Prime Minister David Cameron set up the Leveson
Inquiry after the ‘NoTW’ admitted to intercepting voicemail messages of
prominent people to find stories. The two-part inquiry is investigating
the role of the press and police in the phone-hacking scandal, on 13 July 2011.
The Inquiry was looking at the relationships
between newspapers, broadcasters, social-media networks, politicians and the
police as well as media regulation. It is important to investigate
relationships between different media's and the public because the media could
violate their rules and leak information, which could influence a moral panic.
News of The World illegally hacked celebs
phones to invade their privacy by getting hold of any texts and voicemails that
could create a story interesting to the public. This illegal scheme got shut
down and private investigator Glenn Mulcoire got 6 months in prison. The main
culprits were Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, and Ian Edmondson.
Rebekah Brooks - Journalist and former
newspaper editor
"I am not guilty of these charges, I did
not authorise, nor was aware, of phone hacking under my editor ship"
Rupert Murdoch - Australian American media
mogul
"They were scumbag celebrities"
The Dowlers, McCann's, JK Rowling and Hugh
Grant are just a few of the victims in the NoTW phone hacking scheme.
The PCC stands for Press Complaints Commission
and are a self-regulatory body. They are the regulating body for print media
and they investigate the complaints as well as devising the code of practice.
What do the PCC have to say about Privacy?
1) Everyone is entitled to respect from his or
her private and family life
2) Editors will be expected to justify
intrusions into any individual's private life without consent
3) It is unacceptable to photograph individuals
in private place without their consent
http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/celebrity/theyre-not-sorry-phone-hacking-victim-charlotte-church-settles-for-950000-20120228-1tzka.html
Charlotte Church was a victim of the
phone-hacking scandal in America. Rupert Murdoch claims "they're just
scumbag celebrities". The harassment Church and her family were given by
the press made her she keep the studio locked, along with the gate that blocks
her driveway, and she doesn't talk freely on the telephone. Even if reporters
no longer hide in her bushes or tap her phone messages, the reassurance of
privacy will always be needed. Ever since Church's child stardom, the tabloid
press were constantly interested in her life. Reporters followed her every
step, eavesdropped on her conversations and published inappropriate headlines
about her family, which they based on the smallest, flimsiest leads. Church
said she wanted to put an end to this but was worried about being the focus of
attention for Murdoch's lawyers and reporters once she brought the case to
trial. Church also said she was "concerned about possibly being held
responsible for Murdoch's extensive legal costs if the case did not go her
way"
"I felt sick to my stomach at what I'd
been put through, and what my parents had been put through for this company's
gain," she said.
Lord Justice Leveson made some complex
recommendations about how the press is regulated and what he thinks should be
done about privacy in the UK as there is currently no privacy law. A few of the
recommendations that he made were ‘Newspapers should continue to be
self-regulated and the government should have no power over what they publish’,
‘The body should be backed by legislation, which would create a means to ensure
the regulation was independent and effective’, ‘The arrangement would provide
the public with confidence that their complaints would be seriously dealt with-
and ensure the press are protected from interference’. This shows that Leveson
thinks the press should have the freedom to publish what they want, but with in
reason.
Freedom of the Press is the freedom of
communication and expression through vehicles, including various electronic
media and published materials. It gives the press the right to research and
gather information in any way they choose and write what they want. The PCC
contradict themselves on their views about privacy because they say, “editors
will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual’s private life
without consent” This means the press can write what they want and invade
privacy as long as they can justify themselves.
The creative media sector
has a 'code of practice’, which journalists have to abide by because it is to
protect employees and organisations. It also protects the public (audience), as
you don't want to offend or upset your audience because they are buying your
products.
Professor John Tulloch, survivor of the 7/7
London bombings, was one of the many victims whose phone was hacked by the
NoTW. He said the media were more concerned about turning a profit than
journalism. “And it’s to do with profit, it’s to do with selling people’s
stories for profit – including my own – when it suited them.” This shows the
victims reaction to the Leveson Report as having strong opinions towards
‘journalists’ whom he does not believe they are real journalists. They are just
writers with lack of respect.
"Hacked-off" are a campaign for free
unaccountable press. The group is aimed to campaign for a public inquiry into
phone hacking. They are fighting to bring in an independent regulator and also
want the press to follow an official, moral, and ethical code, and larger
punishments to those who break the rules.
The future for the press should include decency
and privacy. Newspapers should contact the person or institution that they are
writing about before the story runs. This would save a lot of disappointment
and provide truth. Using this way of permission is for reason of fairness and
gives the reporters/editors a chance to inform friends, family and colleagues
of negative coverage to come.
