In this week’s Press Gazette – Journalism Weekly (click here to subscribe)
1 Davies: Leveson is being bullied by ‘spoilt’ Fleet Street. Guardian journalist Nick Davies tells Press Gazette how Fleet Street is trying to “bully” Lord Justice Leveson – and why he predicts a “dogfight” between the press and Government when his report is published later this month.
“The hysterical squealing from some parts of Fleet Street that any reform is a threat to press freedom is childish and bullying.
“The reality is that we can have a more free press at the same time as we can do something to protect victims from the worst excesses of Fleet Street.”
3 NUJ affirms its support for press regulation underpinned by statute. The NUJ has set itself on a collision course with national newspaper publishers after its general secretary Michelle Stanistreet (below) reiterated her support for statutory press regulation.
“We believe that if we are to achieve independent, accountable regulation it needs to be underpinned by statute enabling a framework for a new body to be established with clear terms of reference, and a structure that involves journalists and civil society as key stakeholders.
6 Free Speech Network launch: Tory MP warns that Leveson part two won’t happen. John Whittingdale, the Conservative MP who chaired the Parliamentary inquiry into hacking at the News of the World has said that part two of the Leveson Inquiry may never take place.
“My real regret – one of the key things I wanted Lord Justice Leveson to look into – was how it was that the News of the World newsroom appeared to allow this to go on… but also how the police sat around for four years and did nothing.
“Those are two things which Lord Justice Leveson may never examine. Part two of the inquiry, I hear, may not ever be occurring. Therefore, it seems very strange that actually the most important questions surrounding the hacking scandal may never be properly looked into.”
8 An exclusive interview with Hugh Grant. The actor and phone-hacking campaigner tells Press Gazette that Lord Justice Leveson should show some “courage” and recommend a “decent code of conduct” for journalists – arguing newspapers should no longer be “marking their own homework”.
“I like being proud of being British and I am horrified, I was embarrassed, to have emails and calls from all over the world during the Leveson Inquiry with people saying: ‘What the hell is going on over there? I thought you guys were civilised?’”
.jpg "Hugh Grant")
10 British Journalism Awards: Full shortlist revealed. More than 200 entries have been received for the first Press Gazette British Journalism Awards, to be held at Stationers’ Hall in London on 4 December. Here we reveal the full shortlist, which pits broadcasters, national and regional press, B2B publishers and online-only outfits against each other for the first time.
Press Gazette editor Dominic Ponsford: “The genesis for these awards was the hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry. If ever an industry needs to do a PRjob on itself the journalism industry does."
12 Freelance reveals a scoop which the nationals ignored. Mark Patterson on how The Independent turned his story about zero-carbon green fuel into an exclusive.
“Since this seemed to me to be an amazing, and possibly world-changing story, I went home and sent a 650-word story to several national newspaper newsdesks. Sadly, not one of them thought it was worth a single column inch…and completely ignored it.
“Finally, over a fortnight after I had emailed its newsdesk, The Independent got hold of the story from another source and ran it as an ‘exclusive’ page lead and science supplement follow up the next day.”
13 Grey Cardigan on the perils of live-blogging. Plus: "Shock horror. I have stopped buying The Sun every day, breaking a habit that dates back to the tabloid relaunch under Larry Lamb. I just feel that it’s lost its joie de vivre, its irreverence and occasional irresponsibility, and is now becalmed in the post-Leveson doldrums."
14 Journalism academic Angela Phillips: We teach ethics but can’t protect against unethical newstooms.
“Teaching ethics is mainly about reminding young people of their own sense of morality and encouraging them to listen to those feelings of unease. Having qualms is a good thing, I tell them. If something feels wrong then it probably is wrong, so stop, take stock and ask yourself if the outcome of what you are about to do really justifies the means?”
16 How a Coventry Telegraph campaign helped save lives. Telegraph health reporter Warren Mangerwrites exclusively for Press Gazette on how one of the paper’s campaign helped save two lives by helping to secure live-saving surgery for two readers.
“Barbara and Michael credit my investigation with saving their lives. I am honoured to have made such a difference for them and their families.”
18 Greek arrest seen as attack on democracy. The arrest of a Greek journalist who published a list purporting to name more than 2,000 wealthy citizens dodging tax through Swiss bank accounts has been condemned as an attack on the “very soul of democracy and justice”.
“Journalism is revealing the truth when everyone else is trying to hide it.”
19 Jon Snow, If you ask me: “If we journalists are to cut it in the Golden Age, we need to be straight, and we need to toil for trust. I hate it when I get something wrong. I feel I have failed – I feel physically wounded.”
24 Axegrinder: As the Daily Mail currently leads the fightback against state regulation of the press it still remains the title you are most likely to find on the proverbial naughty step.
“Where had the photographer hidden? That’s one nice camera, it’s right up in my face, but the street was empty.”
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
