Press Regulation ~ View of Journalists

London Evening Standard 23rd October 

Media heavyweights have branded the government’s proposed royal charter for press regulation a “medieval piece of nonsense.”

Speaking at a London Press Club debate last night Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger, Daily Telegraph writer Andrew Gilligan and biographer Tom Bower slammed the plans, saying they posed a real threat to press freedom and the future of investigative journalism.  A draft plan to regulate the press includes powers to impose million-pound fines on UK publishers, demand apologies, and set up a new low-fee complaints system.

It is interesting that the Press Club see a number of threats to investigative journalism - see London Press Club - Can Investigative Journalism survive?

The Royal Charter
was discussed at Law and Lawyers 14th October 2013 - We,  by Our Prerogative Royal... will, ordain and declare as follows ...

The idea of a Royal Charter emerged from within political circles and not from the Leveson Inquiry.  When Sir Brian Leveson appeared before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee he made it clear that the idea of a Royal Charter had never been canvassed at his inquiry.  On this, see Joshua Rozenberg's article in the Law Society Gazette 21st October - Press Regulation: we're stuck, please help.

Uncorrected transcript of evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee by Sir Brian Leveson 10th October 2013.