The News Review:

- HMRC launch employer’s annual returns podcast
- About Podcasting
- Podcasting’s popularity doesn’t place new media above libel…
- Emap podcasts Sip info

HMRC launch employer’s annual returns podcast
Duport Associates Ltd – Duport Associates Ltd. – Apr 30, 2007
The ‘Employer’s PAYE’ podcast is designed to offer advice and information about Employer’s Annual Returns including details of other useful sources and a step-by-step guide on how to correctly file the returns. This is one of the first of a series of podcasts from the HMRC and is designed to deliver support and information in a more informal and relaxed style. You can listen to the podcast online or download it as an mp3. You can also subscribe to the service and receive new podcasts when they become available.

About Podcasting
Management-Issues – Apr 30, 2007
However a podcast is distinguished from other types of digital media by its ability to be downloaded automatically using software capable of reading feed formats such as RSS. How much does it cost? Management-Issues podcasts are available totally free of charge without any registration being required. All you need to listen to one is an internet connection and a playback device (normally a PC with speakers). What do I need?You don’t need an iPod to listejn to a podcast.

Podcasting’s popularity doesn’t place new media above libel…
Baltimore Business Journal – Apr 30, 2007
Libel plaintiffs must prove that the statement in question is a false statement of fact as opposed to a statement of protected opinion humor or parody and that the defendant who published the statement acted with some degree of fault in failing to determine whether the statement was true or false before publishing it. For the purposes of a libel claim a statement is substantially true even if it contains minor inaccuracies so long as any such inaccuracies do not affect the gist or sting of the statement. In other words if a statement in a podcast would have substantially the same effect upon a listener as the literal truth the statement will not be considered false. In any libel case courts closely scrutinize the care taken by the podcaster in determining whether the statements in a podcast are true. Under the First Amendment podcasters cannot be held liable for publishing even false and damaging statements unless they act with some degree of fault. In most jurisdictions there are two standards of fault negligence and actual malice. A negligence standard traditionally applies in cases involving plaintiffs who are private figures — individuals or organizations that have not through their positions or actions projected themselves into the public eye… Actual malice is also sometimes required in product disparagement actions. Although the actual malice standard is difficult to meet courts will consider circumstantial evidence of the podcaster's state of mind and may find actual malice if it is proven that the podcaster published information despite having substantial doubts about the truth of the statements in question. Because podcasting is a new medium the law is not fully developed with respect to how traditional principles on libel and defamation will apply. There are particular legal issues unique to podcasters that they are encouraged to consider when exercising their editorial judgment over what content to include in a broadcast. Hermes is a partner and Samantha L. Gerlovin is an associate in the law office of Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP in Boston.

Emap podcasts Sip info
Employee Benefits – Apr 30, 2007
html–>Emap podcasts Sip info2007-04-30 Media group Emap has produced a podcast to communicate this year’s launch of its free shares share incentive plan (Sip). The podcast which was available for employees to download or stream from the firm’s intranet site was produced in Emap’s Kiss FM radio studio. Stewart Grant group benefits manager said it included information on topics such as tax rules and the opportunities to sell shares after three or five years. The podcast was intended to appeal to staff who had participated in previous share schemes as well as those considering doing so for the first time. Grant said the company wanted to make the most of its resources to engage its diverse workforce.