Campaign group Hacked-Off is ramping up its operation by recruiting five full-time staff.
The group, which was set up in the wake of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, is recruiting a head of government and parliamentary relations, a head of media relations, a head of outreach and a website/social media manager.
Founder of the group, Brian Cathcart, is taking on the full-time role of managing director.
According to current spokeswoman for the group, Thais Portillo-Shrimpton, the plan is not for Hacked Off to continue indefinitely – but until “changes are implemented” following the publication of the Leveson Report later this year. She is not continuing with the campaign.
Writing on the Hacked Off website as part of an appeal for donations, Cathcart said: “We will campaign and lobby as hard as we can to make the case for effective regulation of the press that is independent of both the government and the industry.”
Hacked Off is staunchly opposed to the plan put forward by the press industry for a reformed PCC with new powers.
Hacked Off is funded from private donations with high-profile figures such as Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan believed to be among the individuals who are bankrolling the private not-for-profit company.
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