Editor of the Financial Times at the time of the Inquiry. Testified regarding ethics and procedures in place within his publication. Gave his personal view that the PCC code "needs to be enforced before it is substantially amended... In the case of phone hacking it clearly was not enforced."
British journalist and former editor of The Independent newspaper. After studying law, Blackhurst also worked for The Sunday Times, Daily Express and Evening Standard. Gave detailed responses to the proposals of Lord Black on behalf of The Independent group.
Editor of The Sunday Times from 1967 to 1981 and of The Times from 1981 to 1982, the period of the takeover of the papers by Rupert Murdoch's News International. Sir Harold resigned the editorship of The Times in 1982, claiming editorial interference from Murdoch, whom he described when editor as "evil incarnate". At the time of giving evidence, Sir Harold was continuing his career as a journalist and writer, primarily in North America. He said at the Inquiry that the political will for News International's takeover of the papers facilitated it happening, referencing a private meeting between then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Rupert Murdoch.
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.
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.
At the time of the Inquiry, Hughes was Crime Correspondent at The Telegraph. Previously, Crime Correspondent at The Independent. Was asked about his relations with Metropolitan Police and described regular meetings with senior police via membership of the Crime Reporters Association.
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.
British journalist, broadcaster and former editor of The Sunday Times, 1983-94. Presenter of live political programmes including BBC’s This Week and Daily Politics. Former editor-in-chief and chairman of the Press Holdings group. Neil offered the Inquiry his views on the lobby system and the necessarily partisan nature of the UK Press as exemplified by the relationship between Rupert Murdoch and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
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.
Daily national newspaper based in London. First issued 1785 under the masthead The Daily Universal Register, adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. The Times and its sister paper, the Sunday Times (founded in 1821), are published by Times Newspapers, a subsidiary of News UK, wholly owned by News Corp. The Times and Sunday Times do not share editorial staff, were founded independently, and have only had common ownership since 1967. James Harding, editor at the time of the Inquiry, and Philip Webster, editor of The Times website and former political editor, gave evidence. Rupert Pennant-Rae gave evidence on behalf of the INDS, The Times's six Independent Directors.
