MP outlines much-needed media reforms

Bishop Auckland MP Helen Goodman, Labour’s shadow media minister, outlines reforms that she would implement.

WHEN I discovered that there was a risk that the Zurbaran paintings in Auckland Castle might be sold, the first people I got in touch with were The Northern Echo.

Without the campaign run by the paper, which stood up to threats of legal action, we would probably have lost these treasures.

Here we have a prime example of the free press standing up to a powerful institution in the pursuit of truth.

But last week we heard the testimony of the McCanns before Lord Justice Leveson.

Kate and Gerry McCann give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry

A tale of physical intimidation, bullying and harassment – photographers banging on the car windows as Kate McCann tried to take her two-year-old twins to nursery; a phone call from the editor of the News of the World on the anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction to harangue them for not talking to his paper, and lies written that they, for legal reasons, were barred from challenging.

It is a terrifying and sickening story of the abuse of power.

So we need a completely new settlement, which enables journalists to continue in their important work of uncovering the truth while respecting the other rights of ordinary people who are the subjects of stories.

These rights include the right to privacy, the right to a fair trial and the right of reply.

Currently there are two systems for seeking redress from the press in the UK. The first is the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) – a committee of laymen and newspaper editors who adjudicate when people make complaints against a code which the editors themselves have written.

The PCC can request editors to apologise or print corrections – that is all.

The second system is the law: you can sue the papers for libel and other breaches. If you win, you may get a printed correction and substantial damages. The problem is that like the Ritz, the law is an option only for the super rich.

The cost of pursuing a libel case is £25,000 and takes upwards of six months. The Government is currently taking a Bill through Parliament that will end the no-win, no-fee option that the parents of Milly Dowler – who were victims first of murder, then of phone hacking – used to pursue The News of The World.

Bob and Sally Dowler give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry

This is deeply unjust. This is why I say we need a completely new system.

Politicians understand the value of free speech. I have no desire to sit in the office of the editor of The Northern Echo, Peter Barron, with a big red pen striking out articles I disagree with. But it is clear now that we need a radical rethink.

I believe the new system must pass seven tests:

1 No one can be above the law. I was shocked (as I’m sure many readers of The Northern Echo will be) recently to hear the managing editor of the Sun ask for an exemption to the Bribery Act for newspapers.

The editors’ code needs to be rewritten to be in line with the law. For example; we now have laws against age discrimination, but the editors resist including this in their code.

2 Any complaints system must be quick and easy to use. Currently this is not the case. If you feel you have been wronged by a newspaper, you must state precisely which rule you think has been broken.

But if you want to complain, say about hospital treatment, you just write a letter saying what went wrong – you don’t get involved in weeks of legislative wrangling.

3 Financial compensation should be available to all whose complaints are upheld as being serious and not be dependent on having enough money to finance a legal case.

4 Decisions should be taken by an independent committee. It should not include any serving editors or journalists currently on the payroll of a media organisation.

The press has repeatedly said that because it is central to democracy, it should have no independent supervision. This is nonsense. MPs are central to democracy but after the expenses scandal, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority was set up, which does not include any serving members of Parliament.

5 Every paper needs management systems to ensure that their employees follow the new rules. Some have this already – the Financial Times, the Mirror and the BBC. All are effective media organisations in which people have confidence. None have become slow or incapable of investigative journalism. It is pathetic to listen, as I have, to James Murdoch spend two hours telling the Media Select Committee he does not know what went on in the phone hacking scandal. For goodness sake, he was paid $17m to run the papers.

6 It may also be necessary for the new body to undertake investigations where it believes there is a systematic problem. It should have a duty to report law breaking to the police and the power to issue fines.

7 The rules should cover all publications which claim VAT exemption. At the moment, newspapers can opt out of the PCC, as the Express has done. Some people in the industry are suggesting that for joining in a new tougher system they should get more tax breaks. This is extraordinary – so after uncovering a web of corruption and unethical behaviour, this sector of the economy should be rewarded with further tax breaks? I wonder what every other businessman in the land would make of that?

None of what I suggest would prevent journalists or others from expressing freely their opinions or reporting the news. But it would restore some balance.

Freedom of expression does not bring a licence to pursue or acquire stories using any means available, regardless of legal or moral considerations.

Recently, a local journalist rang me up. She had discovered an old lady who was not being properly cared for. “I could write up a story about what a scandal this is,” she said, “but I think it’s more important to try first and sort out the problem.”

She was demonstrating something which the high-powered media moguls have clearly forgotten: their stories are about people, not “subjects”.

This closeness to communities gives a sense of responsibility and accountability to the local newspapers. So if you’re feeling disillusioned with the nationals, try reading your local paper instead.