Abell was deputy director of the Press Complaints Commission at the time of giving evidence, having previously acted as one of two assistant directors at the Commission. Abell provided extensive information on the background of the PCC, its guidelines regarding conduct, and desirable ways of balancing the interests of editors and the public. He also argued in favour of pre-publication consultation. If a person knew something was to be written about them, the PCC could represent the person to the paper "and give advice to the editor, while letting the editor retain the decision about publication. But the effect is very often that stories are either not published, or that the inaccurate and untruthful parts of stories are not published." Now a radio presenter and editor of the Times Literary Supplement, Abell was also Managing Editor of The Sun from 2013 to 2016.
In-house lawyer at Times Newspapers Ltd (TNL), publisher of The Times and The Sunday Times, for 33 years (1977-2010), becoming head of The Times’ Legal Department. He was questioned at the Inquiry on his knowledge of Nightjack, an anonymous police blogger whose identity The Times had revealed. It later emerged that the identity was discovered via phone hacking and a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal later ruled that Alastair Brett knowingly allowed the high court to be misled over the hacking of Nightjack's email account.
Professor and Head of Journalism at City, University of London at time of giving evidence. Prior to this appointment in 2009, Brock had worked at The Times for 28 years. He gave examples of how ethics was taught within the Department of Journalism courses.
Media Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain until 2010. Gave evidence at the Inquiry on behalf of ENGAGE, a Muslim advocacy organisation aiming to encourage greater civic participation among British Muslims. Has written for The Times, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Daily Express, Observer and Sun, focusing on Islam and current affairs, and been co-presenter of the weekly Politics and Media Show on the Islam Channel.
Freelance journalist, consultant and, at the time of the Inquiry, Guardian Readers' Editor. Member of the Ethical Journalism Network and Chair of Concern Worldwide UK. Gave evidence on the role of a Readers’ Editor and on the procedures for correcting errors.
British journalist. In December 2007, Harding was appointed editor of The Times, at 37 the youngest person to assume the post, which he held until 2012. A year later, he became Director of BBC News. Harding told the Inquiry that he feared the judge's investigation into press ethics would lead to an Act of Parliament that would stifle the press. "We don't want a country ... where the Prime Minister decides what goes in newspapers," he said.
Mockridge gave testimony as Chief Executive Officer of News International Group Limited, the role previously held by Rebekah Brooks, and provided information on several newspapers, including The Times and The Sun. Questioned about Rupert Murdoch's views on self-regulation of the press. Told the Inquiry that having only been in the UK a few months (he was previously in New Zealand and Australia) he was of the view that British press freedoms were envied by many around the world.
Gave evidence as Crime Editor of The Times, having joined the publication in 2004 from the Daily Telegraph. He had always found the Metropolitan Police to be a difficult organisation to deal with, he said, as its instinct was to be closed, defensive and secretive. Gave details of meetings with various ranks and the very limited extent to which he offered or received hospitality. Described occasional invitations to "dawn raid" procedures but told the Inquiry that he had found the Metropolitan Police "immensely secretive".
Born 1948. British journalist and author. He is currently serving as the British government's Commissioner for Public Appointments, and is the out-going director of the Institute for Government. From 1991 to 2010, Riddell was a political commentator for The Times and has been an Assistant Editor since 1991. Prior to this, he was US Editor and Washington Bureau Chief at The Financial Times between 1989 and 1991.
Designated a Core Participant at the Inquiry, Rowland was a claimant in the litigation against News International regarding phone hacking. He told the Inquiry he had been shown evidence that someone had attempted to hack his voicemails 100 times in 2005, when he had been working for the Mail on Sunday and the Times. At the time of the Inquiry, he had been a journalist or freelance writer for 30 years, having written for the Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard and The Times. Had also worked as a TV presenter and author.
At the time of the Inquiry, editor of The Times website and previously Political Editor of The Times. Webster was responsible for many scoops over the years from John Major's affair with Edwina Currie to the interview with Tony Blair on 31 August 2006 that ultimately led him to stand down. He told the Inquiry that he welcomed the death of deference to politicians but was less happy with the lack of respect. He gave the example of Gordon Brown being asked if he was on anti-depressants – for which, he said, there was no evidence at all.
Had been editor of the Sunday Times for some 15 years at the time of giving evidence. Described a regime of self-policing. Gave specific details of sensitive stories such as reports of peers abusing expenses and the "cash for honours" scandal of 2006. Witherow confirmed the paper had "blagged" information from a bank as part of an investigation in 2000 into the purchase of a flat by then-chancellor Gordon Brown. He argued that such activities would be legal since clearly in the public interest. The Sunday Times sometimes used subterfuge for stories in the public interest, he said.
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.
British Politician serving as Conservative MP for Ashford since 1997. Before entering politics, Green worked as a journalist for the BBC, Channel 4 and The Times. Following the June 2017 general election, Green was appointed First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office, a position he resigned from later that year following a breach in the ministerial code.
Author, newspaper columnist and editor. Jenkins was editor of the Evening Standard from 1976 to 1978 and of The Times from 1990 to 1992. At the time of giving evidence, he was writing columns for both The Guardian and Evening Standard. He lauded the end of sycophancy in today's journalism and said he saw no need for new institutions to regulate the profession. He said that he saw the closing of a paper and imprisoning of journalists a good demonstration of the effectiveness of self-regulation.
Journalist, theatre critic and political sketch-writer at the time of giving evidence, writing for The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and The Oldie, and previously for The Times. Told the Inquiry that he had not intended to give evidence since he had been commenting daily on proceedings. However, he offered his thoughts on the difference between "gallery reporters" and "the Lobby" and expressed his opinion that in journalism there was a perfectly ethical place for sketch-writing, despite its bias and subjectivity.
Editor and Writer. At the time of the Inquiry, Linklater was Editor of the Scottish edition of The Times. Gave statement to the Inquiry after an earlier witness suggested he had written an article under pressure from an editor or owner. He confirmed his authorship and made clear the work was his alone. He has been a regular contributor to The Times and is the author of several books including a biography of Jeremy Thorpe.
Editorial Legal Director of The Times at the time of the Inquiry, having joined the paper as Senior Legal Adviser in July 2009. Prior to this, Sarma worked as a senior associate in the law firm Finers Stephens Innocent, advising and conducting media litigation on behalf of media clients including newspapers and publishers.
Founded 1981. British newspaper publisher at the centre of the phone-hacking scandal. At the time of the Inquiry, NI was publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun newspapers. Former publications included Today, News of the World and The London Paper. On 31 May 2011, the company name was changed from News International Limited to NI Group Limited, and on 26 June 2013 to News UK. In opening evidence, NI's counsel, Rhodri Davies, welcomed the Inquiry and apologised for the phone hacking. He said lessons had been learned. He also declared that NI was in favour of self-regulation and that the company believed the PCC could be improved.
