Leveson inquiry.

The Leveson inquiry is an investigation into the culture, practice and ethics of the press. It looks at how journalists collect their information. A number of celebrities and other people have taken part/given evidence to the inquiry such as Ashley Cole and Charlotte Church. David Cameron set up the investigation after newspaper 'The News Of The World' were found to be phone hacking. Lord Justice Leveson is the chairman of the inquiry.

It is important to investigate the link between the press and other organisations such as police and the government because if the relationship was two strong between the two the public may not be getting all they need know. The press could start covering up stories for the government etc in order to get inside information. For example: The Press could cover up the fact that several Police officers has been seen gambling in conjunction for some inside information on a current story in the news. Another reason the press can't have a close relationship with the government is because newspapers might be bias about the government. The effects model suggests that the media inject ideas into the audience and that we can be easily minipulated. This could work in the governments advantage because newspapers can sway the public's ideas on who to elect as prime minister etc.

Freedom of the press is freedom of communication and expression in media text and electronic media. The idea is that the press will be able to say what they want, when they want. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights states "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinions with interference, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers". Journalists like Paul McMullen say that freedom of the press is a right they should have. He backs up his argument by saying that if we didn't have freedom of the press we wouldn't be able to pass out stories which are in the public interest.

Media Law And Ethics.

Write Up.

-What is a code of practice and why do journalists have to abide by it?
The code of practice is a set of rules that all journalists and newspapers etc have to abide by. We have to abide by these rules so that nothing offensive is printed, so that the audience can be protected, to stop the audience from being offended by things that are printed and to protect employees and organisations.

-The PCC- Who are they? What do they do?
The PCC are a group called the Press Complaints Commission. The PCC is an independent body which administers the system of self -regulation for the press. The PCC lay down the code of practice by dealing with complaints within the terms of the editors code of practice about the content of newspapers, magazines etc. They decide which complaints need to be looked at and enforced.

-What is meant by the terms 'interesting to the public' and 'in the public interest'? Give examples of both.
Interesting to the public: When something is known as interesting to the public it means that we don't actually need to know it. It is just gossip about a person/group of people which some people may find intersting. For example: Katie Price marries for the third time.
In the public interest: When something is known as in the public interest it means that the public need to know the story. Maybe because of our health/safety etc. For example: Tesco Value burgers contain horse meat.