Post date: Nov 29, 2012 4:28:10 PM
An inquiry into British newspapers calls for a new independent watchdog enshrined in law to regulate the press, to prevent a repeat of the excesses which led to a phone hacking scandal at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World newspaper.
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (NOVEMBER 29, 2012) (UK POOL) - Britain's often outrageously behaved press should be regulated by a watchdog backed in law, an inquiry triggered by a phone-hacking scandal said on Thursday (November 29).
The inquiry called for a radical overhaul of how Britain's notoriously aggressive press should be governed.Lord Justice Brian Leveson, who led the inquiry, said there should be a new independent self-regulatory body, which crucially would be recognised in law.
"It (the legislation) would enshrine, for the first time, a legal duty on the government to protect the freedom of the press. Secondly, it would provide an independent process to recognise the new self-regulatory body, thereby reassure the public of its independence and efficacy. Thirdly, it would provide new and tangible benefits for the press," said Leveson, whose report ran to almost 2,000 pages.
Leveson said the new regulatory body should be independent.
"The press needs to establish a new regulatory body which is truly independent of industry leaders, and of government, and of politicians. It must promote high standards of journalism and protect both the public interest and rights and liberties of individuals," Leveson told a news conference.
The inquiry was ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron after public outrage at Rupert Murdoch's now defunct tabloid whose staff routinely hacked into phones, including that of schoolgirl Milly Dowler who was later found dead.
Judge Leveson said he was calling for independent, rather than statutory, regulation.
"This is not and cannot reasonably or fairly be characterised as a statutory regulation of the press. I am proposing independent regulation of the press, organised by the press itself with a statutory process to support press freedom, provide stability and guarantee for the public that this new body is independent and effective," he said.
While acknowledging Britain's newspapers did much good, Leveson was scathing about some of their behaviour and how they had ignored complaints and "wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people".
The report leaves Prime Minister Cameron, who was embarrassed when toe-curling details of his cosy texts to one of Murdoch's lieutenants emerged at the inquiry, in a no-win situation.
He will either have accept to the report's findings in full, which will anger a hostile press and members of his own party, or reject them and risk dividing his coalition government as the junior Liberal Democrat partners support some form of legislation.