The Leveson Inquiry is a public inquiry into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press following the News International phone hacking scandal. The inquiry, set up by UK Prime Minister David Cameron in July 2011, has investigated claims of phone hacking at the once best-selling UK Sunday newspaper News of the World (which ceased publication on 10 July 2011) and has reviewed the general culture and ethics of the British media.
Lord Leveson opened the inquiry on 14 November 2011, saying, “The press provides an essential check on all aspects of public life. That is why any failure within the media affects all of us. At the heart of this Inquiry, therefore, may be one simple question: who guards the guardians?”
The inquiry will make recommendations on the future of UK press regulation consistent with maintaining freedom of the press and ensuring the highest ethical and professional standards. Lord Leveson will publish his report on Thursday 29 November 2012.
“Who guards the guardians?” is our Spundge notebook focusing on the current debate arising from the Leveson inquiry about the need for and/or the dangers of press regulation. The debate is implicitly about press regulation in any Western democracy, not just in the UK.
Who guards the guardians?
press regulation, Lord Justice Leveson, press uk