An Inquiry Into The Culture Practices And Ethics Of The Press

The main report is available separately (HC 780, ISBN 9780102981063).

Ethics and Media Culture straddles the practical and ethical issues of contention encountered by journalists. The book's various contributors cover a diversity of issues and viewpoints, attempting to broaden out the debates particularly in relation to Journalism Studies, Cultural Studies, Sociology of Culture and Communications, Philosophy and History.The debate concerning media ethics has intensified in recent years, fuelled mainly by the standards of journalist and media practices. The role of practitioners has taken centre-stage as concerns over what constitutes ethical, and therefore socially acceptable practice and behaviour, by the public, practitioners and intellectuals alike. The discursive relationship between the production and consumption of information is central to the debate regarding moral conduct, particularly in light of the commercialisation of the media. Considering that media institutions operate in a climate of intense competition, the value of information and its corresponding quality have begun to be critically assessed in terms of ethical understanding. A degree of open-endedness is maintained in discussions throughout this book, which is intended to engage the reader with the issues raised and determine their own conclusions.

Media independence is central to the organization, make-up, working practices and output of media systems across the globe. Often stemming from western notions of individual and political freedoms, independence has informed the development of media across a range of platforms: from the freedom of the press as the "fourth estate" and the rise of Hollywood’s Independent studios and Independent television in Britain, through to the importance of "Indy" labels in music and gaming and the increasing importance of independence of voice in citizen journalism. Media independence for many, therefore, has come to mean working with freedom: from state control or interference, from monopoly, from market forces, as well as freedom to report, comment, create and document without fear of persecution. However, far from a stable concept that informs all media systems, the notion of media independence has long been contested, forming a crucial tension point in the regulation, shape, size and role of the media around the globe. Contributors including David Hesmondhalgh, Gholam Khiabany, José van Dijck, Hector Postigo, Anthony Fung, Stuart Allan and Geoff King demonstrate how the notion of independence has remained paramount, but contested, in ideals of what the media is for, how it should be regulated, what it should produce and what working within it should be like. They address questions of economics, labor relations, production cultures, ideologies and social functions.

Freedom of expression is a fundamental right at the heart of any democratic society. It is, however, inevitably restricted by other important values, including the right to privacy: the control individuals exercise over their sensitive personal information. The English law, since the enactment of the Human Rights Act 1998, has undergone a tectonic shift in its recognition of this right protected by Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which the Act assimilated into domestic law. The new civil wrong, 'misuse of private information,' now affords greater protection to an individual's 'private and family life, home and correspondence.' The press is, of course, no longer the principal purveyor of news and information. The Internet offers abundant opportunities for the dissemination of news and opinions, including the publication of intimate, private facts. Social media, blogs, and other online sites are accessible to all. Indeed, the fragility of privacy online has led some to conclude that it is no longer capable of legal protection. This book examines the right of privacy from a legal, philosophical, and social perspective, tracing its genesis in the United States, through the development of the law of confidence, and its recent recognition by the Human Rights Act. The English courts have boldly sought to offer refuge from an increasingly intrusive media. Recent years have witnessed a deluge of civil suits by celebrities seeking to salvage what remains of their privacy. An extensive body of case law has appeared in many common law jurisdictions over the last decade, which shows no sign of abating. The Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practices, and ethics of the press, sparked by the hacking of telephones by newspapers, revealed a greater degree of media intrusion than was previously evident. Its conclusions and recommendations, particularly regarding the regulation of the media, are examined, as well as the various remedies available to victims of intrusion and unsolicited publicity. The law is locked in a struggle to reconcile privacy and free speech, in the face of relentless advances in technology. The manner in which courts in various jurisdictions have attempted to resolve this conflict is critically investigated, and the prospects for the protection of privacy are considered.

This book discusses undercover reporting, betrayal and deception in journalism, addressing the ethical issues encountered by professionals when deception is involved and providing an explanation of how high-profile cases have developed. Carson and Muller begin by examining how philosophical theories which form the basis of contemporary ethical codes for journalists, bear upon undercover reporting and questions of deception in the digital age. Drawing upon case studies such as Al Jazeera’s undercover operation against the National Rifle Association in the US and the One Nation political party in Australia, and Britain’s Channel 4 infiltration of Cambridge Analytica, this book goes on to define and discuss the ethical concepts behind deception and betrayal and lays out an original ethical framework for undercover journalists facing related challenges in their work. Undercover Reporting, Deception, and Betrayal in Journalism is an important research text for students and academics in journalism and media studies.

In 2011 there was widespread shock throughout the UK at the revelations of the phone hacking scandal. Accusations were made of extensive criminality in parts of the press and many people spoke publicly about their unfair treatment. This led to the Prime Minister setting up an inquiry into press ethics, chaired by the Rt Hon Lord Justice Leveson. The Leveson Report (ISBN 9780102981063) was published on 29 November 2012 and recommended significant reforms to the regulation of the press. For almost a year there followed parliamentary debate, political wrangling, numerous press articles and commentary on the Report. On 30 October 2013, a Royal Charter on press regulation was granted, which incorporated key recommendations from the Leveson Report, allowing for one or more independent self-regulatory bodies for the press to be established. Any such body would be recognised and overseen by a Recognition Panel, which came into existence on 3 November 2014. Most national newspapers joined the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) which was set up on 8 September 2014, replacing the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). At present no regulatory body exists for the press that complies with the strict requirements for independence from publishers set out by the Leveson Report. The recommended steps have not been taken to establish satisfactory whistleblowing arrangements for journalists to speak out, or to set up an arbitration system for early resolution. The system of press regulation allowed for by the Royal Charter is new and the arrangements put in place by the industry through IPSO do not meet all the criteria of the Leveson Report and the Royal Charter.

Media & Entertainment Law presents a contemporary analysis of the law relating to the media and entertainment industries both in terms of its practical application and its theoretical framework, providing a broad and comprehensive coverage of these fast changing branches of the law. Fully restructured to complement how media law is taught today in the digital age, this third edition explores recent updates in the law including the outcomes of the Google Spain case and the ‘right to be forgotten’, the use of drones in breach of privacy laws, internet libel and the boundaries of media freedom and press regulation following the Leveson inquiry. Media & Entertainment Law uses the most up-to-date authorities to explore privacy and confidentiality subjects, such as the Prince Charles 'black spider' letters, the Maximilian Schrems and the celebrity superinjunction PJS v Newsgroup Newspapers cases. The book also covers defamation, contempt of court and freedom of information, plus Scots law. New to this edition: A brand new chapter is dedicated to exploring technology and the media, including contemporary issues such as the dark web, the surveillance state, internet censorship and the law and social media, including bloggers, vloggers and tweeters. The chapters on regulatory authorities have been expanded to provide greater clarification and explanation of broadcasting, press and advertising regulation, including the protection of journalistic sources and comparisons with EU Law. The chapter on intellectual property and entertainment law has been streamlined to match media law courses more effectively. This text provides students with detailed coverage of the key principles, cases and legislation as well as a critical analysis of this vibrant subject.