Press Gazette’s Leveson Inquiry submission: Part 1

Lord Leveson heard from a range of press editors, bosses, hackademics and lawyers at his two seminars held in London last month.

But he has heard from very few ordinary journalists, and almost no-one from regional or business to business journalism, ahead of his inquiry into the hacking scandal.

In a year’s time, Leveson’s recommendations could form the basis for a radically different system of press self-regulation which will affect all of us – not just those on the red-tops.

That’s why Press Gazette is urging everyone with information or ideas about how the ethical basis of journalism can be strengthened to get in touch with Leveson.

He has made it clear that journalists can contribute anonymously. So now is the chance for anyone who has first hand knowledge of corrupt journalistic practices to get in touch with the judge.

He has invited submissions on the following topics:

Competitive pressures on the press and their impact on journalists.
The rights and responsibilities of the press
Supporting a free press and high standards – approaches to regulation.

There are details about how to make your submission on the Leveson Inquiry website here.

Press Gazette will be making our own submission with a few ideas about how, looking beyond phone-hacking, the ethical basis for British journalism can be strengthened. In particular we think that any new code needs to give explicit protection to journalists who come under pressure from owners or editors to break the rules.

Press Gazette has also today sent Lord Leveson a copy of our ‘Journalists for Freedom and Fairness’ petition as well as a list of the names of those who have signed it. Among the big hitters urging Leveson to do all he can to support, rather than further undermine, responsible journalism are: Reader’s Digest editor Gill Hudson, Bolton News editor Ian Savage, Oxford Mail editor Simon O’Neil, Bath Chronicle editor Sam Halliday, Lady editor Rachel Johnson, former Daily Mirror editor David Banks and Reading Post editor Andy Murrill.

Here is the wording of the petition again:

The vast majority of Britain’s journalists work hard to tell their readers the truth under increasingly tough conditions.

We deplore the actions of journalists who have intercepted mobile phone messages. And we condemn any journalist who has breached the trust of their readers/viewers by being involved in corrupt practices.

As journalists, we believe in free speech and a robust free press and media. We also believe we have an overall duty to serve the public interest and the common good.

The press should be fearless, exciting, entertaining, waspish, commercial and competitive.

At the same time journalistic integrity must be respected, encouraged and protected from political, commercial and other pressures.

Any reforms to press regulation should seek to strengthen the ability of journalists to report the news without fear or favour – and not further weaken it.

And here is the full list of names for those who have signed up to it:

Stephanie Jones-Berry
Joe McGrath
Simon Edmond
Stephen Hunt
Natalie Martin, Leics
Catherine Snowdon
Tim Wallace, Financial Journalist, Kent
Marianne Clough
Ted Pugh
Mark Faithfull, editor, Retail Property Analyst
Rhys Griffiths, Folkestone, Digital Publisher, Northcliffe Digital
David Stephenson
Richard Howes
Jon Harris Managing Director Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd
Kimberley Smith
Roz Laws, Sunday Mercury, Birmingham
Paul Andrew James Dunne, Centre for Journalism, Kent
Anna Reitman
Emma Cox, freelance press journalist, London
Phillipa Cherryson
Ian Savage, Editor, The Bolton News, Bolton, Lancashire
Stephen Eighteen
Lyle Bignon
Sarah Veness
Bob Jenkins
Paul Guinness
Becky Slack
Mark Patterson, freelance, Nottingham
Jenna Thompson, Hull Daily Mail
Gavriel Hollander, Infrastructure Journal, London
Jonross Swaby
Tegan Chapman, News Guardian/News Post Leader
Tom McArthur, online producer and journalist
Tom Bowker, Infrastructure Journal, London
John Baker, deputy features editor, Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Joshua Taylor, reporter, Burton Mail newspaper
Neil Harman, Tennis correspondent, The Times
Nick Rippington, ex-Notw Welsh sports editor, Bristol
Bobbie Winter-Burke, London
Ellen Arnison
Peter Erlam
Charlie Thomas
Emma Lofgren, freelance reporter, Fife
Graham Lovelace, journalist and former editor & publisher
Bob Haywood
Ian Ford, The Guardian, London
Mark McKean
Gill Hudson, Editor-in-Chief, Reader’s Digest
Joe Lane. Freelance. West cork. Ireland
Will Lyon
Christopher Haines, Cardiff
Susy Macaulay, photo-journalist, North Uist,Scotland
Diane Nicholls, Assistant Editor, Downs Mail, Maidstone, Kent.
Sarah Wenban
Nick Stern, Freelance Photographer
Denise Eaton, editor, The Kent Messenger
Jamie Dettmer
Lara O’Reilly
Jo Bayne, Bath
Rick Byrne – local press photographer
Martin McNamara
Anne Loader, former editor of The Crewe and Nantwich Guardian
Andrew Don
Rebecca Burn-Callander
Emma Farley
Dan Martin, editor, BusinessZone.co.uk
Emma Haslett
Paul Durrant
Stephen Wood (retired, ex Express Newspapers), Hartfield, UK.
Kevin O’Sullivan
Sam Holliday, Editor, Bath Chronicle
Ian Hoare
John Bray, Haywards Heath
Katy Weitz
Peter Wilson
Daniela Queen
Maggie Henfield Retired Journalist and University Journalism Lecturer
Jean Rafferty, freelance feature writer, Glasgow
Peter Austin, retired editor
Danny Wright
Jeff Fleming, Editor-in-Chief, Editor & Publisher Magazine, USA
L Taylor
Jude Smith
Mike Jempson
Rumy Vakarelska, Team New Europe, exclusive features and commentary partnership, London
Marc Orme – Leicestershire
Peter Rowe
Louise Bolotin, freelance journalist
Nicholas Mayes, Editor (SQA), Glasgow
Emma Geliot
Sally Murrer
Joanna Geary
Catryn Jenkins, Cardiff
Scott Mcculloch
Mashaal Mir
Kevin Duffy; www.duffymedia.co.uk; Manchester
Simon Angear, Content Editor, Weston & Somerset Mercury
Derek Holmes, media consultant and former regional press editor
James Wyllie
Helena Williams
John Davidson
Patrick Neylan
Samantha Pope. North Somerset Times news editor.
Simon O’Neill, editor, Oxford Mail
James Franklin
Alice Woodhouse
Mark Froggatt
Tom Idle
Madeleine Brindley, Cardiff
Bridie Pritchard
Andrew Pugh
Philip Joyce
Tim Gee
Cristina del Gallego Baraibar
Jon Norris
Lindsey Partos
Philomena Geary
Jeremy Lee, Campaign
Ashley Allen
Lori Miles
Ruth Stokes
Andy Smith
Peter Henn
John Shone, Ellesmere, Shropshire
Monica Adorno
Paul Nettleton, Assistant Production Editor, The Guardian
Jon Peake, Editor-in-Chief TV Choice & Total TV Guide
Rachel Johnson, Editor, The Lady
Ben Allen – Student, aspiring journalist
Andy Murrill, editor, Reading Post
Jason Collie, Assistant Editor, Oxford Mail
The Phoenix Chief Advocates
Helen Burke
Mark Greener
hamish Mackay
Robyn Hall, Plublishing Director, Mortgage Introducer
Richard Plant
Steve Taylor, chief sub Devon and Cornwall Newspapers
Bob Bridges
Maria Thompson
PJ Wilson
Hamish Stuart, freelance, Cardiff
Petra Silfverskiold, senior reporter, News Guardian / News Post Leader
Michael Wale
Julie Penfold
Samson Dada, student journalist
John Edgley
Stephen Kingston – Salford Star
David Banks, former editor Daily Mirror and ex-Assistant Editor, The Sun
Pippa chambers
Grahame Morrison, Surrey
Stephen Wright, retired ITN journalist
Kelvin Nicholls