MP for Charnwood at the time of giving evidence, Dorrell had been responsible for media policy and regulation as heritage secretary in the 1990s, when the Conservative Government decided to do nothing with the Calcutt suggestions for press reforms. Dorrell told the Inquiry he thought "recent wrongdoing" such as phone hacking was a failure of management not of regulation and that a powerful ombudsman could work without intervention from the state. Lord Levenson suggested that a statute giving legal recognition to the Ombudsman's views would not amount to parliamentary control.
Conservative MP for Surrey Heath and Education Secretary at the time of the Inquiry. A former journalist at the Aberdeen Press and Journal, the Times, the BBC and the Spectator. Told the Inquiry that sometimes "individuals reach for regulation in order to deal with failures of character or morality, and sometimes that regulation is right and appropriate but some of us believe that before the case for regulation is made, the case for liberty needs to be asserted as well".
Westminster-based journalist since 1982, Political Editor and columnist for The Independent and former Political Editor of The Sunday Times. He told the Inquiry he recognised that self-regulation had not worked but feared under the more restrictive regime sought by some politicians, important disclosures about politicians and the press themselves might not be made. He was also concerned that statutory regulation could not keep pace with new media technologies.
Broadcaster, journalist, writer and television presenter. Marr began his career as a political commentator, subsequently edited The Independent, and at time of giving evidence was working for the BBC. Marr told the Inquiry that rivalry between journalists was inevitable and that forming good contacts with Ministers was necessary and inevitable and that the Inquiry should not be too “fastidious”.
Political Editor of the Mail on Sunday at time of giving evidence. A Lobby member since 1983, Walters previously worked at The Sun and Sunday Express. In 2013, he was Political Journalist of the Year, the third time he had been given the accolade. One of the stories commended was his revelation that Lord Leveson had "threatened to quit" over criticism from a Cabinet Minister. Another concerned text messages between David Cameron and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks revealing that the Government would resist calls arising from the Leveson Inquiry for tougher press legislation.
British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Exeter since 1997 and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2009 to 2010. Before entering politics he worked as a BBC Radio reporter and journalist. Bradshaw gave evidence as the recently departed Culture Secretary and argued that self-regulation required some statutory underpinning. He commended the submission of the Media Standards Trust.
Professor of Political Communication at Goldsmiths, University of London. In looking at the practices of journalism in relation to political issues and democratic practices, Davis told the Inquiry that he had conducted research at Westminster, Whitehall, the London Stock Exchange, across business and financial networks, among major political parties and across the trade union movement as part of his research for the Coordinating Committee for Media Reform.
Was founded in 1944 to promote parliamentary democracy. Its work encompasses a wide range of areas, from citizenship education to the role of Parliament, and the impact of new media on politics. In addition, the Society programmes events in Westminster with high-profile speakers plus seminars and fringe events at party conferences.
British Labour Party MP for Watford 1997-2010 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice from 2009 to 2010. Ward told Inquiry that within weeks of becoming an MP she was subject to intense media intrusion and threats, including from the News of the World, purporting to have compromising photographs of her.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public-service broadcaster. Its headquarters are at Broadcasting House in London and it is the world's oldest national broadcasting organisation, and the largest in terms of number of employees. The BBC is established under a Royal Charter and operates under its Agreement with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. Its work is funded principally by an annual television licence fee charged to all British households, companies, and organisations using any type of equipment to receive or record television services.
Centre-left political party in the UK, including social-democratic, democratic-socialist and trade-unionist outlooks. Harriet Harman QC MP presented the party's written evidence for the future of the press, presenting comprehensive options. She identified two deep-rooted problems: lack of redress for complaints and concentration of ownership. Summarised three options and the party's views on their strengths and weaknesses: a contractual system under a new PCC, a voluntary system with incentives, and statutory arrangements (for which, she said, a YouGov poll found 62 per cent support).
