The media on trial
By Ian Dunt
The media is facing its most comprehensive trial for years today, after an influential group of MPs finally released their long-awaited assessment of the industry.
Media coverage of Madeleine McCann’s disappearance, the News of the World phone-tapping scandal and Trafigura’s super-injunction on a parliamentary question all receive critical attention in the report from the Commons culture, media and sport committee.
Comment: We can’t be trusted? Neither can you
Comment: The British media is failing the public
MPs decided the behaviour of the press during the Maddy disappearance represented a distinct slipping of standards as a failure of self-regulation.
The News of the World was also severely criticised for the allegations of phone-tapping at its offices.
Maddy McCann and News of the World stoke MPs’ anger
The committee suggested wholesale reform of the Press Complaints Commission to restore standards, with papers potentially being fined and banned from printing for one day if they break the code.
But in a more supportive section of the report, MPs also questioned the validity of Britain’s current libel laws, suggesting they were reducing the country’s reputation for free speech.
MPs: Libel is destroying free speech
The report called for the costs involved in defending a case to be radically reduced and action to be taken to get rid of Britain’s newfound reputation as a ‘libel tourism’ destination.
Commenting on the attempt by Trafigura to prevent reporting of a parliamentary question referring to the dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast last year, MPs suggested new statutory regulations be brought in to prevent any hindrance to the reporting of events in parliament.
