Leveson Enquiry

Leveson Inquiry                                                                Poppy George

The Leveson Inquiry aims to provide the latest information on the inquiry, including details of hearings and evidence to the public and other parties who are interested.  A wide variety of people including newspaper reporters, management, proprietors, policemen and politicians of all parties will give evidence and be involved.  It is important because it is going to look at the phone hacking and other illegal behavior and look at recommendations for a more effective policy which supports the freedom of the press whilst encouraging high ethical standards.

I think the press have been out of order and have gone too far.  They have intruded people’s lives, such as with the Anne Diamond case where they had to travel abroad, to Australia for the birth of their second child because of the ‘horrendous experience’ with the journalists after the birth of their first child. Firstly, everyone has the right to privacy, especially during such an emotional time as a baby being born, but secondly for the press to employ a Australian photographer, who then took a photo of her relaxing in her back garden oversteps the mark, showing Anne had no privacy at all. There is however, a very fine line as celebrities know the media are going to follow them, and know that their lives are basically part of the public’s entertainment anyway. Celebrities are paid an astonishing amount of money, however they expect for this to fit around them, and for them to be able to choose when the photos are taken, whereas if they were always fully made up and portrayed in a positive view then this would not be as entertaining for the public eye.