The moment British journalists had been dreading, finally arrived at 1.30 p.m. on Thursday as Lord Justice Leveson delivered a withering verdict on their behaviour, calling it “reckless” and “outrageous’’ and recommending a new “genuinely independent” regulatory body “underpinned” by legislation to prevent another News of the World-style hacking scandal.
However, he stopped short of calling for statutory regulation — the so-called “nuclear option” that he was widely speculated to be considering.
Prime Minister David Cameron, speaking in the Commons later, appeared to reject any form of legislation at all. “We should be wary of any legislation that has the potential to infringe free speech and the free press,’’ he said while broadly welcoming the “Leveson principle” of regulation.
However, the Labour party, supported legislation.
Groups representing victims of media excesses described Lord Leveson’s proposals as “fair” and “proportionate.”
Lord Leveson accused the media of putting sensationalism above public interest, saying that there was “recklessness in prioritising sensational stories.” By its reckless behaviour, the media had “wreaked havoc on the lives of innocent people” for many decades.
He reminded that his enquiry itself was a reaction to the “public revulsion” over the hacking scandal that included hacking the phone of a dead schoolgirl. Having failed to regulate itself, there was need for a tough independent regulator to rein it in.
“The press has to be accountable to the public in whose interests it claims to be acting and must show respect for the rights of others... The answer to the question who guards the guardians, should not be 'no-one',” he said.
Lord Leveson’s 2,000-page report, which he described as the “the most concentrated look at the press this country has ever seen,” also made uncomfortable reading for politicians. Politicians of all parties had developed “too close a relationship with the press in a way which has not been in the public interest,” it said. This had “undermined” public confidence.
Lord Leveson said the press had a “right to lobby,” but the process must be “more transparent to avoid perception of bias.” Politicians, on their part, should make policies on the basis of public interest and not be influenced by their personal links with the press.
The new regulatory body, he said, should be “truly independent” of the newspaper industry and the government. It should not include any “serving editor” or politician and be able to provide a fair and quick redress to victims of media excesses.
The enquiry, which was held in public and ran for eight months from November 2011, took evidence from more than 300 witnesses, including politicians, media figures and victims of press harassment.
Keywords: U.K. phone hacking scandal, Leveson inquiry, Rupert Murdoch media empire, News of the World
I think that Indian media also should come under an independent
regulator. There are lots of credibility issues doing the rounds these
days and this will damage whole media if the cleanup is not done
immediately. Press should be always side with people, not with politicians or business tycoons. Because the end user is the people and if they stop watching or reading news then media will loose the whole business.But this is a good time for bad media house for changing to right track since all other media's are bad, they can get market share very quickly.
Lord Leveson's findings will be an eye opener, even to all connected with the media in India, except few papers like hindu. katju J, pointed out the same dangers, when he assumed his office as the chairman of the PCI. So many in India then rose in revolt against Him. He spoke the truth. Many news papers gave importance for sensational news and Marginalized issues relating to public interest. Lord Leveson has used the same language,of Katju J. India cannot allow the Indian media to take the path of Murdoch in The interests of the nation and in their own interests. At present, there is no way out to Purufy the Indian media. A voluntary code of ehics, failing which a settlement at the
Governmental level. The apex court, can also step in, on a reference, or in a case now Pending in the files of the court. The Indian media should come in for appreciation from All sides. The media should be proud for their valuable contributions to the land.
Indian needed one 300 years ago. We still don't have it!
If not today, axe will fall on Indian media too which is playing havoc in the name of democracy. In India, Hats off Mr. Katju !
Press and politicians are hand and glove in their profession.
Sometimes they love each other and at times they are at loggerheads.
Press wants to please the readers with news that cater to their
instincts and politicians play their cards through the press. Yet we
have exceptions to this rule. There are many newspapers who have a
long tradition of providing news following true professional ethics in
reporting news worthy events or occurrences. Hindu has a tradition set
by late Mr. Kasthuri Avl to report news of very high standard and
other total package without compromising quality of presentation.
Mr.N.Ram is another example of a man who maintains that and his
article on MF Hussain speaks of it. The report by Lord Justice Leveson
speaks volume about responsible reporting and the norms to be set by
the press. Press can make or mar an event or a situation or a
personality or bring hope or calamity to a nation or a society.
Sensationalism need to be limited giving way for true journalism
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