Leveson Report: Let down by Ca...

There could hardly be a day of greater significance for the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom. For over thirty years it’s been campaigning for an accountable, free and diverse media. And for the first time in a lifetime there seems the chance there may be a real political consensus for introducing some dramatic changes in the way British newspapers have been allowed to regulate themselves.

A year and a half ago the country was shocked by the abuses of the phone hacking scandal that led to the closing down of the News of the World. Lord Justice Leveson was asked by the Prime Minister to inquire into the “culture, practices and ethics of the press.” The judge and his assessors spent a year taking evidence and reaching their findings. He’s just published the report and recommendations of his inquiry.

Media reform campaigners applauded Lord Justice Leveson when he announced his blueprint for strengthening press regulation, but the day ended with activists and phone-hacking victims saying they had been betrayed by Prime Minister David Cameron. Nicholas Jones was at live at Westminster, listening to Lord Justice Leveson and getting responses from:

Julian Petley, co chair of the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom and Professor of Media Studies at Brunel University

Mike Smith, Head of Secretariat at Trades Union Congress

Barry White, organiser of the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom.

Tim Gopsill, editor or the Free Press

MP John McDonnell, Labour MP, Secretary of the NUJ Parliamentary Group

Natalie Fenton, Professor of Media and Communications at Goldsmiths University

Jaqui Hames, Hacked Off, former police officer and Crime Watch presenter