The Leveson Inquiry was a judicial inquiry into the culture and ethics of the British press following the News International phone hacking scandal. It held public hearings from 2011-2012 and published the Leveson Report in 2012, which reviewed media culture/ethics and recommended establishing an independent regulatory body. This controversy involved News of the World and other British newspapers owned by News International engaging in phone hacking, bribery, and improper influence. Investigations initially concluded hacking was limited to celebrities, but it was later revealed victims included a murdered schoolgirl. The Press Complaints Commission is a voluntary regulatory body for British print media consisting of publisher representatives, with no legal powers and relying on voluntary industry adherence.

1. Tristen Smith

2.  The Leveson Inquiry is a judicial
public inquiry into the
culture, practices and ethics of the
British press following the News
International phone hacking
scandal, chaired by Lord Justice
Leveson, who was appointed in July
2011. A series of public hearings
were held throughout 2011 and
2012. The Inquiry published the
Leveson Report in November
2012, which reviewed the general
culture and ethics of the British
media, and made recommendations
for a new, independent, body to
replace the existing Press Complaints
Commission, which would be
recognised by the state through new
laws. Part 2 of the inquiry has been
deferred until after criminal
prosecutions regarding events at the
News of the World.

3.  This is an on going controversy
involving the now defunct News of
the World and other British
newspapers published by News
International, a subsidiary of News
Corporation. Employees of the
newspaper were accused of engaging
in phone hacking, police bribery, and
exercising improper influence in the
pursuit of publishing stories.
Investigations conducted from 2005
to 2007 concluded that the paper's
phone hacking activities were limited
to celebrities, politicians and
members of the British Royal Family.
In July 2011, it was revealed that the
phones of murdered schoolgirl Milly
Dowler, relatives of deceased British
soldiers, and victims of the 7/7
London bombings were also
accessed, resulting in a public outcry
against News Corporation and owner
Rupert Murdoch.

4.  The Press Complaints Commission
(PCC) is a voluntary regulatory
body for British printed
newspapers and
magazines, consisting of
representatives of the major
publishers. The PCC is funded by
the annual levy it charges
newspapers and magazines. It has
no legal powers – all newspapers
and magazines voluntarily
contribute to the costs of, and
adhere to the rulings of, the
Commission, making the industry
self-regulating.