Professor Steven Barnett is Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster
Professor Barnett has argued that press reaction to Parliament’s proposals are a carbon copy of the scaremongering about Orwellian censorship and the end of press freedom 20 years ago, following equally flagrant breaches of press codes and another independent inquiry under Sir David Calcutt.
He said: “The press were warned then by a Conservative Home Secretary that this was ‘positively the last chance’ for self-regulation. That system failed abysmally as newspapers created a regulator which was run by the industry for the industry and Sir John Major, prime minister at the time, has now admitted that it was a missed opportunity. If David Cameron loses his nerve and skewers the cross-party Charter, we can be absolutely certain that the cycle of abuse will continue.”
Lord Leveson – Appearance eagerly awaited
Looking forward to Lord Justice Leveson’s evidence in front of a Commons select tomorrow, Prof Barnett said: “With the cross-party charter due to be finalised on Friday, this is a fitting time for the author of its key recommendations to be making his first public statements since his report was published.
He will be able to explain to the select committee how the new framework will both protect people from the worst abuses of newspapers while strengthening hard-hitting watchdog journalism which is so essential to democracy. I hope those MPs will acknowledge the extraordinary contribution that Sir Brian Leveson’s report could make to free speech and responsible journalism in Britain, after decades of inaction.”
Professor Steven Barnett is Professor of Communications at the University of Westminster, author of several books on the media, and was called twice to give oral evidence the Leveson Inquiry. Over the last 30 years he has advised government ministers and shadow ministers, given evidence to select committees and has acted as specialist adviser to the House of Lords Select Committee on Communications on four separate enquiries.
His article about lessons from history was published yesterday in the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/professor-steven-barnett/david-cameron-press-charter_b_4062003.html?utm_hp_ref=uk
He can be reached on 07773 310078
