'Freedom of the Press is more important to society than the privacy of individuals'.
Freedom of the press is the freedom of communication and expression. Some people believe that we should have the freedom to say or write what we want about who we want when we want, and so should the press. But what about the privacy we deserve? Though there is no right to privacy in the UK there are laws that relate to privacy. Should everyone be entitled to a private life? The Leveson inquiry is an investigation set up by Prime Minister David Cameron after the News Of The World phone hacking scandal in 2011. The head chairman of the inquiry was Lord Justice Leveson. The inquiry looks into the culture, practice and ethics of the press and journalists. It also looked at the relationship between the press and the police. The future of press self regulation is now under consideration by Lord Justice Leveson.
Freedom of the press allows journalists to uncover the truth about people. Without freedom of the press the public may be trusting people who, quite frankly aren't so trustworthy. for example Paul McMullen said "If there was a privacy law preventing freedom of the press we wouldn't catch politicians cheating and lying. This information is in the public interest". Over the years the tabloid newspaper press has become more and more intrusive into peoples lives. They believe they have the right not just to expose corruption and incompetence in high places but reveal scandalous stories about the private lives of the famous.
Though there is no right to privacy in the UK there are laws that relate. The Human Rights Act 1998 suggests that 'Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, home and his correspondence. There are a number of people connected to the Leveson inquiry who believe that they have had their privacy breeched. For example: The parents of Milly Dowler. Milly Dowler was a 13 year old girl from England who was abducted in 2002. The News Of The World hacked into her voicemail messages which gave her family false hope that she may still be alive and listening to her voicemail. This resulted in ruining lives and it is morally wrong. Milly's body was later discovered by mushroom pickers in a woods in Hampshire. The press will go to extreme lengths to uncover any information about people. Steve Coogan said 'Journalists use freedom of the press as a smokescreen to get away with reporting peoples private life.'
I have mixed views on the statement 'Freedom of the Press is more important to society than the privacy of individuals.' I think that if you private life isn't hurting anyone and is just in the public interest then it should stay private. For example: The Max Mosley case. Max was photographed in a brothel, he has doing nothing illegal, and therefor this information should have stayed private. If there is something that is in the public interest for example: David Cameron was caught gambling, this should be reported on because it changes the fact wether he should be trusted as Prime minister.
Though there is no right to privacy in the UK there are laws that relate. The Human Rights Act 1998 suggests that 'Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, home and his correspondence. There are a number of people connected to the Leveson inquiry who believe that they have had their privacy breeched. For example: The parents of Milly Dowler. Milly Dowler was a 13 year old girl from England who was abducted in 2002. The News Of The World hacked into her voicemail messages which gave her family false hope that she may still be alive and listening to her voicemail. This resulted in ruining lives and it is morally wrong. Milly's body was later discovered by mushroom pickers in a woods in Hampshire. The press will go to extreme lengths to uncover any information about people. Steve Coogan said 'Journalists use freedom of the press as a smokescreen to get away with reporting peoples private life.'
I have mixed views on the statement 'Freedom of the Press is more important to society than the privacy of individuals.' I think that if you private life isn't hurting anyone and is just in the public interest then it should stay private. For example: The Max Mosley case. Max was photographed in a brothel, he has doing nothing illegal, and therefor this information should have stayed private. If there is something that is in the public interest for example: David Cameron was caught gambling, this should be reported on because it changes the fact wether he should be trusted as Prime minister.
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