Harry & Meghan: Legal Actions against the Media

[Dman]

The UK African Women Lawyers Association Letter of Support to HRH The Duchess of Sussex-
https://mobile.twitter.com/scobie/st...46787093360640

Once again, I can’t help but be touched on how much support Meghan is rightfully getting. And they’re right, Meghan, is “owed an apology and better treatment by the media” for her charitable endeavors and royal duties.

[carlota]

Originally Posted by Dman

The UK African Women Lawyers AssociationLetter of Support to HRH The Duchess of Sussex-
https://mobile.twitter.com/scobie/st...46787093360640

Once again, I can’t help but be touched on how much support Meghan is rightfully getting. And they’re right, Meghan, is “owed an apology and better treatment by the media” for her charitable endeavors and royal duties.

maybe the UK African Women lawyers need to revise the grammatical structure of their public letters, along with the incorrect titling of the person they are defending (meghan markle is not the way she should be publicly addressed anymore) before sending these out...

honestly, the grammatical errors, the incorrect address and the fact that they mention her character 'rachel zane' in the letter makes this letter look completely unprofessional.

[ACO]

Nice to see her getting continued support. I am sure she appreciates it as well.

[Curryong]

I think it's great that Meghan is receiving support from women in Parliament and professional bodies. They see very clearly what is happening.

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Curryong

I think it's great that Meghan is receiving support from women in Parliament and professional bodies. They see very clearly what is happening.

Indeed. Time and a lack of Royals to slate, even with the PA situation, has made the excesses of the harassment crystal clear.

The support from female MP's plus this latest letter of support are indicative of 6accepting the reality of the publicity that supposedly comes with the job in that they recognised that their jobs are their real lives unlike almost any other citizen.

[BaiSoSo]

Originally Posted by Dman

The UK African Women Lawyers Association Letter of Support to HRH The Duchess of Sussex-
https://mobile.twitter.com/scobie/st...46787093360640

Once again, I can’t help but be touched on how much support Meghan is rightfully getting. And they’re right, Meghan, is “owed an apology and better treatment by the media” for her charitable endeavors and royal duties.

It is great to see that Meghan is getting support from around the world!! I hope she sees/hears it.

No one should have to go through the treatment that she has received. It still boggles my mind that this is a whole country's media system.

[Somebody]

Originally Posted by BaiSoSo

It is great to see that Meghan is getting support from around the world!! I hope she sees/hears it.

No one should have to go through the treatment that she has received. It still boggles my mind that this is a whole country's media system.

If I understand it correctly, this is a UK based organization, although the replies to the tweet are indeed 'from around the world'.

Originally Posted by carlota

maybe the UK African Women lawyers need to revise the grammatical structure of their public letters, along with the incorrect titling of the person they are defending (meghan markle is not the way she should be publicly addressed anymore) before sending these out...

honestly, the grammatical errors, the incorrect address and the fact that they mention her character 'rachel zane' in the letter makes this letter look completely unprofessional.

On the one hand, I appreciate the support (although I wonder why it took them so much time and whether sending out this letter while nobody seems to be focusing on the Sussexes won't have the opposite effect of what they try to achieve); on the other hand, I was also surprised about about the grammatical mistakes and wonder whether 'becoming a member of the royal family' should be considered 'the epitome of possibilities that can be achieved by a woman'. What exactly is the achievement: making a member of a specific family fall in love with you? Staying with the guy under all the media pressure could probably be considered an achievement but other than that it seems a little weird to see a royal marriage as the 'epitome of possibilities'.

[BaiSoSo]

Originally Posted by Somebody

On the one hand, I appreciate the support (although I wonder why it took them so much time and whether sending out this letter while nobody seems to be focusing on the Sussexes won't have the opposite effect of what they try to achieve); on the other hand, I was also surprised about about the grammatical mistakes and wonder whether 'becoming a member of the royal family' should be considered 'the epitome of possibilities that can be achieved by a woman'. What exactly is the achievement: making a member of a specific family fall in love with you? Staying with the guy under all the media pressure could probably be considered an achievement but other than that it seems a little weird to see a royal marriage as the 'epitome of possibilities'.

I have learned to read words with s's instead of z's, so I'm not going to let grammatical errors get in the way of the message, unless the errors change the message, especially if English isn't their first language.

Also, I read the achieve by a woman statement a little different, it came after mentioning she was a mentor. Meghan has done a lot in her 38 years and one can pick from any of those to see possibilities for women, young girls. It may also be they see being accepted by some of the highest levels in the UK (BRF) means others can be accepted as well. Or it could mean that she went with her heart and married the man she loves despite the difficulties that came with that and is succeeding.

[Osipi]

I actually read the statement to suggest that by becoming a member of the royal family (or *a* royal family), the possibilities are endless as it gives a woman a global stage, so to speak, to do amazing things.

[Somebody]

Thanks for your perspectives. I am still not sure what they intended to say (partly because of the grammatical issues) - but it's nonetheless interesting to see how such a short statement can be interpreted differently.

And while errors are hard to fully eliminate, especially for non-native speakers but even for native speakers, I would expect a professional organization of UK lawyers to be able to avoid including various mistakes within such a short letter. Using precise language is one of the qualities lawyers need to have.

[QueenMathilde]

I think it's a mistake for them to sue the media. Win or lose the media will remember and take it out on them for the rest of their lives. The stories printed about them weren't that bad. All the members of the royal family get picked on the media would have found a new target on their own.

[BaiSoSo]

Originally Posted by QueenMathilde

I think it's a mistake for them to sue the media. Win or lose the media will remember and take it out on them for the rest of their lives. The stories printed about them weren't that bad. All the members of the royal family get picked on the media would have found a new target on their own.

Dismissing bad behavior and breaking the law...copyright infringement, phone hacking.... allows for people to believe there is nothing wrong and they will continue the actions knowing there are no ramifications.

I also think it is easy to say it wasn't that bad when one is on the outside looking in. IMO it was bad, they did everything they could to Meghan to harm her reputation in the public's eye, including flat out lying or using double standards for her and there really wasn't a reason to do so. She didn't do anything that bad to warrant that kind of treatment. They released a personal letter by Meghan, have encouraged her father to harm her in public, had a tv personality constantly harass her on-air because she didn't invite him to her wedding. Referred to her child as a monkey, called her vulgar, uppity and other code words for racism all during a very vulnerable time for Meghan....it was bad.

[Iluvbertie]

Originally Posted by Curryong

I think it's great that Meghan is receiving support from women in Parliament and professional bodies. They see very clearly what is happening.

This could also backfire as the judiciary do take very seriously their right to independence. Having, particularly the politicians, come out in support and then have them rule in her favour could be seen to have been political interference in the legal process. The same with the professional bodies.

For a member of the BRF to be taking legal action and then having other groups support them could almost be a cause for the judge to rule against them just to enforce their independence from the influential aspects of society.

[ACO]

Originally Posted by QueenMathilde

I think it's a mistake for them to sue the media. Win or lose the media will remember and take it out on them for the rest of their lives. The stories printed about them weren't that bad. All the members of the royal family get picked on the media would have found a new target on their own.

The media is being nasty anyways, so does it really matter? Good on them for standing up for themselves especially if The MoS did do something illegal.

Harry and Meghan aren't preventing anyone's right to Independence. Their case of one of legit legal matters. People adding on addition stuff has no baring on the actual case at hand.

[Madame Verseau]

The media weaponizing her embittered relatives to get Meghan is just foul. DM claimed it had the whole letter; Meghan's lawyers provided the court a copy of the complete letter, Dad admitted he turned over parts of the letter to DM. I still think DM is setting Dad up to take the fall if the court goes against it.

[muriel]

Originally Posted by QueenMathilde

I think it's a mistake for them to sue the media. Win or lose the media will remember and take it out on them for the rest of their lives. The stories printed about them weren't that bad. All the members of the royal family get picked on the media would have found a new target on their own.

Very wise words.

[muriel]

Originally Posted by BaiSoSo

They released a personal letter by Meghan......

Actually it was Meghan's father who "released" the letter.

Originally Posted by BaiSoSo

IMO it was bad, they did everything they could to Meghan to harm her reputation in the public's eye, including flat out lying or using double standards for her and there really wasn't a reason to do so. She didn't do anything that bad to warrant that kind of treatment. They released a personal letter by Meghan, have encouraged her father to harm her in public, had a tv personality constantly harass her on-air because she didn't invite him to her wedding. Referred to her child as a monkey, called her vulgar, uppity and other code words for racism all during a very vulnerable time for Meghan....it was bad.

IMO it is a fallacy to assume that the media are a joined-up group that co-operate closely with each other. What you have is a group pf businesses competing with each other for revenue, for circulation and for scoops to augment their sales. Each is the other's competitor, not collaborator. In addition to the established print media, there are many freelance journalists, photographers and online bloggers, a large amorphous group that really do not act in concert. So I am not sure who the "they" you refer to is pointed at.

[Ista]

Originally Posted by muriel

Actually it was Meghan's father who "released" the letter.




IMO it is a fallacy to assume that the media are a joined-up group that co-operate closely with each other. What you have is a group pf businesses competing with each other for revenue, for circulation and for scoops to augment their sales. Each is the other's competitor, not collaborator. In addition to the established print media, there are many freelance journalists, photographers and online bloggers, a large amorphous group that really do not act in concert. So I am not sure who the "they" you refer to is pointed at.

Yes, there is no monolithic "they" for reporters, photographers, bloggers, other social media, etc. I think it's important to define exactly who is being referenced in these discussions. It's easy to paint with a broad brush, but not very useful if the objective is to encourage accurate discussion.

[BaiSoSo]

Originally Posted by muriel

Actually it was Meghan's father who "released" the letter.




IMO it is a fallacy to assume that the media are a joined-up group that co-operate closely with each other. What you have is a group pf businesses competing with each other for revenue, for circulation and for scoops to augment their sales. Each is the other's competitor, not collaborator. In addition to the established print media, there are many freelance journalists, photographers and online bloggers, a large amorphous group that really do not act in concert. So I am not sure who the "they" you refer to is pointed at.

I didn't say the media were a joined-up group that co-operated closely which each other (although the royal reporters do spend time on twitter hyping up each others stories). I said they (the media that we are discussing in the lawsuit) did everything they could to harm Meghan's reputation with the public. I don't know if it was done individually or jointly and frankly I don't care, it doesn't change the fact that they made up stories, blatantly lied and did other unethical and sometimes illegal things to harm Meghan (and Harry if you look at the bigger picture).

As for the letter....Meghan's father gave the letter to the DM that isn't illegal (that just makes him a horrible father). What is illegal is for the DM to publish the letter without Meghan's consent and that is being addressed in the lawsuit.

[ACO]

Well if we being technical her father didn't even release it to the public. He handed it to the newspaper who in turn did. Hence the lawsuit. They printed it. They published it. Thomas Markle provided it to them. So in that sense "released" is correct.