Well, we can always turn to the Press Complaints Commission...

It appears that more and more people are complaining about what is and what is not appearing in the newspapers, the emphasis placed up on it and how news is reported on tv with suggestions that 'this just isn't fair'.  Some take up their complaints with the Press Complaints Commission and here are some recent cases

 http://3.ly/pFyt some would say not too serious.



So what is the PCC, under whose jurisdiction does it operate and who funds it ? Well, here lies a story...

For starters I find that "The independent Chairman is appointed by the newspaper and magazine publishing industry" according to the PCC website. Independent ? Really ? Why would the newspaper and magazine publishing industry appoint the Chairman... I can see that such an action would be in their interests... Aaaah, I get it... on further investigation I find that the PCC is funded by... the press ! Yes, the press ! I suppose this is where the term 'self-regulation' comes into reality.

How can it be right that the press can fund a Commission to investigate complaints about the press ? How can the press insist that the only option available to complainants is for them to complain to a body which has been created by the press and is based on a Code which the press drafted. Yes the Commission drafted it's own code - by members of the Press ?  The press of course has access to lawyers to defend their case. Many individuals do not ! And there appears to be no element of appeal ! Here is the editors' code of practice http://is.gd/5UyplF

You'll be comforted to know that the editors' code of practice is periodically reviewed by "a special committee of editors" ! Yes editors ! The Chairman of that special committee I gather, is Paul Dacre from the Daily Mail  http://is.gd/6t1bZ6.  The Chair of the PCC itself is Baroness Peta Buscombe, a Conservative Peer. There's an article relating to her and the PCC here http://is.gd/AZFzCE and it's an interesting little story!

I began to search to find out how and why the PCC was established in the first place. It seems that it replaced a body called The Press Council which was considered not to be fulfilling it's role from what I can gather. So the PCC was formed in 1991. Seems a long time ago and the media and press has changed since those days... one example being that there wasn't the incessant coverage of 24 hour news that we have today. Don't think the 'paparazzi' was around either?   It seems to me, and I know to many, that the press just appear to get away with whatever they wish to write...  Once the headline is there, it's there.  If an apology is ever given it's usually on page 17...  hidden away.  Broadcasters seem to believe that we'll believe anything they spout forth !  That really isn't the case at all...  We've all become media savvy and it's time the press woke up to it !  They treat us as though we've just landed on planet earth...

And finally who is the PCC accountable to ? I'm afraid that is an answer I cannot give as I've not been able to find any reference to the PCC being accountable to anyone but itself !

And if you're really interested here's some further information :
Website of the PCC http://is.gd/TBtOaB.
The governanace of the PCC : An independent review http://is.gd/TBtOaB
er.. who undertook the review ? Hmmm...

This week-end has seen the unfolding of criminal activity that cannot be ignored however much the press would like to ignore it...   The press of course are usually the one's to break the news where unfairness is seen to be playing a part or where criminal activity takes place and is of public interest.  But this story is about them!!   And it has taken months to receive the tiniest smattering of coverage. Now we are beginning to find out why... 

More newspapers appear to have been caught out in the phone-hacking saga - the first person to break this news was a lawyer. Since then others have come forward...  Are people frightened of the press for some reason ?  And let's not forget that phone-hacking is illegal..   This is a very serious matter.  We have No 10 involved, the judgement of the PM, a former Prime Minister who believes his phone was hacked, members of the Royal Family, various celebrities, other Members of Parliament,    Have I left anyone out....   I'm sure there's someone else...  of course, one Mr. Rupert Murdoch, for whom all roads seem to lead  in this issue.   So where does this leave the BSkyB application ?...  Are we really confident that Mr. Murdoch's application should go through without a blink ?  I don't think so..

This week-end has seen news uncover that makes it apparent that 'things have been going on' for a long time. One question that springs to my mind is - who holds the power - and who exactly runs this country ? 

But not to worry - we can always turn to the PCC !





CURSOR DOWN FOR THE LATEST INTERNATIONAL NEWS

As Mr. Murdoch opens his cheque book...

The news has broken this afternoon that News International, has admitted liability in some phone-hacking claims. Some victims will be offered compensation.http://is.gd/00MQKg


What has brought this on ?  Why the sudden offer ?

Neville Thurlbeck, the News of the World’s chief reporter, and Ian Edmondson,  former assistant editor who was recently sacked from News International over phone hacking were questioned earlier this week after presenting themselves at separate London police stations earlier this week. http://is.gd/LUBEqL

But have those arrests prompted this action ?  Well, clearly, it appears that they've admitted guilt at a late stage in the game whilst all the time Murdoch's News International News of the World has consistently denied phone-hacking. However, it is now saying that after robust internal investigations it has found that indeed phone-hacking did take place.  So the one big questions in my mind is : why didn't the police uncover that phone-hacking was rife all those years ago and even more recently in the autumn of 2010 before this third investigation was set in motion after immense pressure as questions were being asked about the Met's failure to get to the bottom of this issue ?  The DPP challenged Yates this week http://is.gd/me03pf. Unanswered questions remain...

This is early days in the breaking news and part of the statement is below. No resignations have been announced from News International.   


"We continue to co-operate fully with the Metropolitan Police. It was our discovery and voluntary disclosure of this evidence in January that led to the re-opening of the police investigation..
With that investigation on going, we cannot comment further until its completion."

Oh so they're really the good guys ! 

Its been dirty and its been rough.  And basically Murdoch is trying to bring this matter to a close using his cheque book...

But is still smacks of cosiness  - who has dinner with whom ? http://is.gd/kP8CXE
Who goes through the back door of No. 10 rather than being upfront and entering through the front door like all other visitors conveying that there might be a hidden agenda...?  http://is.gd/omfFiq   Who's been paid off already to stay quiet and who's been paying the Police ? http://is.gd/6eMPbB     And who's been having dinner with whom ?  Oh I already asked that didn't I ? And so it goes around... anyone would think they were all friends...


And meanwhile The Camerons are on their jollies in Spain and Nick is in charge !  At least it gives No. 10 a bit of thinking time...  A coincidence?  Will something else explode ?  Let's wait and see..

Tom Watson's thoughts : "The scandal is far from over." http://bit.ly/eX7SP6

I also contribute to the blog #pressreform - take a look!   http://t.co/xWCsW0U

CURSOR DOWN FOR THE LATEST INTERNATIONAL NEWS