Leveson Calls For New Press Regulator

Leveson Inquiry: Your Questions Answered

Updated: 1:31pm UK, Thursday 29 November 2012

Why was the Leveson Inquiry set up, what was its remit and will the Government have to implement its recommendations? The answers to these and other key questions.

Why was the inquiry set up?

David Cameron commissioned the inquiry in July 2011 after allegations of illegal phone hacking at the News Of The World, including claims that the voicemail messages of missing teenager Millie Dowler may have been intercepted. The allegations brought to a head a growing tide of complaints from celebrities and politicians that the Sunday tabloid eavesdropped on their calls. Days before Lord Justice Leveson was named as the chairman of the inquiry, the News Of The World was shut down.

What did the Leveson Inquiry look into?

The inquiry investigated the culture, practices and ethics of the press. It also looked at the contacts and relationships between national newspapers, politicians and the police and their conduct. It also considered the extent to which the existing regulatory system had failed.

What was Lord Justice Leveson asked to do?

The judge was tasked with making recommendations for a new, more effective policy and regulatory regime for the press, which will support the integrity and independence of the press and media plurality, while encouraging the highest ethical and professional standards.It will make recommendations about the future conduct of politicians and police in relation to the press and how future concerns about the media should be dealt with by the authorities.

Did it consider the specific allegations surrounding the News Of The World?

The first part of the inquiry did not because of the ongoing police investigations and court cases. A second stage was due to look at the extent of unlawful or improper conduct in the media but Lord Justice Leveson himself has raised questions about its value.

What is the biggest question the report had to address?

The most controversial issue for the judge is whether the Press can be trusted to continue to regulate itself or whether a new form of statutory regulation, enforceable by law, should be introduced.

Is the Government bound to implement the recommendations?

No. It will be for the Government to decide how to take forward any recommendations the report makes.

Prime Minister David Cameron has said that he intends to implement Leveson's recommendations, provided they are not "bonkers".

What are the current press regulations?

The British print media has been subject to a system of voluntary self-regulation since 1953 when the Press Council was established in response to a Royal Commission report. Continuing complaints about breaches of privacy and lack of redress led to the establishment of the Calcutt Review of press regulation and the replacement in 1991 of the industry-dominated Press Council by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), which has a majority of lay members.

Critics complain that the PCC has insufficient teeth because its greatest sanction is the issuing of a critical adjudication which the paper must publish with "due prominence". Supporters of the system say that this is an effective mechanism, as editors do not like to publish adjudications against them.

Is there support for statutory regulation?

Hacked Off, which represents many alleged victims of hacking, argues that voluntary self-regulation has failed and calls for a new system of regulation independent of both the industry and the Government.

An opinion poll for the campaign group in October suggested that there was strong public support for an independent press regulator backed by law, with 78% of those questioned by pollsters YouGov backing this option.

Former Justice Secretary Ken Clarke told the inquiry he believed a new regulator was needed and did not believe statutory underpinning would amount to state control. Labour shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman has also said the media should not be given another chance to regulate itself.

But Education Secretary Michael Gove has warned about the effects of regulation on free speech and insisted the best approach is to boost existing laws. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has also said minister should be "very, very, very reluctant" to legislate.

The press is strongly opposed to statutory regulation and warns it will put newspapers' independence at risk. In an apparent bid to fend off legislation, PCC chair Lord Hunt and Lord Black of the Press Standards Board of Finance announced plans earlier this year for a new beefed-up self-regulation body to replace the PCC, with tougher sanctions and an investigative arm to probe wrong-doing.

How much has it all cost?

The Leveson Inquiry sat for 88 days and by the time oral hearings had finished, the cost was £3,903,000. It is projected to hit around £6m before it is wrapped up because of the costs of preparing the report. Just over £1.2m has gone on staff costs, counsel to the inquiry and supporting barristers cost another £1.22m. Money paid to the inquiry assessors totalled £126,700 although two waived their fee. Other costs included £200,600 for accommodation, £464,600 for IT and communications, £15,600 on officer running costs.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Leveson Calls For New Press Regulator

Dengan url

http://terjunbebasopan.blogspot.com/2012/11/leveson-calls-for-new-press-regulator.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Leveson Calls For New Press Regulator

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Leveson Calls For New Press Regulator

sebagai sumbernya