politics.co.uk podcast: Press regulation or press freedoms?

Friday, 18 November 2011 6:23 PM

Our latest podcast looks at the press regulation debate, now very much underway as the Leveson inquiry into media culture and ethics begins its work, and the risks of refusing to hold a referendum on Europe.

Alex Stevenson Follow @alex__stevenson presents the second in a series of weekly podcasts, running until Christmas, looking at issues making the headlines. If you have any ideas about what we should be reporting on, please drop us a line at alex.stevenson@politics.co.uk.

Our main feature looks at the pressures faced by Britain as we begin a nationwide debate over the role of the press in society. Such is the fallout from the phone-hacking scandal that a crackdown of some kind seems inevitable. MPs are keen to ensure that the Press Complaints Commission is strengthened - but there are concerns from some quarters, especially from overseas, about whether the UK might go too far in shackling its media.

This week we spoke to Labour backbencher Michael McCann, who raised media regulation in the Commons back in April, before the phone-hacking scandal broke; Lib Dem MP Adrian Sanders, a member of the culture, media and sport select committee; and journalist Adel Darwish, who covers British politics for Middle East newspapers.

Our second feature is an interview with Mark Seddon, the director of the People's Pledge campaign which is calling for a referendum on Europe.

Tags:
• journalism
,
• leveson inquiry
,
• media
,
• phone hacking
,
• podcast