Exhibit JC42 - The Leveson Inquiry

For Distribution to CPsSome Aspects of Education and Trainingphrased it in his evidence to the Royal Commission on London University(1909-1913)? 7The journalist’s approach to the attitudinal attributes associated withprofessionalism would be, generally, a grudging acknowledgement of therelevance of the majority, although his interpretation of some might differfrom that employed by other professionals. For instance, the journalist willtake his source of ideas from his work but without reference to arecognized body of published theory. Likewise he would assert his belief inservice to the public but, like modern doctors paid via the National HealthService, he would not be against withdrawing his services to support claimsfor higher salary. The journalist would also hold strongly to a belief in selfregulation,sometimes at the expense of the public he professes to serve;an example would be the refusal of the National Union of Journalists tooccupy their places on the old Press Council because of their belief thatonly journalists could fully understand journalists’ problems. The NUJ hasnot participated in the succeeding self-regulatory body, the PressComplaints Commission (PCC), set up in 1991 following the publication ofa report by the Home Office departmental committee headed by Sir DavidCalcutt, to enquire into possible statutory regulation of the industry.As with other professions the journalist would find problems associatedwith the notion of autonomy from the external pressure of clients, as he haslittle direct contact with his readers. He would, however, ascribe to thenotion of autonomy which implied non-interference from non-journalists(vide the Press Council, above), as well as superiors, in determining whatis news, which he would sometimes back with reference to ideas ofobjectivity and detachment, no matter how illusory this is in practice. Inpractice the journalist often plans his story production with pre-conceptionsconcerning what he thinks will please - or pass - his superiors who areusually senior journalists with their own ideas of autonomy? 8 Yet is as wellto remember ’what passes for autonomy in one occupation does not.., inanother. ’39The lack of clarity concerning these professional attributes, as related tojournalism, has complicated the discussion surrounding the question ofeducation (or entry examinations) and made resolution of the resultingconflict more difficult. The difficulties journalists encountered in their effortsto secure a recognizable educational scheme, especially after 1945, turnedtheir efforts to a different level of educational institution, one more gearedto the skills approach. The author believes that the major problem was thelack of something like a Press Institute, a professional forum for debate aswell as education, and the resulting adoption - by both IoJ and NationalUnion of Journalists - of roles, and activities, that more properly belongedwithin the aegis of an Institute, not a trades union or similar body.The Development of Training as distinct from EducationThe discussion so far about university education in England hasrevealed how that process was labelled ’university training’ until well intothe 20 th century; it perpetuated an elitist base for recruitment to its rankswith the philosophy ’of training the pick of youth to be the leaders of the26MOD100051197