Born 1957. Journalist and author and former press secretary to Tony Blair as Leader of the Opposition (1994-97) and as Prime minister (1997-2000). From 2000-2003, he was director of communications for the Labour Party (2000-03). Before 1994, he had been political editor of Today newspaper and the Daily Mirror. Campbell gave detailed testimony on the political media and what he saw as the decline of genuine investigative journalism and the increasing tendency of owners, editors and senior journalists to wish to be political players. Embellishment and pure invention were tolerated and encouraged by some editors and owners, he said.
Director-General of the BBC from January 2000 to January 2004, a position from which he resigned following heavy criticism of the BBC's news-reporting process in the Hutton Inquiry (into the circumstances surrounding the death of David Kelly). Credited with introducing 'tabloid' television to British broadcasting and reviving the ratings of TV-am. Held chief executive positions at LWT Group, Pearson Television and Channel 5. Gave evidence to the Inquiry of the ethical procedures in place during his time as Director-General including the use of hired investigators and undercover operators.
