Looking over some of the findings of the Leveson report,-last discussed in American journo-circles as the potential "game-changer" that would destroy Rupert Murdoch's empire- its pretty obvious that conservatives like Cameron were going to hate any perscriptive remedy, and liberals like Miliband were going to demand the document be enshrined along side the Magna Charta.
The Leveson perscription stops short of both freedom and responsibility assuring that new illusions of accountability will still be applied only according to power and influence.
after the oxidized iron rococo cartouche.
The Leveson Report: Key points
*David Cameron rejected the central recommendation of Lord Justice Leveson’s report: that a new press watchdog independent of MPs and newspapers must be backed by new press laws.
*The legislation, as recommended by Leveson, would enshrine a legal duty on the Government to protect the freedom of the press.
*The new watchdog, which would replace the Press Complaints Commission, should be able to levy fines on offending newspapers of up to £1m and have the power to direct the “nature, extent and placement of apologies” in newspapers. Leveson rejected the print industry’s own proposals for regulation.
*The watchdog would create an arbitration system enabling victims of the press to seek redress without the cost of legal action.
*Newspapers that refuse to join the new body could face direct regulation by Ofcom.
*The recommendations split the Coalition. Nick Clegg made clear he is firmly in favour of new legislation. Ed Miliband endorsed the Leveson Report in its “entirety”.
*Leveson criticised the Cabinet Minister Jeremy Hunt and former Scotland Yard officer John Yates.
*Victims of media intrusion broadly welcomed the report. Hugh Grant said he hoped it would “mark the start of a new era for our press”.
The right of individuals to maintain their own public image is still a matter of class and privilege.