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.