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Professor David Weisbrot. Source: News Limited
THE Australian Press Council has appointed a University of Sydney law professor to replace chairman Julian Disney when he steps down in March.
Professor David Weisbrot, an Emeritus Professor of Law and Honorary Professor of Medicine at the University of Sydney, will take over the role on March 1.
American-born Prof Weisbrot was Australian Law Reform Commission president for 10 years until 2009 and is currently a part-time commissioner with the NSW Law Reform Commission.
He has also published 10 books.
He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006.
Prof Disney steps down after an eventful five years in which the Press Council fought off closure in favour of a statutory body as recommended by the Finkelstein Review into media regulation.
The Press Council has also confirmed that digital-only publications The New Daily and New Matilda have joined the council and former News Corp Brisbane journalist and managing editor Anna Reynolds has been appointed as an independent journalist member of the Press Council’s governing body.
Originally published as New chair for Australian Press Council