijay Krishnarayan in a discussion on the future of the Commonwealth. The third panellist, Jayanta Chowdhury, a senior business writer with The Telegraph, India, suggested strengthening the 54-nation association through the forming of a Commonwealth trade compact.

Picture (above) shows outgoing CJA President Hassan Shahriar thanking Steve Cutts (right) and the panel for their thoughts.