2. The prime minister announced a two-part inquiry investigating the
role of the press and police in the phone hacking scandal, on 13 July
2011.
Lord Justice Leveson was appointed as chairman of the inquiry. He
shall examine the culture, practices and ethics of the media. Also
the relationship of the press with the public, police and politicians.
He is assisted by a panel of six independent of six independent
assessors with expertise in key issues being considered by the
Inquiry
The inquiry has been established under the inquires Act 2005 and
has the power to summon witnesses Including newspaper reporters,
management, proprietors, police officers and politicians of all
parties will give evidence under oath and in public.
3. Self regulation and the PCC has continued, but the authority of the
regulator was fatally undermined by the News of the World phone
hacking saga
The regulator chose to criticise the Guardian saying it’s story “did
not quite live up to its dramatic billing”. But in the wake of a string
of further phone hacking revelations, culminating in the Milly Dowler
Story.
The press, and even the PCC itself acknowledge that some sort of
reform was necessary.
4. The British press operates in a constitutional vacuum, circumscribed
by the general laws against bribery, libel, and intercepting
communications.
But there are no specific laws to either protect or regulate the press
there is nothing to match the US constitution’s first amendment
guarantee of free speech.
Lord Justice Leveson at one point suggested parliament could
legislate to introduce such as right which could balance the
introduction of some form of statutory regulation, either the
underpinning of an independent regulator or full blown statutory
regulator similar to Ofcom.
5. It is an incremental change
from the discredited PCC
Whereas the PCC is
Self-regulation model; it gives power to a
currently run by Lord Hunt, PCC chairman;
Detailed proposals drawn- “finance body” composed
newspapers, the new model Lord Black, press lobbyist
up by Lord Hunt and Guy of key figures from the
increases the number of lay and Telegraph Media Group
Black in consultation with industry; it is not
members; no legislation is director; Paul Dacre, editor
the national and local press independent enough to
required; it will be seen as in chief, Daily Mail; Michael
to handle complaints, with satisfy victims of past press
more independent and Gove, education secretary;
powers to undertake intrusion; there is no
membership of all Boris Johnson, London
investigations for the first guarantee that all
newspapers is encouraged mayor
time publishers, particularly
via long term contracts
Richard Desmond, will sign
up
Some newspapers,
Lack of public confidence including the Financial
Independent regulation due to lack of legal backup; Times and the Guardian;
Similar to Hunt/Black self- does not solve the problem Evgeny Lebedev, owner of
Legislation still not
regulation plan with an of a publisher who refuses the Independent and
required, with membership
independently appointed to sign up; unclear if it can Evening Standard; Ed
enforced via a long-term
chair, and few or no serving operate as an alternative to Miliband, Labour party
contract
editors as part of its courts, meaning wealthy leader; probably Nick
membership individuals can still sue for Clegg, deputy prime
libel or take privacy actions minister; possibly David
Cameron, prime minister
6. Statutory support would
Would require legislation
be seen as a
giving politicians new
strengthening of the
powers over the press,
body; could also be used Hacked Off campaign
Statutory underpinning which could be hard to
to help reduce the costs group, including Hugh
Legal recognition for the pass; risk of Commons
of legal actions for Grant. National Union
PCC replacement, or Lords throwing in
newspapers who sign up Journalists. Ken Clarke,
providing statutory further amendments that
to the new PCC, and help minister without
support could impact freedom of
create a low tribunal portfolio
press (given how many
system to handle
politicians have had run-
complaints previously
ins with the media)
seen by the courts
Broadcasters remain Licensing model gives
independent of government theoretical
government despite power to take away a
Statutory regulation
statutory regulation and licence; parliamentary
A licensing system with
licences; ITV’s Jimmy passage likely to be
an official regulator with
Savile scoop shows TV fraught; statutory
legal powers modelled None
news can break big regulation creates
on Ofcom, which
exclusives as well as unwelcome global
regulates the
newspapers; Ofcom’s precedent, particularly in
broadcasters
complaints system is countries where state
well used and accepted threat to journalists is
by public much greater
7.
8. Lord Justice Leveson will issue his report on Thursday, but it will not be for him to
implement it. If new legislation is recommended, and the government is willing, then it
will fall on ministers to introduce the statute required. But the press is strongly opposed
to statutory reform, and the Conservatives are split between those who oppose any
statute and those who support a modest form of legislation. So, either way, it will fall to
the press itself to create a reformed regulator and to chance its own culture and
practices.
It is unclear exactly how the prime minister will react, but one outcome being
canvassed is that the coalition gives the press time to come up with a reformed
PCC, and leaves hanging over the industry the threat of statutory Ofcom
regulation if Britain's highly politicised and factionalised newspapers cannot agree.
A noisy few weeks is expected as campaigners, politicians and the press itself
fight to introduce the model that they want. The precise outcome is far from
certain – but nobody believes that the status quo is an option.
