Is Leveson Loading a Gun on the Press

My reaction on reading this is "Good!" but obviously there is a caveat. Mainly that it is discerning and attacks only certain sections of the Press and bears in mind the good work that investigative journalism of the more mature variety does (take MP's expenses for example). We must always have a questioning media and a free press, but we must not have a feral media that wallows in spiv culture and that must always be stamped on when necessary

Lord Prescott on Those Prince Harry Pics

Totally agree. Mention the story, but no need for the pics as far as I am concerned

Those Prince Harry Pics

Yes it is not an issue as such in that he is doing something a lot of other people of his age have done and therefore not newsworthy. As Vanessa Feltz said, if he was a dignitary at the Olympics misbehaving in front of others that would have been different, but instead he is third in line to the throne and this was in his spare time. I may not approve of what he did, but it is not news and not in the public interest for the reasons I have given

Is Leveson Being Threatened?

What I find chilling about the recent criticisms actually involves what Michael Gove said, not that I agree with him, which I don't. What is going on here is an investigation into the conduct of the press, and whilst freedom of the press is essential, the freedoms of the individual is also important and for too long we have seen less genuine investigative journalism of the Woodward and Bernstein variety on our front pages than there are investigations into the private lives of football stars, models, actors, etc.. I think we are in for some storms ahead and those of us who have concerns over abuses in the media should speak out more loudly and practice what we preach!

Cameron at Leveson

A no of people comment on the "We're all in this together!" text, but what surprises me is the no of times David Cameron seems to have forgotten vital meetings and discussions. Some I can understand, but others not and what this says overall about the PM is disturbing and I fear he may well have put himself into a corner!

Osborne at Leveson

He gave a good defence in part, but I do wonder about the fastness and losness of the language used. Some important questions to ask Osborne include:

1) Did he actually say of Coulson, "He stiched me up like a kipper, let's hire him!"

2) Does he still regard Andy Coulson as a friend?

3) Other than News International, did meetings with any one media group take up to a third of his meeting with media officials in general, and if not why not?

4) How does he clarify what constitutes a meeting with News International executives and what doesn't and with those non meetings, is anything concerning media ownership and government policy casually discussed and to what level?


Am sure there are more, but I have found that I still find Osborne's general political attitude a disgrace and that we need less people like him in British politics if what I have heard of today's reports (I only saw a little of it live) is true?

Blair at Leveson

Whilst this was a master class in political savvy and presentation it was not what was said as much as what was said! For example Blair said no deals were made or implied with Rupert Murdoch, there didn't need to be any. Murdoch made his views perfectly known over the years, not least in Sun editorials. Blair knew what Murdoch wanted, in some respects it echoed his politics and he knew what may be expected. Nothing needed to be implied even Bullying journalists by No 10 spin doctors! Well there is enough evidence to say it happened, but again Blair did not need to know, but I suspect there was a sense of disingenuousness here, as with Blair's statements on Murdoch Where Blair is spot on is where he attacks the Daily Mail. The problem there, as with a no of tabloids, and we know which ones, is that when they go for someone they go full them with full venom to the point where if they claim morality the word "Pharisee" springs to mind! So what we have here is seeing a situation where no deals are made with Murdoch because his views are known already and Murdoch knew his political views would be considered. Any criticism from other stables would be silenced through the Machiavellian machinations of spin doctors, and yet not all criticism was valid. Some of the media in general, whether in the Murdoch stable or not, are feral, viciously arrogant, and out of control. Blair is right on one count. The culture of certain aspects of the media need to change

Cable at Leveson

I think he did well this morning and while Vince Cable should not have given his views in private, let alone public conversations (and to be fair he was under stress at the time), he seems to have been scrupulosly fair over an issue which it is very hard for anyone in public life to be impartial about. Certainly he seems from what we have seen so far to be fairer than Hunt on the matter and for that he should be applauded and from the evidence he seems more sinned against than having sinned

Downing Street Aide attempting to Intimidate a BBC Journalist

Was rather shocked by this but imagine it goes on more than we think, and hat tip to Guido Fawkes for copying it and putting it on his site.
This not only shows the pressure the PM is under, but that they are running scared and aware of the potential damage. The fact a Downing Street Tory hack dashed out of Downing Street and was trying to intimidate a BBC Journalist here shows they are trying to get a grip on the situation, albeit by going the wrong way about it!
Cameron should sack Hunt, but the fact he hasn't and had a cosy friendship with Rebekah Brooks and is getting nasty over this makes you wonder how much he has to hide!

Peter Mandelson at Leveson Inquiry

Nothing that hasn't been covered already, but it does remind us that a) The relationships between senior politicians and newspaper proprietors was unhealthy, 2) That some of the press behaved like the secret police in a dictatorship,  and 3) That Tessa Jowell was in a job where she was possibly not expected to do much and certainly was undermined at various points.
Tom Watson's points at Leveson were certainly fascinating. Murdoch was likely to have been briefed, although that is an allegation, that News International behaved like a floating voter with menace, and that while there was no hard evidence there was a "craven understanding" between senior politicians and NI execs (something which Mandelson touched on yesterday). He then added that NI were paying for a great deal of Mulcare's legal fees and that he has yet to meet a politician who wants to regulate the press.
None of this is new as such, but it does re-enforce the need for a regulated system and that for too long some in the media have behaved like the stasi with swaggering arrogance whilst pretending to be Woodward and Bernstein. It needs to stop and soon!

The Media Reform Rally

Last night I attended the Media Reform Rally at Westminster Central Hall, as organised by Hacked Off. It was a seminar in just how feral the press can get.
The rollcall of speakers each gave their own experiences and perspectives. Some frightening, in how the press can tread over people's lives in order to get their own way in a manner which would do the secret police in a dictatorship proud. In fact the former Crimewatch presenter Jacqui Hunt nearly burst into tears when relating her story.
Owen Jones spoke about the need for better Union representation and that Murdoch's attack on the unions made it hard for staff to stand up for themselves or speak out within the News Corp environment.
Former Daily Star reporter, Richard Peppiat, who resigned from the Desmond stable and gave a public letter giving his reasons to The Guardian, stated that the media defence of their behaviour is rather pathetic when you look at it, that it is like defending public hangings because they draw a good crowd and that they are hardly holding the powerful to account when tabloids playing guessing games as to which soap actress's knickers are on the bedroom floor of which footballer!

 Hugh Grant made the important point that, in the flurry of reports about horses and texts one can easily forget that there is more than one newspaper group involved in using dubious resources to make stories. The motorman files make that clear, he said, and that more than one paper used a convicted criminal for their information.Why, he asked, has not one journalist been prosecuted?

Harriet Harman looked at the relationships between politicians and journalists, that Jeremy Hunt has shown that he was not prepared to obey the rules and the law and that this is an historic opportunity to solve these problems and make sure that neither politicians or press get too powerful. She suggested a "knife amnesty" for the press in getting to the root of finding out what happened!

Tom Watson was one of the last speakers and was cool, calm, and stated the obvious in a meaningful way as per usual. Such as asking what do we know about the Murdoch empire that we didn't ten years ago? What does it take for someone to be declared unfit to run a public company? Plus that politicians will come under enormous pressure to dilute Leveson's proposals and we must not let that happen!Later I got a chance to speak with Tom Watson and he stated further on the need for public support. One through letter writing, and sending postcards (such as advertised by Hacked Off) to one's local MP. The other is to make full use of Twitter and Facebook in helping to share information and putting the pressure on the press and politicians alike to bring forward the results that are needed.
Much food for thought and the end, and a reminder that many of us have a role to play and there is much left to do!

Jack Straw at Leveson Inquiry

I think Jack Straw has a very valid point here. Any discussion regarding media influence would not have been via official channels. They would have been informal and coated in certain language so if such an inquiry (such as Leveson) were to take place, they would be prepared!
We need to do more, much more, to see a change in our media, than the inquiry we are seeing

Rebekah Brooks Charged

Whilst I agree that there is a sense of irony over the witch hunt allegations and whilst I understand why people want to gloat (I have succumbed to temptation a few times over the past day or so), the fact is she is innocent until proven guilty and whilst The Sun an, indeed the News of the World did the reverse of that truism, we are better than that aren't we?

Alastair Campbell at Leveson Inquiry

Whilst Campbell was being his usual urbane self, it does seem a bit disingenuous.Surely if it was a good idea to have good relations with Rupert Murdoch, then that would surely mean he'd expect something and if he expected something and good relations were seen as vital, that would mean that Tony Blair and Alastair Campbell were prepared to offer sweetners to Rupert Murdoch?
I do hope I have misread that!

Monday Round Up

Labour Demands PM Statement in Commons on Hunt! (Much needed)

Tom Watson says that all Brooks's correspondence with all UK Prime Ministers' should be released to Leveson Inquiry

Hacked Off reviews Week 17 of the Leveson Inquiry

Jeremy Hunt's Alleged Unethical Behaviour!

I wasn't too surprised, although somewhat dismayed by James Murdoch's comments (or revelations) regarding Jeremy Hunt yesterday and given Hunt's previous open enthusiasm for the Murdoch empire this does look damming. Dismayed? Well in that I would expect a cabinet minister to behave better!
Jeremy Hunt has never hid his bias for News Corp. That was why there was widespread concern from many of us when Vince Cable was forced to quit. This bias has now appeared to shown itself  in his discussions with a Murdoch aide shows that, like the way some MP's conducted themselves over expenses, if Hunt strictly speaking did nothing wrong, he certainly behaved in an unethical and immoral manner and, also taking into account is proclaimed support for News Corp in previous years, he should resign!

Tuesday Round-Up

James Murdoch giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry. Can be found here

Plus Ten Questions for Rupert Murdoch Next Week from James Macintyre

Why We Exist?

This has come about after some thought and obviously in light of the recent Phone Hacking Scandal and the Leveson Inquiry.
For far too long now I think we, as a country as a whole, have tolerated what is wrong with our media in terms of morality, ethics, and above all common decency! At the risk of using clichés, I am happy to see a liberal and diverse media, but what we see in some of our papers is more of a tyranny than freedom. It involves sharp practices and bullying to more than disgraceful levels. If there is ever a time to campaign hard and to work hard in whatever way each of us sees fit to create a national debate, change our media for the better and to hold them to account, and to make them realise that they are as answerable as MP's and bankers, and the rest of society this is it!
Here is something I wrote recently in light of the launch of the Sun On Sunday: 

I hope to one day live in a society where most people make moral choices in what paper they buy
I hope to one day live in a society where our media treat people as innocent before proven guilty
I hope to one day live in a society where papers do not invade people's privacy to the point where they might as well be a dissident in a dictatorship, and to cap it all the paper responsible pretend they are Woodward and Bernstein in their defence
I hope to one day live in a society where papers do not have moral outrage consistently paraded in their editorials, whilst consistently having page three girls or photos of attractive teenage girls receiving their examination results. Why not some average looking girls and boys as well?
I hope to one day live in a society where columnists no longer say outrageous and offensive things for the sake of attention
I hope to one day live in a society where the values of Reith outstrip the values of Northcliffe when it comes to journalism
I hope to one day live in a society where there are more Marie Colvin's and less hacks who defend ripping apart someone's private life for the sake of public titillation
I hope to one day live in a society where journalists, hacks, and Editors not only publicly apologise for painful and needless offence, but realise that to apologise is because you are wrong, not because you expect forgiveness, and to see where they are wrong
I hope to live in a society where some Editors are less Pharisaical and more humble
I hope to one day live in a society where whole sections of society are not demonised by some papers because they are different to many of their readers'
I hope to live in a society where some journos realise that their attitudes and behaviour put people like me off becoming a regular tabloid journalist for life
I hope to live in a society where tabloids realise they can be like the Daily Mirror in the 1970s and mix light entertainment with good investigative copy that educates, entertains, and informs, not titilates, divides, and causes fear, anger, and resentment
I look forward to the day when I feel there has been enough change in me where I can show more humility regarding the things I detest and loathe within the media

None of us are saints, we all have, simply through parting with our loose change, perhaps helped contribute to much about what we dislike about our press. This is also not ignoring the dumbing down sensationalism of TV to levels that are beyond acceptable. One thinks of the Big Brother fiasco some five years ago where a Bollywood actress was bullied and harassed. Equally I am aware that some of my own choices may be wrong for all I know.

The aims of this group is to discuss, debate, and consider what is wrong with our media, and communicate to the wider world what we want to see change. Papers like the Sun, or the Daily Mail, or Express (three obvious examples) will not change unless enough people are disgusted enough and do more than shrug their shoulders or buy such papers for justifications such as good supliments or crosswords. Equally it does us no good as a society to denigrate and insult such readers when they have fears that are being preyed on. They need our understanding and our opportunity to gently persuade them, not our insults because we deem them less intelligent and/or less moral.


We hope you will join us. At the moment we have two aims. To see a Code of Conduct that is done in a way that it is maintained well with safeguards in light of the Leveson Inquiry, and to work at persuading the public to question the choices they making in purchasing any aspect of the media and that it has moral implications.