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 |
The Panel :
Top row (left to right)
- Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty
- George Jones, former Daily Telegraph political editor
- Sir David Bell, former chairman of the Financial Times
Bottom row (Left to right)
- Elinor Goodman, former Channel 4 political editor
- Lord David Currie, former chairman of Ofcom
- Sir Paul Scott-Lee, former West Midlands chief constable
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- The proceedings are shown here live on the Leveson Inquiry website.
- BBC Democracy Live Leveson Inquiry live-feed here.
- Full list of Core Participants to be found here. (Guardian Website)
From Guardian:
Module 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 politicians
Module 4: Recommendations for a more effective policy and regulation that supports the integrity and freedom of the press while encouraging the highest ethical standards.
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Follow Leveson Inquiry:-
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 politicians
Module 4: Recommendations for a more effective policy and regulation that supports the integrity and freedom of the press while encouraging the highest ethical standards.
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Follow Leveson Inquiry:-
- on Twitter - #leveson #Leveson
- Dan Sabbagh on Twitter
- Guardian Live Blog of Today's Leveson Inquiry Proceedings
- Reports From Press Gazette
- Telegraph Live Blog
Hundreds of Computers Linked to Press Hackers - Independent - Sat. 17th December 2011
BBC Radio 4 Programmes - Recording - 16th December 2011 - Computer Hacking and the Press
Audioboo /Leveson Inquiry Week 5: BBC Radio4Today - Peter Hunt
BBC News - July 2011 - Jailed Mirror Reporter James Hipwell Accuses Piers Morgan
Leveson Inquiry - Evidence Weeks 3 and 4, 'the Good, the Bad and the Ugly' - Inforrm's Blog
The Hacking Inquisitors: 'People Thought I Was a Paranoid Conspiracy Theorist' - Guardian
Phone-hacking: the Sun Boss Tells Alan Rusbridger the 'Guardian Needs to Clean up Its Own Stable' - Huff Post
Audioboo - English Chamber Choir Sings the Leveson Inquiry - via @JohnW_Bromford
Brother of Dead Phone-hacking Whistle-blower to Give Evidence - Telegraph
Sir Alex Ferguson's Medical Records 'Blagged' - Telegraph
Piers Morgan to Appear at Press Standards Hearing - Telegraph
Chronology of the phone-hacking investigation since 2005 - long, very detailed article from New York Times. Written by Don Van Natta Jnr, Jo Becker and Graham Bowley, Sept. 1st 2010 :here
Revealed: Why the NUJ Allowed Private Investigator to Join the Union - Press Gazette
Guardian:
1.28 p.m. "This just broken from News Int - the publisher of the News of the World has settled a cluster of phone hacking claims against politicians and celebrities -Sky News - News International Paid Total of Hundreds of Thousands in Settlements to Celebrities
News International can confirm that seven claims against News Group Newspapers (NGN) and Glenn Mulcaire have been settled following discussions with News Corporation's Management and Standards Committee, acting on behalf of NGN. The claims are Mark Oaten, Ulrika Jonsson, Abi Titmuss, Michelle Milburn, Paul Dadge, James Hewitt and Calum Best. NGN has agreed to pay appropriate sums by way of compensation and costs and have expressed regret for the distress caused."
Culture, Media and Sport Committee Publishes Letter from Linklaters LLP - UK Parliament
What Will Piers Morgan be Asked About? - Shane Croucher - Business and Law
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Tuesday 20th December 2011
( link to Day 19 is HERE )
Today's Witnesses:- Matthew Bell, Christopher Johnson, Sharon Marshall, Piers Morgan (via video link), Julian Pike, Steve Turner
Matthew Bell
Submission by National Association of Press Agencies
Witness Statement of Matthew Bell
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Journalist Matthew Bell is the sixth witness today. He has written for the Daily Express and MailOnline."Matthew Bell's LinkedIn Entry
What Does the Future Hold For News Agencies? (Matthew Bell contributes) - Press Gazette
Christopher Johnson
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| Christpher Johnson, Mercury Press |
Mercury Press and Media Website
Mercury Press Agency Demands Full Written Apology From Kelvin MacKenzie Over Hillsborough Slur
Submission by National Association of Press Agencies
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Chris Johnson a journalist with news agency Mercury Press will give evidence after 11.30am. He is there in his capacity as the treasurer of the National Association of Press Agencies.YR:
He was mentioned as a representative of one of the "reputable" agencies by the former News of the World executive editor Neil Wallis."
Mr Jay is questioning Chris Johnson and Matthew Bell jointly.
Begins by asking hoq the NAPA Code differs from the NUJ Code. gatekeeper of the Press - vet and issue Press Cards on behalf of NAPA. Have to be members of NAPA.
NAPA has 60 members in UK, Europe and US.
Change in News values: Merseyside news. Do less local court and council news. Demand from nationals seems to be mainly celeb news. Not only tabloid press, but also 'heavy' press demanding more celeb type stories. Little local news makes it to national press.
Provide news on spec to nationals.
Papers pay differently for stories. Daily Mail may pay more than the Guardian for similar stories. Rates have not kept up with inflation.
Matthew Bell: - Fewer people in provincial and national press do more work, now because of falling revenue levels. All done at much faster pace because of the internet. No longer have to read copy over phone 8 times to 8 different newspapers.
Commercial pressure great on papers and journalists. Little time or money for investigative journalism.
Newspapers/magazines want celebrity photos, paparazzi-style pictures.
Chris Johnson defines 'paparazzi' - arrangements made with ethical photographers who stick to rules made at events etc. Matthew Bell: Paparazzi do not always comply with rules - should be some tightening up of press-card rules. CRB check on those seeking allocation of Press cards, he suggests would be a good idea in future.
Matthew Bell suggests there are those paparazzi who are behaving in a way which is unacceptable.
Chris Johnson says there are anecdotes of photographers hunting in packs, chasing and provoking celebrities. NAPA would not allow their photographers to behave like that. Matthew Bell says if one of his reporters has been working with a photographer who can't account for the way the picture has been taken he would not be happy. If there's a complaint about a NAPA member, they work to seek a remedy. Chris Johnson - last 5 years less than 5 complaints to NAPA.
Privacy: Agency discusses Privacy issue with commissioning newspaper. Last year or two, has been much more discussion about privacy and public interest.
Grief: occasions when asked to knock on a door of someone who has had a tragedy, talk to them, pay a tribute etc. Rule that only go to the home once. Agency work is pooled between 5 or 6 newspapers. Code of practice adhered to.
Some people are hostile, some it's possible to become friends with and keep in touch with. Jamie Bulger's mother has been friend and client for over 17 years. This saves her being pressed constantly by the press as a whole. Madeleine McCann's case is considerably different because of sheer volume of global interest.
24 hr news, instant reporting, means that often the TV outnumbers the press when sending reporters.
All journalists are becoming tarred with the same brush. This worrying them. Reason they wanted to come to Leveson to speak up. Put record straight.
Sunday People wouldn't run picture of Gary Speed's wife and son because hadn't permission, - Independent allegedly ran it (Ed: don't know whether the Independent had permission)
Bell: agency reporters get 18k to 20k pa. Will have to have at least 2 years experience at weekly local or come from Uni training #leveson
YR:
Jay asks lawyers' question of Bell: Peppiatt 2008 wasn't kept on beyond 6 months probationary period - Bell: had amicable discussion RP didn't quite have the background in journalism we thought he had when we took him on - couldn't send him to report on court etc. Didn't check his background - mutually agreed to part company as friends.
MB: I strongly feel there are some very good journalists who you would classify as tabloid. [Name-checks Mazher Mahmood]. #Leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Lord Justice Leveson asks how "critical" local news about hospitals, courts and community services can be protected.Bell says Leveson's concern "is absolutely right" – he says it would be unlikely to find a local reporter in a magistrate's court these days because newspapers cannot afford to have them there.
Unfortunately, local newspapers commercially are being driven into the ground. The sort of people we recruit are becoming fewer and fewer, because local papers are hiring fewer people ... at the moment they're involved in a terrific fight.Johnson says the days of sending reporters along to "scribble down" notes on council meetings are gone. But the "malaise is about producing advertising revenue".
You've touched on what is, in my opinion, the most critical aspect of the media at the moment – the local media.
Johnson says the number of revenue-generating adverts is "infinitesimally small" compared with the cost of producing content.
The value placed on advertising on the internet is distorting the value of the material that is being presented to the reader.
He says the Daily Mail is now one of the biggest online newspapers and is now the second biggest news source in the US, behind the New York Times with 70m subscribers worldwide.
Yet the Daily Mail pays us £40. There is something very strange: a story gets published worldwide only gets £40."
Sharon Marshall
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| Sharon Marshall, former TV Editor, NotW |
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Sharon Marshall, TV critic for This Morning, will also testify. She worked on the News of the World as the TV editor but it is understood that Leveson has called her as a witness to discuss her book Tabloid Girl."
Full Witness Statement
Sharon Marshall articles in Daily Mail
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| Written by Sharon Marshall |
Blurb from 'Tabloid Girl':
'I didn't know I was starting a life where I'd be asked to do three impossible things before breakfast, and be sworn at by four celebrities by lunch. I just thought, hey, I've got a job on a tabloid.' Sharon Marshall was a tabloid reporter for ten years. Along the way she saw and did some Very Bad Things. She also had a spectacularly lousy love life. It took the entire decade to realise the two may be connected. In her hilariously honest memoirs she reveals what really goes on behind the scenes at a major tabloid newspaper. What lengths will a tabloid hack go to, just to get the story? What do celebrities (secretly) do to get into the headlines? And can a job which involves fighting with.....
From Guardian Live Blog:
"She joined in the mid-1990s as a "shifter".She worked at the Daily Star, the Daily Express, joined the Sunday People in 1998.
She worked at the News of the World between 2002 and 2004 and joined the Sun contributing to a humorous lifestyle column in 2006."
SM: there are some managers that are less than idyllic or maybe you have a disagreement in the way a story is carried out #leveson
Sharron Marshall says journalists at NotW wouldnt know what each other was working on. Atmosphere of competition & secrecy. #leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Were any of her colleagues fired for ethical breaches during her time on tabloid newspapers. "I left eight years ago, I can't recall any instance off the top of my head."
Can she recall any instances of line managers telling a reporter off or holding them to account?
"I can't think of any off the top of my head, sorry."
Was it common for editors to raise their voices.
I wouldn't say editors plural, there are individuals on newspapers... some individuals are angrier than others."
SM: Resigned NoW after asked to do story in breach of Code, on pregnant celeb with alleged cheating partner - I knew untrue. #Leveson
SM: Was asked to stay by Ed. Didn't feel I could work on paper anymore. I fell out of love with the whole industry. #Leveson
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Marshall resigned after being asked to do something unethical. She tells the inquiry about a celebrity story which she had been asked to stand up.
In her resignation letter she said she had been asked to breach the PCC code.
I didn't feel that I could work on the paper any more.The story concerned a celebrity allegedly being cheated on.
I don't want the celebrity in question's name to be put into the public. She has children and it's a few days before Christmas
[The] celebrity who was pregnant at the time and I was told that her partner was cheating on her and photographic evidence [of this]...but the photograph was two years old, so I knew the story was untrue. ... I just made sure I killed it.
it was never going to be published, i would never have allowed it to be published."
Says her book is 'heightened reality' when pressed by Leveson to say whether the book is a true story.
Barr says that she does state in her book that the stories are true.
Says she was writing a comedy, not what they actually did. Barr now quoting the blurb, she says context is everything.
Says she was writing a comedy, not what they actually did. Barr now quoting the blurb, she says context is everything.
Worked on 7 different titles - book is an amalgamation of them all.
Barr says that she says in the book that everything in it is true, actually happened. Now saying it wasn't intended to be a legal document. Marshall interviewed journalists in pubs for example, and got them to tell 'legends' - Leveson now says what she wrote is either accurate or not - she says the 'top spin' was to make it a 'good tale'.
Barr quotes: "These v bad things were done.They still are being done by tabloid journalists." SM: "It was intended as a good read" #leveson
Guardian Live Blog:
"There is no another slightly tense exchange with Leveson and Marshall.She is being asked about a character to "robohack" in her book. Robohack got a headline story 'frantic coke and sex session' involving a TV star. He had conned his girlfriend at the time into revealing secrets about her famous friend by taping their conversations.
I was creating a heinous character...that was supposed to repel the reader. I thought it was a useful tale, a useful narrative. I didn't do any legal documents. It was a bit of top spin.Leveson intervenes again.
What do you mean as top spin? Lying?I shouldn't have allowed it to be called a true story, [I should have said] based on a true story."
Read more very interesting details from Sharon Marshall's evidence at Guardian Live Blog
Piers Morgan
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| Piers Morgan, former Editor of Daily Mirror and NotW |
Piers Morgan Page in Guardian
Piers Morgan to Appear Before Leveson - Guardian
Louise Mensch MP and Piers Morgan - Guardian
What Will Piers Morgan be Asked About? - Shane Croucher - Business and Law
Pressure On Piers Morgan as daily Mirror Phone-hacking Allegations Grow - Telegraph - July 2011
Video - Piers Morgan Row With Louise Mensch MP Over Claims Morgan Hacked Phones
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| Piers Morgan and Rebekah Brooks |
Piers Morgan is to be interviewed via Video link from US.
From Guardian Live Blog during Leveson Inquiry break:
"While the inquiry gets the video link set up, here's a reminder of what he said in his book:
Monday 10 April 2000
[Morgan gets back to the Mirror office to find Kate Winslet saying she's pulling out of the paper's Pride of Britain awards]
Someone had got hold of her mobile phone number – I never like to ask how – so I rang her.
A voice answered and sounded a bit like Kate, but said she wasn't and she would take a message ... I was sure it was her. [Half an hour later she rings back.] "Hello," she said, sounding a bit taken aback. "How did you get my number, I've only just changed it. You've got to tell me, please. I am so worried now; if the press get my number, then I have to change it."
"Relax Kate, I won't be giving it to anyone."
Friday 26 January 2001YR:
[Morgan talking about being called to another DTI interview re the Viglen "City slickers" affair, which results in "a flurry of calls from journalists asking about it"]
Given that the DTI has not to my knowledge leaked anything about this case to anyone, I am mystified. But someone suggested today that people might be listening to my mobile phone messages. Apparently if you don't change the standard security code that every phone comes with, then anyone can call your number and, if you don't answer, tap in the standard four digit code to hear all your messages. I'll change mine just in case, but it makes me wonder how many public figures and celebrities are aware of this little trick."
Jay asks about turnover at newspapers and Morgan says there is great turnover between tabloids and broadsheets, tho' the broadsheets won't like to admit it.
Asks about Morgan's book and he says it's the best record of events as far as he could be certain.
From Guardian Live Blog:
Morgan is being asked about Bizarre, the showbiz column he edited on the Sun, and why show business journalists are so prevalent at the top of newspapers.
Jay asks if this prominence is an index of the current interest in showbiz.
Morgan says it is "pompous" and "patronising" to say show business journalists can't progress to serious news or senior positions.
He adds that people like Martin Dunn, who went on to edit the New York Daily News, are proper serious journalists.
Code of Practice displayed prominently in Mirror Newsroom.
Looking at Morgan's Statement.
Gives examples of ethical consideration by his Newsroom:
Gave back and didn't print a copy he'd been given of the budget in advance. wasn't sure it was a true version. Would it cause market turmoil? Says was first praised by Guardian and then castigated.
Decided not to publish the name of the then Home Secretary's son in a story etc.
Morgan is being asked about methods of News gathering:
Benjy the Bin-man was used. Jay reads about him from Morgan's book. Had documents on Elton John. Morgan didn't think it was illegal but on the borders of ethical. Again, questioning the ethics of the Guardian. Says they recycle news from the tabloids.
Now debating whether it's legal to take things from rubbish tips. Morgan doesn't think taking things from bins is unethical.
Whittamore - Morgan wasn't aware of him until recently when story broke.
Now on to Operation Motorman and ICO - Jay asks if he saw the data. Morgan says he is. Was he aware of what information journalists were commissioning from Whittamore.
Says an Editor is only aware of about 5% of what his journalists are doing at any one time. Doesn't know who commissioned Whittamore. Didn't come across his desk.
Jay asking when he became aware of the method of phone-hacking, Morgan can't remember. Says was 10 years ago. Press Gazette article - in which Morgan said he felt sorry for Clive Goodman.
Again mentions that there was the News of the World phone-hacking and the Guardian! He thought that was all.
BBC iPlayer - Desert Island Discs : Kirsty Young, Piers Morgan
Naomi Campbell Turns Tables on Piers Morgan -(article and transcript) - Guardian
Naomi Campbell, the BBC - Is there Anyone Piers Morgan Didn't Tell About Hacking - CBS News
Piers Morgan saying he thinks Clive Goodman was made a scapegoat. Knew him at the News of the World.
He thought his phone had been hacked and he didn't like the idea.
Now Piers talks about 'the person I can't remember who told me' about hacking. Has he got early-onset Alzheimers? #leveson
Now discussing when he claimed to have heard the voicemail tape of Heather Mills and Paul McCartney. Says he will not discuss when and where. Has been told he doesn't have to. Jay reads what Morgan said about the contents of the voicemail. Doesn't feel listening to it was unethical. Leveson intervenes - only person who could listen to the tape ethically would be the lady herself or someone on her behalf. Leveson offers to call Lady McCartney to ask her if she authorised him to listen to the voicemail. Morgan says he knows that PM says that HM used to tape his calls and offer them to the papers.
Jay now asks whether it was an employee at the Daily Mirror. Morgan won't say in case it identifies his source.
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Jay says the Daily Mirror was the top of the list of offenders and "you well know that".Now on to Ulrika Johnson - Morgan doesn't remember anything about the details. Doesn't recall telling a BT man at lunch that they should advise customers to change their pin numbers.
Morgan hits back:
You also well know that not a single person has made a formal complaint against a Daily Mirror journalist, so why would you say that?"
PCC - City Slickers Ruling
Piers Morgan Wanted Viglen Adviser to Lie, Court Told - Guardian 2005
The Piers Morgan Version: 'I Shouldn't Have Been Buying At All As Editor of the Paper' - Independent 2005
Guardian Live Blog:
"Jay asks Morgan about the information made available to the PCC about his shares in Viglen.
The full information on the share purchases were not provided in the first instance to the PCC. Morgan says the information was not supplied by him but by Trinity Mirror and Jay will have to ask the publisher for further details."
Paying policemen: Piers Morgan Denies Allegations By Members of Parliament That he hacked Phones When he was Editor of Uk Tabloid - book the Insider mentions Rebekah Wade (Brooks) dropping the tabloid baton
Morgan: Undercover footman - we exposed series of loopholes in security around the royals - absolutely the right thing to do #leveson
Piers Morgan in Diary writes that he had 56 Face to face meetings with Tony Blair. Quickly adds that Alastair Campbell was there some of the time. Discussed the way the paper would treat the Labour party.
Jay reads an extract from the book - in which he says Murdoch would have been pleased with a speech from Tony Blair gave at party conference.
Murdoch said according to Morgan's book that he would seriously consider backing Tony Blair.
Jay reads an extract from the book - in which he says Murdoch would have been pleased with a speech from Tony Blair gave at party conference.
Murdoch said according to Morgan's book that he would seriously consider backing Tony Blair.
Asking about Steven Nott's evidence that Oonagh Blackman was contacted by Nott and was keen to learn more about what he'd discovered about phone-hacking possibility. She then went quiet on the story and dropped Nott.
Morgan dismisses Steve Nott, his website and his evidence as slightly 'barking'. Morgan very dismissive and contemptuous. Morgan says he knew nothing about it, though Nott was sent £100 later that year. The article for which Nott was paid was called 'Mobile Phone Scandal' but never printed. Morgan knows nothing.
'I think you are massively inflating the importance of this character' (Nott) ..
Jay intimating Morgan learnt about the practice of phone-hacking from Steve Nott's approach to Oonagh Blackman.
Morgan insists on being able to complain that he feels it's been a little like a rock star having to listen to his worst records being paraded before him, whereas he knows that there has been and is a great deal which is admirable about the press. Very defensive demeanour.
Session ends here.
Julian Pike
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| Julian Pike (from Guardian) |
BBC News - Murdoch's Plea of Ignorance Takes a Knock - from 6 Days Ago
Don't Tell Him Pike! - Private Eye Official Site
From Guardian Live Blog:
" He has supplied the inquiry with historic emails which show notifications he got from various parties including lawyer Sarah Webb notifiying him that Miller was going to make a claim in May. He also received a letter from the Metropolitan Police in relation to the matter in May.
Pike is being recalled in relation to an attendance note for a meeting in May 2010 which related to Sienna Miller.
He was asked about this last week after David Sherborne, counsel for Miller and other phone hacking victims, queried how he knew about the actress's claim before it became public."
"The attendance note for the meeting 13 May 2010 was typed up on June 15. The typist had the document open for 6 hours and 16 minutes, Leveson hears.Steve Turner
There is no reference in the attendance note to the alleged relationship between Mark Lewis and Charlotte Harris, Robert Jay, counsel for the Leveson inquiry observes.
Pike had previously said that was discussed."
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| Steve Turner |
Chief Executive of the British Association of Journalists. Represented Matthew Driscoll (gave evidence yesterday) at his Tribunal for Unfair Dismissal.
Turner is with the British Association of Journalists, which is the union recognised by News Group Newspapers, parent of Sun/Notw #leveson
YR:
Steve Turner wants to stress that money is a factor in what newspapers get up to. Pressure put on journalists to produce stories and cut corners. Some newspapers and not others. News Int most successful, although they have circulation 'challenges'. He has nothing concrete to say about the phone-hacking, he says, but wants to say why it might have happened.
Bullying: Declining editorial work-force, diminishing workforce, need to produce more good stories. Has had complaints in his job about people whose working live is 'a bit of a misery', only recourse to take out a grievance complaint. Bullied staff have left with meagre payoff, made to keep quiet, while bullies are not sacked. NotW - People who complain about bullying and go to Turner's Association for help have their cards marked and this may leave to victimisation.
Unique thing about the NotW - complaints by NotW were usually phony - complainant would settle to get away from the situation where things were made difficult for them and they were shown they were not wanted. Phony charges, people got the message that it was time to move on.
In 3 cases in particular, the charges brought by NotW were phony. Turner can't talk about them for fear of breaching the 3 victims' confidentiality and making things worse for them.
All of the cases at NotW Turner was involved with moved on - often had breakdowns (as with Matt Driscoll) or were left very affected by what happened to them.
Confidentiality agreements mean you can't talk and can't then sue for unfair dismissal. Turner thinks you should be able to talk about what happened.
Now telling of a specific case of false-reporting at a tabloid (won't say which one) where he was involved in disciplinary hearings. They had a specific name for these made up stories.
Guardian Live Blog:
"Turner is now being asked about a case he was involved in about fabrication of stories in an unnamed tabloid about five or six years ago. The newspaper made up stories and used "teenagers of 14, 15 or 16 who were only too willing to be pictured" to illustrate them.YR:
It was one of those situations where the newspaper wanted to have a regular column about extraordinary happenings to people, but obviously was quickly going to run out of [genuine stuff]There was a name in the office for these articles he said which would confirm these stories were fabricated."
When asked by C Patry Hoskins, Turner states all of his cases come from tabloid papers. Leveson seems to be asking whether he has any evidence or if the stories are simply hearsay.
Turner seems to be talking about events which happened 7 or so years ago.
ST: Several of the bullying examples I've given are the same "senior executive" (not all). #Leveson
If BAJ hadnt been set up by turner having a hissy fit, the #NUJ would have been stronger and more able to fight bad media bosses. #leveson
Now Turner tries to turn #leveson inquiry into recruiting campaign for BAJ against what he describes as cowboy managements
ST: Made complaints to Mirror Group, assured us they were opposed to bullying + we helped redraft policy,
never heard from them. #Leveson
YR:
Mentions that Express Group, apart from the Proprietor (Desmond) seem to have fewer bullies.
From Guardian Live Blog:
Steve Turner at #leveson : suggests all papers and magazines should be owned by trusts
YR:
Mentions that Express Group, apart from the Proprietor (Desmond) seem to have fewer bullies.
From Guardian Live Blog:
"Turner says one of the biggest problems in newspapers is the army of "second class citizens" employed.From Telegraph Live Blog:
The biggest are of injustice in newspapers is the are of regular casuals where most national newspaper groups employ large numbers of people who they chose to call casuals ... who work for the same paper for 10 or 20 years.
And they are treated like and 'as and when casuals' and when they are got rid of they either get no compensation or they get compensation that's inferior to permanent staff ...
There really should not be any army of second class citizens working in newspapers, but they do."
"10.50 Steve Turner, general secretary of the alternative journalists' union the BAJ, has outlined a number of cases in which he alleges journalists were forced to make up stories. He said that one senior executive once told a reporter:
I don't want a story about a bent policeman I want a story about a whole bent police force."
