Leveson inquiry: Politicians must give weight to free speech

November 28th, 2012

The judge’s part is done, now its up to the press and parliament. Can the press convince politicians they are capable of reform? Or will the government decide it needs powers to control the press?
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The Leveson Inquiry: Do we need a free press?

September 17th, 2012

The UK has a press-controlled state rather than a state-controlled press. Phone hacking lawyer Mark Lewis reports on lessons from Leveson

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World Press Freedom Day 2012

May 3rd, 2012

The last year has seen tumultuous shifts for media freedom. But core problems still remain in the world’s troublespots, says Padraig Reidy
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Tighter privacy laws would only serve the rich and powerful

March 27th, 2012

The report by MPs on privacy talks of the importance of free expression, but the measures it proposes fly in the face of that aim,  says Index’s John Kampfner

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News of the World hacked Sarah Payne’s mother’s phone

July 28th, 2011

The Guardian has revealed that the News of the World hacked Sara Payne’s phone, which Rebekah Brooks had given her as a gift. Payne had previously been told, accurately, that her name did not appear in Glenn Mulcaire’s notes, but her personal details were found there on Tuesday. The News of the World used its final issue to congratulate itself for its campaign for Sarah’s law. Sara Payne herself wrote a column for the farewell edition, describing the News of the World reporters as her “good and trusted friends.” Tom Watson MP has decried this as “a whole new low”; and Sara Payne has said that she is “absolutely devastated and deeply disappointed.” Read Brian Cathcart’s writing on the phone hacking scandal here.  

News of the World fallout could change Britain’s media culture

July 11th, 2011

Axing the PCC means re-examining the balance of privacy v public interest – but will investigative journalism pay the price? Asks John Kampfner
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Making a courtroom drama out of a media crisis

July 10th, 2011

News International’s Hackergate scandal does not justify state press regulation, argues Rohan Jayasekera
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Code breakers

June 30th, 2011

Journalists are being tarnished by the activities of professional privacy invaders. It is time they were renamed and shamed, argues Brian Cathcart
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