There have always been media laws in South Africa which every journalist and editor was expected to know and adhere to.
However, with social media taking so much of our time and attention, everyone with a facebook, twitter, pintrest or any other social media account is expected to adhere to laws they may not even know exist.
Ignorance is no excuse when you have defamed someone or ruined their good name and robbed them of their constitutional rights.
Anyone, in theory, can be sued for infringing another’s rights.
You could be breaking media laws left, right and centre, you just don’t know it.
Enter Emma Sadleir and Tamsyn de Beer – two very smart, media savvy lawyers who are admitted attorneys with excellent pedigrees in the SA law profession and even more impressive credentials from the London School of Economics where they both attained Masters in Law degrees.
This offering is written for the man in the street and aims to give everyone a clear understanding of what you can, can’t, should and shouldn’t do when you pick up your phone to blast your newest frienemy.
It is simply written – but not condescending – to ensure that everyone on the street can understand the laws and how they apply to every person taking to the digital universe.
It also includes some rather funny, true stories of how people have found themselves in the proverbial poo and the judgments or penalties they have faced.
If you’re on social media, this is a book you have to read – it really is a necessity in every digitally frenetic life if you hope to navigate the increasingly tricky number of ways you can inadvertently get yourself into trouble online.
It’s well written, easy to get through without any boring legalese to put you to sleep and a book that every house should have close to hand – be it to protect yourself or educate your children about the pitfalls of publishing without thinking.
