View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Alex Thomson: TV reporting affected by Leveson as well

By William Turvill

Channel 4 News chief correspondent Alex Thomson believes the post-Leveson environment is affecting broadcast journalism as well as newspapers.

He said there is a “sense of trepidation” in television journalism at the moment, with broadcasters feeling more pressure in the current political climate.

Thomson, who was this year named television journalist of the year at the Royal Television Society awards, claimed that the “alleged misdemeanors” of newspapers have been taken as a “blueprint” for the whole of the media industry.

“Television journalism almost behaves at the moment as if we were in the dock over Leveson as well,” he said last week at the Frontline Club.  

“There is an extraordinary kind of reticence… there is a lot of fear around. I mean, the lawyers are playing a big, big part in the process.”

He added: “There is this sense of trepidation… A sense that in some way, oh, do we need to get our house in order?

“And should we do this and we think… four times about doing stuff when maybe we should think just two or three times.”

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly dose of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how Progressive Media Investments may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network