The Leveson Inquiry - Week one highlights

THE tabloid newspaper industry has had another week in 2011 it would rather forget as normal members of the public and high-profile celebrities spoke out against their illegal practices of gaining information.  The phone hacking scandal over the summer led to the closure of the News of the World newspaper and many other popular titles have had to defend themselves that they knew anything about phone hacking.  

Last week, the Leveson inquiry began at the Royal Courts of Human Justice in London, set-up by the government in the wake of the damaging scandal.  It is a scandal that has seen the arrests of former NoW staff, including Andy Coulson, high-profile resignations like Rebekah Brooks and Rupert Murdoch being forced to defend his News International empire from a barrage of allegations and criticism.

     However, it isn't just phone hacking at the centre of attention.  We have learnt in the four days of evidence so far that victims have spoken out at paparazzi and photographers being camped outside their residences for days, desperate for a story to provoke a distasteful reaction.  On Monday, the parents of murdered teenager Milly Dowler spoke of their distress over the fact that her phone had been hacked into.  They told the inquiry that they believed Milly was still alive from her voicemail messages.  It was this frankly unforgivable piece of journalism that ultimately spelt the end for the News of the World and prompted the Leveson enquiry to take place.  Also on Monday, we heard from actor Hugh Grant, who alleged that the Mail on Sunday had hacked into his voicemail messages to break a story about his private life back in 2007.  The Mail on Sunday has responded by saying that no such practices took place at their newspaper, although launching an attack at Grant's evidence during the inquiry was not the smartest move they ever thought of.

Later on in the week, the author of the Harry Potter books, JK Rowling described how the press had targeted her five-year old daughter by slipping notes into her schoolbag.  Rowling also said that if you are famous, then this is the kind of stories you pay the price for, which was a stinging and damaging remark, but probably a fair one in the light of what was revealed in the summer.  Actress Sienna Miller, who accepted damages from the News of the World earlier in the year went further to say that the paparazzi even spat at her  in an attempt to provoke a reaction.  She also claimed that the tabloids twisted stories of her and how she had to take out an injunction at the High Court to prevent the press from hounding her private life.

     Former FIA motorsport boss Max Mosley has campaigned heavily against the press for abuse into his privacy when a story broke about his sexual activities in 2008.  Mr Mosley won damages from the News of the World, but had to face a vote of confidence from FIA members at the time to keep him in the job.  He stepped down in 2009 after a row about a proposed breakaway from the major manufacturers in Formula One, although the tabloid stories probably didn't help their confidence in Mosley.  On Thursday, he told the enquiry that he couldn't put a figure on the legal fees he has had to fork out in a desperate vain to keep his privacy away from the media's watchful eye.  The inquiry has also heard this week from the bereaved parents of Madeleine McCann; Kate and Gerry McCann, comedian Steve Coogan and Paul Gascogine's estranged former wife, Sheryl.  

The inquiry resumes tomorrow and the case against the press is set to continue.  On the schedule tomorrow are former breakfast presenter Anne Diamond, singer Charlotte Church and Chris Jefferies, the landlord of murdered Bristol teenager Joanna Yeates.  The press will have their say also in the inquiry in an attempt to defend their actions; even Piers Morgan has been called from TV duties in America to give evidence at the inquiry in weeks to come.  

     No doubt that the events of the summer still feel sour to many involved within journalism, both training to be one and those who innocently ended up losing their jobs.  It was a week where those who suffered at the hands of the tabloids showed their displeasure and told of their anguish at being targeted.  I'm sure there will be plenty more revelations in the weeks to come at the Leveson inquiry.  

Big Brother returns - Are you watching?

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

LAST Wednesday, the deed was done; one of Britain’s worst kept television secrets was exposed.  After being buried last summer by Channel 4, rivals Channel 5 have now resurrected Big Brother from its grave, to return later this year.

FORCE: Richard Desmond has taken a gamble, will it pay off?

     Richard Desmond, the multi-million newspaper investor and owner of the station, agreed a lucrative two-year deal with format makers Endemol to bring back the innovative show from oblivion, beating fierce competition from Sky1 for the show rights after Channel 4 ditched it last year.  The series will begin its rebirth with a celebrity special series, with James Cracknell, Andy Gray, Sienna Miller, Anne Widdecome and Jedward being widely mentioned to compete.  This will then be followed by the standard version of the show in which members of the ordinary public will take part to win £500,000 and a ticket to celebrity stardom.

     Marcus Bentley, who has achieved some course of fame for being the narrator of the show, with his rather dull and depressing take on events, is anticipated to return to the same role on this new version.  However Davina McCall will not reprise her role as host, deciding to concentrate on her successful Channel 4 quiz ‘The Million Pound Drop’ and possibly work on a few new projects for the broadcaster.  Speculation is thus rife as to who will be the new face of the show.  Top of the channel’s wish list is former housemate Brian Dowling whilst also being lined up is Kate Walsh, Denise Van Outen, Steve Jones and BBLB host George Lamb.  On another matter, it is unclear as to whether BBLB (Big Brother’s Little Brother) will return in this revival to air on one of Channel 5’s digital networks.

     When Big Brother launched back in 2000, it quickly became a national phenomenon.  It made several household names out of the ordinary people that dared to step into the house such as Brian Dowling, Kate Lawler and the late Jade Goody.  It also was very controversial, always hitting front-page headlines for outrageous events.  The racism row between Goody and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in the 2007 celebrity series was most damaging, receiving worldwide condemnation and even then Prime Minister Tony Blair was forced to fly to India to deliver a national apology.  After that, BB went into rapid decline as people could no longer trust the show and Channel 4 finally gave it the axe in 2009, airing what would have been its final series last year.

     This is without doubt as massive coup for Channel 5 as it has long needed a signature show for which it could be easily recognised for.  Richard Desmond has said that this is only just the beginning for big changes ahead at the broadcaster.  The one question is will it pay off?  I think it will personally struggle to captivate the audience watching.  However, only time will tell. 

News of the World makes public apology over phone scandal

PRESSURE: The News of the World is set for a challenging time

THE NEWS OF THE WORLD has officially apologised to those celebrities caught up in the phone-hacking scandal that has dogged the newspaper for the last year.  News International, who owns the News of the World look, set to payout millions of pounds in damages to celebrities including the actress Sienna Miller, disgraced football commentator Andy Gray and the former culture secretary Tessa Jowell.

     Despite the apology made in copies of today’s newspaper, many are still questioning why it has taken so long for the word ‘sorry’ to be used.  The compensation payout still doesn’t let the phone hacking story disappear, as the police continue to investigate why this happened.  On Friday, the owners released a statement confirming their guilt;

     “News International has decided to approach some civil litigants with an unreserved apology and an admission of liability in cases meeting specific criteria.  It is now apparent that our previous enquiries failed to uncover important evidence and we acknowledge our actions then were not sufficiently robust.”

     

     The world’s largest Sunday newspaper has insisted that it will deal with compensation for cases that were involved during the years 2004 and 2006.  Currently, lawyers for News International are believed to be thrashing out these deals behind the scenes.  However, the News of the World has insisted that it will fight any cases that lack any merit or creditability.  Only last week, the chief reporter and former editor of the newspaper were arrested over the allegations of phone tampering.  Both have since been released on police bail. 

     

     Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called for the takeover bid by News International on BSkyB to be halted during the investigation process.  An angry Prescott appeared on the topical programme 10 O’clock Live on Channel 4 on Thursday night, clearly riled by the behaviour of journalists for the newspaper;

     “It doesn’t just involve the celebrity, or the successful individual.  I’m not against investigative journalism, but what the paper seems to be saying is that if a successful individual appears in the celebrity world, they are open to phone hacking!  You connect to the family, repeat their personal messages and then sell them to the damn press!  That’s what you do for a bloody living!”

        

However, if the News of the World thinks that the overdue apology will end the matter, they can think again.  Sienna Miller is already believed to have rejected the compensation package and her lawyers are seriously considering taking the paper to court.  Alongside News International omission, and more damming evidence being revealed by the Sunday Telegraph today, the police investigation by the Metropolitan Police, which has been criticised before is likely to be placed under scrutiny again.  Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told The Andrew Marr Show this morning that the investigation must be dealt with thoroughly;

    “It is a vital that a proper investigation of this takes place.  The police must pursue this till the end.  Until recent times, they have frankly, been very tardy and have not been bringing criminal proceedings when necessary.”

     

REPAIR: Is the newspaper industry going to recover?

     There is no doubt that this is a developing story that will continue to rumble on.  With a police investigation on the march, more celebrities coming forward with possible evidence and calls for all newspaper editors to reveal if they have been sending reporters into these dodgy situations, the future of the newspaper industry could be severely damaged beyond repair.