Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the United States, will discuss regulation of the news media on March 26 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Sir Christopher Meyer, former British ambassador to the United States, will discuss regulation of the news media on March 26 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The free public lecture will take place at 5:30 p.m. in the rotunda at the UNC School of Law. Sponsors of the event are the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy and the law school’s international programs.
Meyer, who previously chaired the Press Complaints Commission in the United Kingdom, will talk about the 2011 phone hacking scandal at News Corporation. He will also discuss international law and his new documentary, “Network of Power.”
In his 36 years as a career diplomat, Meyer occupied a number of key positions: British ambassador to Germany; press secretary to Prime Minister John Major; press secretary to British Foreign Secretary Lord Geoffrey Howe; speech writer to three foreign secretaries in the 1970s and head of the political section of the British Embassy in Moscow.
Meyer has published two books – “DC Confidential,” about his time in Washington, D.C., and “Getting Our Way,” a history of British diplomacy. He is currently filming a six-part documentary for Sky Atlantic, “Network of Power,” about the movers and shakers in six great cities of the world.
“We are very excited to have Ambassador Meyer speak at UNC-Chapel Hill,” said David Ardia, assistant professor of law and co-director of the UNC Center for Media Law and Policy. “With the global reach of the Internet, it is becoming increasingly important for media companies to be aware of how other countries deal with conflicts over privacy and free speech. Sir Christopher’s many years of experience on the Press Complaints Commission, and his active involvement in journalism issues around the world, should make for a fascinating evening.”
School of Law contact: Allison Reid, (919) 843-7148, allison_reid@unc.edu