LEVESON INQUIRY:CULTURE, PRACTICE AND ETHICS OF THE PRESS
"I want this inquiry to mean something", not end up as "footnote in some professor of journalism's analysis of 21 century history." LJ Leveson in reply to A Rusbridger's submission to Inquiry. |
| Lord Justice Leveson |
 |
| (2008) - Editors (from left to right): Peter Hill, Daily Express; John Mulholland, the Observer; Robert Thomson, the Times; Richard Wallace, Daily Mirror; Alan Rusbridger, the Guardian; John Witherow, the Sunday Times; Lionel Barber, Financial Times; Tina Weaver, Sunday Mirror; Ian MacGregor, the Sunday Telegraph; Will Lewis, the Daily Telegraph; Colin Myler, News of the World; and Martin Townsend, Sunday Express. Photograph: Vanity Fair |
From Guardian:
Here's a quick reminder of the four modules within this first year of the inquiry.
Module 1: The relationship between the press and the public and looks at phone-hacking and other potentially illegal behaviourModule 2: The relationships between the press and police and the extent to which that has operated in the public interest
Module 3: The relationship between press and politiciansModule 4: Recommendations for a more effective policy and regulation that supports the integrity and freedom of the press while encouraging the highest ethical standards.
Witness list for this week (16th - 18th January) to be found HERE
Video Recordings of each day's proceedings HERE
Live Feed From Leveson Inquiry Site HERE
BBC Democracy Live Feed HERE
Guardian Live Blog
Telegraph Live Blog
BBC News Leveson Inquiry Page
#Leveson Twitter Feed
Dan Sabbagh (Guardian Journalist) Twitter timeline
Ben Fenton (Journalist FT) live Leveson tweets and comments
Hackinginquiry on Twitter (Hacked Off)
Telegraph Live Blog
BBC News Leveson Inquiry Page
#Leveson Twitter Feed
Dan Sabbagh (Guardian Journalist) Twitter timeline
Ben Fenton (Journalist FT) live Leveson tweets and comments
Hackinginquiry on Twitter (Hacked Off)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Old Fleet Street is still doing its cock-of-the-walk act (in pure Kelvin MacKenzie mode). We are the swashbuckling champions of the world! Except that isn't true any longer, if it ever was. Rather, we're near the bottom of the European league in rates of sales decline. We're doing worse than the press over there, not better.
Do we ever bother to find out why? Well, you won't see many Leveson witnesses at overseas newspaper conferences. Talk to them about the success (since its founding in 2009) of Il Fatto Quotidiano in Italy (straight facts, no spin) and you'll get a blank look. How has Christian van Thillo set about reviving Belgian circulations since he took over De Persgroep? What can we learn from the rise of Fakt in Warsaw? Why is Norway the fountainhead of newspaper reading and its Schibsted group one of UK analysts' best-buy stocks?' - Peter Preston - Observer - January 15th
.....'One by one the editors pop up in front of Lord Justice Leveson and agree that there should be tougher regulation of the press. They may warn of the need to avoid throwing the baby of challenging journalism out with the bathwater of unethical conduct, but most of them accept that the Press Complaints Commission, as presently constituted, is not up to the job.
The PCC agrees. Its new chair, Lord Hunt, acknowledges that it has never really acted as a regulator, more as a complaints and mediation service, and with industry support he has been coming up with proposals to make it more independent and effective.
So that's that, you might say. They've obviously got the message and Leveson's job now is merely to keep up the pressure until a new "PCC Plus" is ready. Then he can tell the Government the problem is solved and go back to the courts.
Alas, however much we might wish to believe the editors, and indeed however sincere they may be, we would be foolish to trust them. There are two reasons, and the first is that their conversion is so recent.'.....Brian Cathcart (see whole article link above)
Jay reading letter from Gordon Brown's lawyers denying MacKenzie claim he "roared down phone" at R Murdoch re Sun backing Tories #leveson
Bailey chief exec of Mirror papers at #leveson : had £150m recruitment ad revenue at peak, last year had less than £20m
BBC News - Leveson Inquiry: The Editors' Views (comparison, editor by editor, heard so far )
Hipwell: Voicemail Hacking 'Rife at tabloids' - Mediaguardian - August 2006
BBC News - Leveson Inquiry: The Editors' Views (comparison, editor by editor, heard so far )
Hipwell: Voicemail Hacking 'Rife at tabloids' - Mediaguardian - August 2006
Monday 16th January
(Page for Hearing 25 HERE)
Today's Witnesses:
Trinity Mirror (Annual Report for the company HERE )
Appearing in person:
Sly Bailey
Lloyd Embley
Nick Owens
Richard Wallace
Tina Weaver
Andrew Penman
Witness Statements to be read:
Vincent Moss (Witness Statement in full)
Kevin O'Sullivan (Witness Statement in full)
Vijay Vaghela (Witness Statement in full)
Paul Vickers (Witness Statement in full)
Sly Bailey
 |
| Sly Bailey |
Witness Statement in Full
Sly Bailey is CEO of Trinity Mirror. She previously worked for IPC and non-executive director at PA. #Leveson
Sly Bailey now up at #leveson. Points out that when she wrote her statement, Trinity Mirror owned 160 regional papers, now 140. Oh. #leveson
Asked about @piersmorgan claim that US shareholders put pressure on DMirror anti-Iraq war stance. #sly says not true. #leveson
Bailey chief exec of Mirror papers at #leveson : says sacking Piers Morgan was board decision
Board decided to fire Piers over fake photos. #sly supported it. She fired him herself. "It was an awful time for the business" #leveson
SB: The board lost confidence in him as editor, fired for this rather than publishing of photographs themselves. #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
#Sly says biggest concern is regulatory one.Regulator not seeing market for what it is right now.[this is core FT area, #leveson interested]
Guardian Live Blog:
What Price Privacy Now:
Guardian Live Blog:
Dan Sabbagh has just tweeted:
Guardian Live Blog:
#Sly says as example of differing with editors, she told #Wallace that DMirror coverage of last US election was too high-brow #leveson
No contact with police.
Bailey fired Piers Morgan as Daily Mirror editor after he published fake Iraqi abuse pictures.
"The only phone call I ever received after we published those photographs in 2004 was from a shareholder who was interested in what the advertiser response was," she says.
Asked why she dismissed Morgan over the pictures, Bailey says:
You can imagine it was an awful time for the business … we were literally in a maelstrom of interest in the business.
Frankly, it wasn't so much the publishing of the photographs themselves which I believe he did in good faith at the time but in the intervening period the board lost confidence in him as editor.
We lost a lot of readers so it was a catastrophic editorial error.
Lower level jobs advertising all but dried up. #leveson says is it economy driven Sly:Not saying no structural effect but less than property
Guardian Live Blog:
Bailey describes the commercial pressures on Trinity Mirror in recent years as "intense"."The business has been under the most intense cyclical pressure as a result of the economic situation," she tells the inquiry. More pressure has come from the proliferation of digital platforms for news. "Our strategy is to build a growing multiplatform business."
Bailey describes the different business models of national and regional newspapers, noting that recruitment advertising has collapsed – from £150m at its peak to £20m last year.
Property advertising has less of an impact, because traditionally less high yield.
Bailey: I see ethics as a set of principles by which you live your life (business and personal) #leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Lord Justice Leveson is keen to know if there is any structural change that could help local newspapers, which provide a vital service.Bailey advocates a change in the regulatory market for mergers and acquisitions.
Bailey says she might incorporate conscience clause into TMG's codes of practice. #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Bailey is asked about ethics.She describes ethics as "a set of principles by which you live your life … and which drive the way you do your business".
Bailey says she has a call with her top 200 managers every month to update them on the business.
Bailey says she is updated throughout the year on legal disputes in which the company is involved.She says she "might" consider whether a "conscience clause" should be inserted into Trinity Mirror employees' contracts.
SB: When corporate governance leaves the boardroom it becomes good management practice. #Leveson describes it as a "mechanism of oversight".
Bailey repeats what she said at #Leveson seminar: no system of corporate governance can be completely bomb-proof
Bailey says Trinity Mirror undertook an internal editorial review following the closure of the News of the World in June 2011.
"Following the closure of the News of the World, I instigated a review of our editorial controls and procedures," she tells Leveson. The previous editorial review had taken place following the death of Dr David Kelly in 2003.
What Price Privacy Now:
Bailey chief exec of Mirror papers at #leveson : Info Cmsnr's what price privacy reports did hit her desk when published
SB: Three of our journalists were interviewed under caution in 2004 and no further action taken. We took forward-looking approach. #Leveson
Now asking about Whittamore. #Sly was there at the time.She read ICO reports.Made it v clear what was & wasnt acceptable. #leveson
Dan Sabbagh has just tweeted:
Compare all this welter of plc risk mgmt stuff from Sly to the approach of Richard Desmond on Thurs. Diff b/w public + private company?
Bailey says: "We took our cue very much from the information commissioner, who we felt was taking a forward-looking stance across a number of industries, not just our own. We made it very clear what was acceptable and what was unacceptable."
Barr points out that Trinity Mirror titles are relatively high up on the league table of newspapers that used Steve Whittamore, the private investigator.
"I had been very clear that this sort of behaviour would not be tolerated … the editors gave me their assurances that it never was," Bailey says.
"I don't know that they did or what was in the public interest or what wasn't because we didn't have the data to do that. We took the decision at the time in 2006 to take a forward-looking approach."
She denies that this amounted to an amnesty for wrongdoing.
Asked why Trinity Mirror sent out a warning to journalists following the convictions of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire over phone hacking in 2006, Bailey says: "I simply thought it was an appropriate point to reinforce our policies, procedures and the criminal law."Bailey says she listened to James Hipwell's evidence last week but that she is "not sure" whether she knew of his allegations at the time.Hipwell: Voicemail Hacking 'Rife at tabloids' - Mediaguardian - August 2006
She adds: "Lots of journalists were speculating on that in media pieces but certainly without any evidence."
[a key point Barr made there - TM has not done a detailed investigation as NI is doing, so how do they know there is no evidence? ] #leveson
Bailey chief exec of Mirror papers at #leveson : didn't investigate after News Int convictions whether there was hacking at Mirror titles
Asked why Trinity Mirror sent out a warning to journalists following the convictions of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire over phone hacking in 2006, Bailey says: "I simply thought it was an appropriate point to reinforce our policies, procedures and the criminal law."Bailey says she listened to James Hipwell's evidence last week but that she is "not sure" whether she knew of his allegations at the time.
She adds: "Lots of journalists were speculating on that in media pieces but certainly without any evidence."
SB: I don't believe I have disagreed with any editorial lines taken by TMG. People's political independence a "terrific idea". #Leveson
Politicians:
SB: I meet politicians from time to time. Usually I host meetings between them and eds from regionals. #Leveson
No contact with police.
 |
| Lloyd Embley |
Witness Statement #1
Witness Satement #2
From Guardian Live Blog:
Embley is asked about the recent People story that falsely claimed Charlotte Church got engaged in a karaoke pub.Embley says: "Ultimately the decision that having put in a number of calls to Church's representatives and not hearing back at 5pm I made the decision to go ahead with the story … I made the decision that the freelance reporter was a very good source of information … on that basis I made the decision to go ahead with the story, clearly that was incorrect."
He notes that Church is now suing the People for £100,000 in damages, adding: "presumably the £100,000 she didn't get from Mr Murdoch's birthday party singing".
He also confirms that the apology to Church published in November was not an agreed one.
Barr asking Embley about libellous Charlotte Church story with "Marryoke" headline. He takes responsibility + says single source. #Leveson
LE: Church is after damages of £100,000, presumably the money she didn't get from singing at Murdoch's birthday. #Leveson
Embley on PCC: if it needs teeth, teeth probably means money, needs to be a fines system. All publishers have to be involved #leveson
LE: Whatever the new body is it needs to have more than one arm. Dangerous if current journalists not involved. #Leveson
Embley says good stories boost circulation, cites Richard Hammond accident and Jimmy Saville death #leveson
Relationship with politicians:
Says People largely Independent of any political stance.
Guardian Live Blog:
The decision to make the People "politically independent" was not discussed with the board or shareholders and it was Embley's decision, he says. It was only discussed with media buying agencies afterwards.Embley says he is responsible for editorial decisions on his newspaper, when asked by Leveson.
Embley says he meets with party leaders "incredibly infrequently", including one with David Cameron, Andy Coulson and the other two Mirror Group editors."My view is that my paper represents the views of its readers," he says, adding: "I felt [the People's move to a neutral political stance] enabled by to stand up for my readers best."
LE: Have had infrequent meetings with politicians, including Cameron and Clegg. #Leveson
Embley People ed #leveson : says politicians want to know what People's readers are thinking
Relationship with Police:
Embley People ed #leveson : I don't have a crime corr and I have v few staff. Make calls to police press ofc & knock on doors
Guardian Live Blog:
Dan Sabbagh has just tweeted:
Embley's evidence session concludes here.
Barr asking Embley about Alfie Patten, allegedly a 13 year old father. Spoke to Alfie and his father for story. #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Embley is asked about a People story about the 13-year-old father Alfie Patten, headed "I want a DNA test".He says he contacted Patten and his father before the story was published.
Embley People ed #leveson : pics dept is the one with biggest budget
RT @IndexLeveson: Embley says single-source stories quite common at his paper #leveson
LE: Politicians very occasionally write for paper, usually replacing political ed's column in absence. #Leveson
Embley People ed #leveson : didn't know about use of Whittamore at Mirror
Guardian Live Blog:
Dan Sabbagh has just tweeted:
People used Whittamore 839 times pre 2003... Embley has "no idea" about this - 4 yrs before he became People editor.
Embley People ed #leveson : Thurs last week offered Will & Kate pix, palace had concerns - that photographer stalked Kate, he didn't print
Embley People ed #leveson : but same pix appeared in People magazine (different publication) and are on net
Embley discussing pics of Kate Middleton in Tesco. Says Daily Star Sunday took them #leveson
Now onto David Brown allegations that People engaged in hacking.[Potentially damaging to Mirror Group but before Embley's time] #leveson
Embley says hasn't seen allegations before.I looked into a couple of things, v few members of staff left.I'm of view he is wrong #leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Embley is asked about his time at the Mirror in the late 1990s when James Hipwell, former Mirror journalist, alleged that phone hacking was commonplace on the paper's showbiz desk."I've never seen any phone hacking," he tells the inquiry.
Embley says he has not seen allegations of phone hacking at the People made by former journalist David Brown before. He was not at the People at the time but says he has checked with two people since and has been told that the allegations are "incorrect and unsubstantiated".
Embley is asked about Chris Atkins's Starsuckers footage in which former People reporter Sarah Jellema suggests that the PCC is not taken seriously in the industry.
"I was really rather angry," Embley says. "I called in my department heads, made them watch it … and I in no uncertain terms told them to go out and make sure no one else is of that opinion."
Embley tells the inquiry he is not particularly interested in "kiss and tell" stories.
 |
| Nick Owens' interview with Susan Boyle |
Article to accompany the image above to be found HERE
Richard Wallace
 |
| Richard Wallace |
Witness Statement #1 in Full
Witness Statement #2 in Full
When aksed by Mr. Barr whether phone-hacking was happening while he was at the paper 'Not to my knowledge, but it could have been.'
Richard Wallace #Leveson show biz reporting to editorship 'a well-trodden path'!
Will Wallace be asked why, when Show Biz & News Ed, that legions of his staff bought data from Whittamore the ICO felt were illegal #leveson
Asked by Barr why @piersmorgan lost his job. Says it was "catastrophic error of judgment" over fake Iraqi prisoner abuse pix #leveson
Why Wallace asked about hacking at TGM (limited evidence) & not data-mining (massive evidence)? #leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
Barr asks Wallace about James Hipwell, the former Mirror reporter who claimed to have seen phone hacking by members of the Daily Mirror showbiz team on more than one occasion.Wallace says "not to my knowledge" when asked whether phone hacking was going on. Asked whether it might have been going on but was hidden from him, Wallace says: "It might well have been."
Re why Mirror has high ethnic minority readership, Wallace says b/c of paper's values of fairness, compassion, justice #leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace agrees that the average Daily Mirror reader is in their 50s, but says this has not changed for several decades.He adds that the Mirror has a relatively large proportion of ethnic minority readers because their interests "play to the paper's ethics and values" of fairness, justice and compassion.
He says that the paper "always supports the underdog".
From Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace met senior Trinity Mirror executives in early 2007, after Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire were jailed for intercepting voicemail messages.This was to ensure a "zero tolerance" policy at the Mirror titles.
"It was a very strong message from the corporate arm that any illegality is just not on," he tells Leveson
Wallace says he never heard the Paul McCartney voicemail message to Heather Mills that Piers Morgan said he had heard. Wallace suggests that the first he heard about it was in Morgan's book.
Wallace says doesn't send out msgs to staff on ethical matters, says ethical issues embedded in his newspaper's culture already #leveson
Wallace says to best of his knowledge the Daily Mirror has never fallen foul of the criminal law while he's been Editor #Leveson
Wallace D Mirror ed at #leveson : consequences of adverse PCC ruling are reputational not financial
Barr says there have been suggestions that papers should pay to have apologies printed in a rival paper. RW calls this "quirky". #Leveson
Wallace says PCC rulings do not have an impact on sales or finance, but that it is reputational damage.He says he is in "two minds" on whether the new regulator should be able to fine errant newspapers.
Asked about whether papers should be forced to pay to run apologies in their rivals, he says: "Advertisers, generally, if they don't like the product … or the product is in trouble … they often won't advertise, so to formalise that [would be concerning]," he tells the inquiry. "We're in danger of moving into an area that's too draconian."
The new body should be able to call editors to account for their actions, Wallace says.Bloggers:
But he adds that "having an audit trail on every single story published is probably not practical".
Asked whether the PCC's lack of investigative powers is a drawback to the existing system, Wallace says: "As events have unfolded, absolutely."
Guardian Live Blog:
The internet is "a lot of noise", Wallace says, adding that "legitimate" online news providers would want to join a new regulatory system because "it gives them a lot of cachet"".Wallace says there is a "huge difficulty" in controlling the internet as a means of upholding privacy injunctions.
Barr asks Wallace whether he knows anything about print media "instigating" injunction-busting posts online.
"I've not seen evidence or heard any suggestion," Wallace says.
Asked about bloggers, Wallace says: "The out and out cowboys – I don't see in the long term they can survive … people want information that is competent and true."Relationship with Police:
He says that the Mirror is a trusted brand.
Wallace D Mirror ed at #leveson : had dinner four or five times with Met Police's Paul Stephenson
Wallace D Mirror ed at #leveson : dining with Stephenson wasn't about him wanting a good write up in the D Mirror
Guardian Live Blog:
Barr asks Wallace about the Mirror's relationship with the police.Wallace says he had "four or five" dinners with Sir Paul Stephenson while he was commissioner of the Met police. He adds that he has since sat at a roundtable dinner with Stephenson's successor.
He says he cannot recall having dinner with lower-ranking police officers.
The dinners will be a "general discussion about whatever is on their radar at the time," Wallace says, "it wasn't about getting a good writeup in the Daily Mirror."
Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace is asked about his meetings with other high-ranking members of society."Yes, I've done a couple of bishops," Wallace says. Sharp as a knife, Leveson responds: "I don't think you quite mean that."Relationship with politicians:
RW: Tony Blair "went with the flow" when it came to the press. Cameron views us as a "lost cause". #Leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
On politicians, Wallace says "they're always seeking to influence"; adding: "If they can't control the medium, control the message."Tony Blair "went with the flow", he says, but once asked when the Mirror was going to sack one of its journalists. "I view that as an aberration," he adds.
Wallace says that David Cameron views the Mirror as a "lost cause".
Labour has been on phone asking for favours and #Wallace says no I can't do that because I represent our readers. #leveson
RW: I don't think the whole of the media is too close to politicians, just one with "particularly big influence". #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Politicians will ask editors not to publish an article, Wallace says, adding that he will take his own view.Asked whether editors ever socialise with one another, he says: "We run across each other from time to time, but I wouldn't say we go around in a big gang or anything."
Excellent pnt from Brian #leveson on the lobbying by the press of scared politicians, undermining ICO proposal for section 55 DPA sentence
Checking Sources:
Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace says he will not publish a story if he has doubts to its provenance and the journalist refuses to disclose the sources.What Price Privacy Now?: (link to report HERE )
681 transactions from 45 Mirror journos in ICO What Price Privacy Now report. #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace is asked about the information commissioner's 2006 reports What Price Privacy? and What Price Privacy Now?What Price Privacy Now? was the key ICO report into the unlawful trading of confidential information published in 2006.
The Daily Mail was identified as the paper with the the most transactions followed by the Sunday People, the Daily Mirror and the News of the World.
Senior members of staff take more junior journalists under their wings.
Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace is asked about a court report when the Mirror published a story "about the wrong Mr Smith". He suggests that the mistake originated from PA, and that the Telegraph and the Times also made the error. "This plays into human error … It was highly regrettable but it wasa straightforward mistake. Something each one of us do every day in some way shape or form," he says. "No amount of tightening up of rules or regulations can stop human error."
Wallace addressing Sienna Miller story which she said falsely portrayed her as drunk at event, when actually playing with child. #Leveson
Wallace #Leveson explains why he published apology to Sienna Miller without legal agreement - to show that he wasn't delaying publication
Here's another example of inaccurate reporting that was based upon agency copy: http://t.co/mt3hKyka #Leveson
Wallace doesn't believe there were ethical issues in paying health and prison staff, as stories were in public interest #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Wallace says that the Mirror stopped using private investigators last year when he was asked by Mark Hollinshead, a Trinity Mirror executive."I'm not sure we did, but yes, probably," he tells the inquiry.
Wallace says that the Mirror stopped using investigator Steve Whittamore in 2004.
He is asked about a story on "Crossbow Cannibal" Stephen Griffiths that appeared to come from inside a prison. Wallace says he is "not aware" whether the Mirror paid for that.
He adds that that Mirror very rarely makes cash payments any more.
RW: Stopped using Whittamore in 2004 but might have used PIs up to 2011. Paid for info from prison workers - was public interest. #Leveson
Christopher Jefferies:
Barr: Would you agree with me that you fell down on the fairness justice and compassion ethics with this case? Wallace: Yes.
The Ordeal of Christopher Jefferies - FT
Barr suggests that the off the record police' assertion that C.Jefferies was the murderer had great deal of influence on the decision to run the story in the defamatory way they did.
RW: The police gave general guidance and off-the-record info, was told they were "confident" Jefferies was "their man". #Leveson
I made a very serious misjudgment. Barr:Was it pressure of competition.W:one shd not become reckless in seeking to beat them. #leveson
Barr asks about Jefferies and the administration of justice. #Wallace says can't go too far because Mirror is appealing. #leveson
RW: Mr Jefferies' name will be imprinted on my brain forever more. We all make mistakes, editors think longer than have previously. #Leveson
Ulrika Jonsson/Sven Story
Refers to @piersmorgan book describes #Wallace coming into office with the story [that Ulrika was sleeping with Sven] #leveson
Barr: How did you obtain that piece of information. W at that stage just a tip. Can't remember source. Cd have been anywhere. #leveson
[#Wallace has been very honest in his evidence here. It is possible it was a phone hack that gave them Ulrika/Sven. Big admission] #leveson
@GuidoFawkes gets namecheck at #leveson for its allegations about Mirror reporting of Sven / Ulrika
Zelo Street Blog from July 2011 Following assertions by Paul Staines in his Guido Fawkes Blog
Zelo Street Blog from July 2011 Following assertions by Paul Staines in his Guido Fawkes Blog
 |
| Tina Weaver |
'Ten years after she was appointed editor of the Sunday Mirror, Tina Weaver makes her debut in the MediaGuardian 100. Long overdue, some might say, for a paper which consistently punches above its weight.
She occupies a slot previously earmarked for Colin Myler, former editor of the now defunct News of the World.
It is the not the first time Weaver has replaced Myler; she succeeded him at the Sunday Mirror after he resigned over an article which caused the collapse of a trial against two Leeds footballers. The paper was later fined £75,000 for contempt of court.'
From Guardian Live Blog:
Weaver is asked where she got the story that Cherie Blair was pregnant. Alastair Campbell suggested that the Sunday Mirror obtained the story through illegitimate means.Weaver, who was bylined on the story, says that the information came in to Piers Morgan, who purchased it from Max Clifford.
TW: I agree that PCC doesn't have teeth. It is effective as mediator but doesn't have power needed. #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Weaver says she agrees that the PCC – on which she sits – is "toothless"."It clearly doesn't have the power that is needed – that is clear from the phone hacking lack of investigation where the PCC was misled by News International," she tells the inquiry.
Weaver says she agrees with the "three-column structure" emerging, on a body including a mediation arm, a regulatory arm and an arbitration arm.
TW: We try to reflect public opinion, our readers vote for us every week by buying the paper. #Leveson
Relationship with the Police:
Weaver herself had very little contact with police chiefs. She says she met Sir Ian Blair once. She says off the record guidance very important.
Leveson says off the record comment can be misreported.
Relationship with politicians:
Saw much more of the Labour politicians, Brown, Blair. Met Cameron at his instigation.
Might raise concerns with the politicians re amputees etc.
Might talk to them about policies but not often.
Weaver says has intelligent readers and they would not be swayed by editorial view. Party leadership not influential on editorial stance nor readership.
Weaver says News Int situation with politicians is different. Doesn't think Tories would think it worth coming anywhere near the Mirror group.
Public interest test:
Weaver says she's not a fan of the new Privacy law. Too narrow. Thinks everyone entitled to privacy but is making editors' lives more difficult. Sometimes delays printing - Rio Ferdinand for e.g. Section 12 not given enough consideration. Wants more clarity of where line is drawn.
Weaver promoting idea that at time public interest line is drawn too narrowly - each case different. Public greatest barometer.
#leveson makes what can only be described as a sceptical harrumph
Says what is in the public interest and what is the public interest are very close.
Kiss and tell stories:
Weaver doesn't use the expression kiss and tell.
From Guardian Live Blog:
Relationship with the Police:
Weaver herself had very little contact with police chiefs. She says she met Sir Ian Blair once. She says off the record guidance very important.
Leveson says off the record comment can be misreported.
Barr - what is it you're seeking from the police? Weaver - Stories, information. #leveson
Saw much more of the Labour politicians, Brown, Blair. Met Cameron at his instigation.
Might raise concerns with the politicians re amputees etc.
Might talk to them about policies but not often.
Weaver says has intelligent readers and they would not be swayed by editorial view. Party leadership not influential on editorial stance nor readership.
Weaver says News Int situation with politicians is different. Doesn't think Tories would think it worth coming anywhere near the Mirror group.
Public interest test:
Weaver says she's not a fan of the new Privacy law. Too narrow. Thinks everyone entitled to privacy but is making editors' lives more difficult. Sometimes delays printing - Rio Ferdinand for e.g. Section 12 not given enough consideration. Wants more clarity of where line is drawn.
Weaver promoting idea that at time public interest line is drawn too narrowly - each case different. Public greatest barometer.
S Mirror ed Weaver at #leveson : suggests readers should have greater say in deciding what is public interest
Says what is in the public interest and what is the public interest are very close.
Kiss and tell stories:
Weaver doesn't use the expression kiss and tell.
TW: We do ask people to come forward with stories. We had a good expose on bailiffs and treatment of debtors. #Leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
Weaver is careful not to align herself with Paul McMullan, the outspoken former News of the World reporter, when discussing the public interest."It's being interpreted too narrowly at times … I think what readers deem to be in the public interest is deemed by judges to be private," she adds.
Weaver does not like the phrase "kiss and tell" stories, describing it as a term used by "broadsheet commentators" for stories about relationships.
Sunday Mirror editor Tina Weaver says decision on use of subterfuge made by newsdesk and lawyers, she is not involved #Leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
Weaver is asked about Chris Atkins' Starsuckers film. She spoke to Nick Owens, the Mirror reporter who suggested he would pay Atkins for private information about celebrities. Owens apologised for his remarks."I can't recall which specific comments – there were a number ... I spoke to Mr Owens at the time and he apologised and said he's said some unhelpful things," she says.
"He realised it wasn't in the public interest at some stage and didn't even report his meeting to the news desk … I would like to say that this story would never have been published."
She adds: "Apart from this incident, he's a very good and honest reporter."
TW: Celebrity stories "part and parcel" of tabloids but news and sport are prime reasons for buying paper ahead of this. #Leveson
Ms Weaver on Starsuckers. Our readers wouldn't have been interested. I don't think it did very well. It was a C4 film wasn't it #leveson
TW: We would never have published this story (fake story offered to Nick Owens by Atkins). #Leveson
S Mirror ed Weaver at #leveson : when you're meeting people you don't know if they're hoaxers, liars, so you pretend to get on with them
Nick owens did stint on sunday mirror desk and his name went on someone else's story (abt jeffries). Weaver doesn't know how. Mmmmm #leveson
Weaver says Owens' byline was on the piece about the Ballad of Reading Gaol and C Jefferies although he didn't actually write the piece.
Barr asks if bylines are important. Weaver says they are.
Guardian Live Blog:
Weaver suggests that a log of public interest decision-making would give lawyers something to use against newspapers "but I can see the arguments for doing it".
 |
| Andrew Penman, right (with Nick Sommerlad) |
Andrew Penman mainly questioned on prior notification issue.
Guardian Live Blog:
Penman is giving evidence on prior-notification. He says that an obligation to notify subjects of stories would be detrimental to investigative journalism and would help fraudsters and crooks.
Penman: I do think there is such a thing as the right to publicity, call it free speech if you like #leveson
