No need to read between the linesA glance at the newspapers over the last few weeks is all one needs to realise that media law - or at least, the media in the law - is of ever-growing importance.

Two silks from London's Doughty Street Chambers, Andrew Nicol and Geoffrey Robertson, presciently saw the writing on the wall some years ago and bashed out the simply titled Media Law.

The fourth edition of the everything-you-ever-wanted-to-know bible has just been launched, and at the party Mr Robertson must have given his publishers, Sweet & Maxwell, a few uneasy moments.

For it nearly became unnecessary for the assembled punters to buy the tome, as Mr Robertson QC devoted his thank-you speech - lasting the best bit of half an hour - to reading many of the good bits.

Predictably, these involved as much obscenity as possible, all of which went down well with Mr Robertson's author-wife Kathy Lette.

Suggestions that their two publishers are to bundle Media Law with Girls' Night Out in a special two-for-one offer have not been confirmed.