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.
Actor, comedian, victim of phone hacking by the News of the World and a leading figure in legal actions against the newspaper. He told the Leveson Inquiry that "lurid" details of his private life appeared in the News of the World after he was set up by that paper's former editor. Coogan gave extensive evidence of intrusive stalking and photographing by the Daily Mirror and Sunday Times. He said he had witnessed journalists rummaging through his rubbish bins. He had also been the victim of several kiss-and-tell stories and detailed how the women in question had been fooled and sometimes bribed into giving stories. At the heart of the problem, he thought, was the lack of accountability on the part of the editors and owners.
A consultant cardiologist from Leicestershire whose daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in May 2007. Dr McCann, his wife Kate and their holiday companions were the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for some of which they sued and received damages.
A Leicestershire doctor whose daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in May 2007. Dr McCann, her husband Gerry and their holiday companions were the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for some of which they sued and received damages.
Chief reporter at the Sunday Times, having worked for the newspaper since January 1998. Prior to this, Ungoed-Thomas worked as a general news reporter on the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail. Described his relationship with the Metropolitan Police on stories such as the 7 July 2005 bombings and a child-trafficking story. His contact involved no hospitality beyond a coffee. He noted increasing trend to channel information through press offices rather than by direct contact.
Early Resolution CIC was set up as a not-for-profit company by Sir Charles Gray, retired high-court libel judge, and Alastair Brett, former legal manager of The Times and Sunday Times, to help litigants locked in libel disputes resolve differences quickly, fairly and cost-effectively.
Award-winning investigative writer and journalist, specialising in social affairs and science. Quarmby gave researched evidence on how people with disabilities are treated in the media and the impact it has on their lives. Criticised the Inquiry for being more interested in celebrities than those whose lives may equally be destroyed by bad journalism.
Founder of Polaris Media, an independent communications consultancy, and a former BBC, News of the World and Sunday Times journalist. Gave a scathing assessment of the contemptuous attitude of most of the press and lamented the inadequacy of the PCC in moderating it.
