He is co-founder of the Thomson Regional Newspapers training centre in Newcastle and until last year was head of the NCTJ law board.
Walter's co-author of Essential Law, David Banks, said of him: "He has done more than anyone to keep the courts open to the press and to stop the erroneous placing of restrictive orders by misguided judges and magistrates. And to top it all he's a true gentleman and a fantastic mentor to generations of journalists."