The first phase of the Leveson inquiry into journalism conduct is drawing to an end, and the influential British media publication Press Gazette has created a new "manifesto" for journalists in light of what it has heard. Its Journalists Code, designed to assist the deliberations of the inquiry, would require a signed pledge from journalists to uphold several provisions, including: - More respect for the privacy of celebrities, but continued scrutiny of any illegality, dishonesty or hypocrisy. -Greater transparency among news organization to deal with press inquiries about them. -A ban on mentions of advertisers in editorial content. -Libel reform to protect journalism in the public interest. -A stronger Press Complaints Commission that can stipulate how corrections and rulings should be published. -An independent commission with a majority of its non-journalist members. -An end to unpaid internships. -An end to copy approval by publicists and others pre-publication. Ten days into Britain's major inquiry into media practices, there have been several revelations and many trivialities. Key is the sense that the phone-hacking scandal sprawls well beyond the earlier identified. What is also clear is that the public complaint mechanism in England is unable to contend with the companies it watches. The Guardian's James Robinson summarizes the proceedings to date. |
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