In this second extract from After Leveson, a book edited by John Mair, a former Sunday Mirror editor and News of the World deputy editor airs his grievances about the Leveson process. Paul Connew explains why he believes the Leveson process was flawed and revealed how he came to discover that he too was a victim of phone hacking…
The setting up of the Leveson inquiry wasn't just a blatant example of political expediency, it was a disastrous PR strategy seized on in a blue funk moment of political panic.
Yes, there was a tsunami of public revulsion over the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone by the News of the World, as revealed in July 2011 by Nick Davies and The Guardian.
But was there a genuine and irresistible public clamour for a judicial inquiry into the "culture, practices and ethics of the British press" (Leveson's terms and conditions)? Probably not.
The setting up of the Leveson inquiry wasn't just a blatant example of political expediency, it was a disastrous PR strategy seized on in a blue funk moment of political panic.
Yes, there was a tsunami of public revulsion over the hacking of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone by the News of the World, as revealed in July 2011 by Nick Davies and The Guardian.
But was there a genuine and irresistible public clamour for a judicial inquiry into the "culture, practices and ethics of the British press" (Leveson's terms and conditions)? Probably not.
- 2/19/2013
- by Roy Greenslade
- The Guardian - Film News
Nothing published in newspapers now can change Lord Justice Leveson's mind. His report is with the printers and will be published on Thursday.
But newspaper editors, aware that the final decision on his recommendations will be taken in parliament, know that MPs - and especially the prime minister - are susceptible to pressure.
Therefore, yesterday's Sunday papers were full of dire warnings about the likely threat to press freedom should Leveson dare to suggest that a reformed system of regulation include any statutory element.
There were news stories, feature articles, columns, editorials and various adverts in the name of the Free Speech Network with the slogan: "Say No to state regulation of the press."
By far the most interesting contribution was the Mail on Sunday splash, which reported that David Cameron will resist any call to legislate on press regulation.
Citing "well-placed sources", political editor Simon Walters wrote that Cameron...
But newspaper editors, aware that the final decision on his recommendations will be taken in parliament, know that MPs - and especially the prime minister - are susceptible to pressure.
Therefore, yesterday's Sunday papers were full of dire warnings about the likely threat to press freedom should Leveson dare to suggest that a reformed system of regulation include any statutory element.
There were news stories, feature articles, columns, editorials and various adverts in the name of the Free Speech Network with the slogan: "Say No to state regulation of the press."
By far the most interesting contribution was the Mail on Sunday splash, which reported that David Cameron will resist any call to legislate on press regulation.
Citing "well-placed sources", political editor Simon Walters wrote that Cameron...
- 11/26/2012
- by Roy Greenslade
- The Guardian - Film News
The travelling Leveson debating circus moves on to Oxford and Bristol this month. First up is a discussion called "The press we deserve" at Hertford College Oxford, on Sunday 18 November.
The expected participants will be Will Hutton, Helena Kennedy, Hugh Grant and Paul Connew. In the unlikely hope of obtaining a ticket go to
http://eventbrite.co.uk. Why unlikely? Hugh Grant draws the crowds.
The second, based on the belief that Lord Justice Leveson's report will have already been published by 27 November, is being staged by the Bristol branch of the National Union of Journalists. It's called "Where now for the press after Leveson?"
It will take the form of a debate between the Nuj's general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, and Mick Hume, the author of There is no such thing as a free press.
Tickets for the event, at Watershed, Bristol, available from the box office at 0117 927 5100.
A third planned event,...
The expected participants will be Will Hutton, Helena Kennedy, Hugh Grant and Paul Connew. In the unlikely hope of obtaining a ticket go to
http://eventbrite.co.uk. Why unlikely? Hugh Grant draws the crowds.
The second, based on the belief that Lord Justice Leveson's report will have already been published by 27 November, is being staged by the Bristol branch of the National Union of Journalists. It's called "Where now for the press after Leveson?"
It will take the form of a debate between the Nuj's general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, and Mick Hume, the author of There is no such thing as a free press.
Tickets for the event, at Watershed, Bristol, available from the box office at 0117 927 5100.
A third planned event,...
- 11/6/2012
- by Roy Greenslade
- The Guardian - Film News
Observer writers and experts chart the concepts, trends and buzz words that defined the past year and are likely to shape the next one
1 The new politics is, in fact, the old politics
Nick Clegg will regret many things about 2010. One will be his decision to produce a Lib Dem election poster warning that the Tories would raise Vat. A few weeks later Clegg, installed as deputy prime minister, was backing coalition plans to – yes – raise Vat.
Then there was the pre-election pledge to vote against any rise in tuition fees. Six months later Clegg was pushing a policy to triple them.
These shifts were damaging not just because they were old-fashioned U-turns but because they fatally undermined the party's raison d'etre – its commitment to deliver a new, honest politics. A vote for the Lib Dems, Clegg had said, would be "a vote that counts".
It was all part of...
1 The new politics is, in fact, the old politics
Nick Clegg will regret many things about 2010. One will be his decision to produce a Lib Dem election poster warning that the Tories would raise Vat. A few weeks later Clegg, installed as deputy prime minister, was backing coalition plans to – yes – raise Vat.
Then there was the pre-election pledge to vote against any rise in tuition fees. Six months later Clegg was pushing a policy to triple them.
These shifts were damaging not just because they were old-fashioned U-turns but because they fatally undermined the party's raison d'etre – its commitment to deliver a new, honest politics. A vote for the Lib Dems, Clegg had said, would be "a vote that counts".
It was all part of...
- 12/26/2010
- by Toby Helm, Caspar Llewellyn Smith, Robin McKie, Tim Adams, William Skidelsky, Rafael Behr, Anushka Asthana, Elena Moya, Jemima Kiss, Andrew Clark, Keith Stuart, Tom Lamont, Jill Treanor, Will Hutton
- The Guardian - Film News
Directed and written by Olatunde Osunsanmi
Featuring Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Corey Johnson
Alien abductions seem to have slipped off the cultural agenda in recent years. Gone are the glory days of the 1990s, when The X-Files inspired everyone and their grandmother to believe that they were beamed into the belly of a spaceship on a nightly basis in order to be violated in the name of alien research (the "fourth kind" of alien encounter). A 2000 poll suggested an eye-popping 52% of Americans actually wanted contact with an Et, although interest - and belief - in alien life forms has since waned. However, as we turn the final corner towards 2012, it seems we can expect the little grey rocketmen to make a re-appearance, at least at our multiplexes, if not actually brandishing their anal probes at the end of our beds. Once again, it seems horror audiences may want to scream...
Featuring Milla Jovovich, Elias Koteas, Corey Johnson
Alien abductions seem to have slipped off the cultural agenda in recent years. Gone are the glory days of the 1990s, when The X-Files inspired everyone and their grandmother to believe that they were beamed into the belly of a spaceship on a nightly basis in order to be violated in the name of alien research (the "fourth kind" of alien encounter). A 2000 poll suggested an eye-popping 52% of Americans actually wanted contact with an Et, although interest - and belief - in alien life forms has since waned. However, as we turn the final corner towards 2012, it seems we can expect the little grey rocketmen to make a re-appearance, at least at our multiplexes, if not actually brandishing their anal probes at the end of our beds. Once again, it seems horror audiences may want to scream...
- 11/3/2009
- by Karina
- Planet Fury
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.