The Edi ' - The Leveson Inquiry

For Distribution to CPs
~ onsideration of the public interest, a core themeth~ough much The Code Committee has been quick to react, with the
of the Code, is seldom more important than here. There is often introduction of new measures to prevent abuse. They include wide
a fine line to be drawn at the point where genuine investigative ranging curbs on intrusive activity unless it can be demonstrated to
journalism ceases and intrusive reporting begins. The public interest be in the wider public interest. They cover:
iscrucialinjudgingwhethertheendsjustifythemeansanddeciding ~ Hacking ~ i i into digitally ~ i - held private i i mformatfon ~ ;
whether undercover was merely underhand.
~ The use of hidden cameras;
....
The speed of technological renovation puts this area constantly
into the public spotlight, with concerns over the misuse of private
~ Interception of mobile phones
’
tex~ messages and emails"
’
Bugging ar electronic eavesdropping"
data and the use oT
....
inquiry agents or others to circumvent the Code
The use of agents or intermediaries to obtain matedal intended
ano ERe la~
for publication.
Additional y, the PCC and the newspaper and magazine industry
have launched their own initiatives to ensure that both the Code and
the law -- such as the Data Protection Act and the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act -- are properfy observed fSee £~r;efin~L~
undercover reDortera filmed guests at a orivate party for people
working on the "IV soap Emmerdale was upheld after the PCC
roundly rejected the newspaper’s exnlanatton that the ,aurnalista
might have discovered people benavmg in a way which would have
justified eublication )n the oublic interest. That would have given
newsoaoers carte blanche to intrude on any private gathering of
high profile figuras, said the Commiseion. ~/~’/~ v fvews of !the W~ "~
~teDo,,~ 53 200f
Seeking or ~inding? The Code’s rules apply to pre-publicetion news
gathering as much as to publication iteett It would be a breecl"
simply to seek malaria! that was against the Code, or to engage in
misrepresentation or subterfuge -- even if nothing was published
.......................................................
legitimate public interest woutd be served
However, there is a distinction to be made between information
which a newspaper or magazine has sought or obtained itself, or
has commissioned, and that which comes unsolicited via a leak
or from a whisttebtewer, perhaps. The newspaper might not know
the 0rovenance of documents obtained in this way but could stdl be net DnVata life= It might have been very different.