At the time of giving evidence in 2011, Bailey was Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror publishers, a post to which she was appointed in 2003. Following allegations of hacking, Bailey launched an investigation into the ethics and procedures in place within Mirror Group's publications, she told the Inquiry. In 2012, following substantial drops in circulation and profits, she was asked by Trinity Mirror to resign. During her time at the Mirror, she told the Inquiry in 2011, authorisation of payments, expenses and the costs of pursuing stories were delegated to editors of the Mirror titles. The use of private investigators was banned after the convictions of Clive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire. She was asked what she would know of stories pre-publication, replying that she would have been told, for example, of a famous model's alleged use of cocaine, or a politician's affair, "so that they would not come as a surprise" to her the next day.
Baroness Buscombe is an English barrister and politician and a Conservative member of the House of Lords. She was Chief Executive of the Advertising Association from 2007 to 2009 and served as Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission from 2009 to 2011. At the time of giving evidence she was still Chairman but her successor had been appointed. Buscombe spoke of inadequate political support for the PCC and lack of support from the industry. She also believed that the issue of rights and privileges of journalists required careful analysis.
Former chief executive of Security Industry Authority industry, the private-security industry regulator, from 2009 until his retirement in 2015. Previously held post of director of corporate services at the Gambling Commission.
Former senior British police officer and Chief Executive of the College of Policing since January 2018. HM Inspector of Constabulary from 2014-2017. Received Queen's Police Medal in the Queen's 2013 New Year’s Honours. Gave evidence on counter-corruption work including the role of the media.
Former Chief Executive of the Independent Police Complaints Commission and Deputy Chair of the homelessness charity Crisis until 2016.
Journalist and Director of the English Centre of International PEN at the time of the Inquiry, who presented evidence on PEN's behalf. In the wake of the Leveson hearings, he was a major force behind setting up IMPRESS as an independent press regulator and became its first CEO.
Author, journalist, broadcaster. Gave evidence as Chief Executive of Index on Censorship at the time of the Inquiry. Freedom of expression was as important as press freedom, he said. "Reporting is no longer the exclusive reserve of the mainstream but also of independent bloggers and whistleblowing sites."
CEO of Telegraph Media Group at the time of the Inquiry, he stepped down in 2017 to become deputy chairman of the group. Told the Inquiry that the Telegraph was a strong supporter of the Editor's Code of Practice which "sets the benchmark for ethical standards, protecting both the rights of the individual and the public's right to know". It was the cornerstone of the system of self-regulation to which the industry has made a binding commitment, he said.
Mockridge gave testimony as Chief Executive Officer of News International Group Limited, the role previously held by Rebekah Brooks, and provided information on several newspapers, including The Times and The Sun. Questioned about Rupert Murdoch's views on self-regulation of the press. Told the Inquiry that having only been in the UK a few months (he was previously in New Zealand and Australia) he was of the view that British press freedoms were envied by many around the world.
Former Managing Director of Independent Print Limited (IPL). Mullins gave evidence to the Inquiry on the values of IPL after its purchase of The Independent and Independent on Sunday, which were to be free from political bias and free from proprietorial influence.
British-American businessman, younger son of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and at the time of the Inquiry Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, International of News Corporation. He was asked to detail his role in the process by which News Corp sought to expand its holding in BSkyB in 2010 and the part played in that process by government decision-making.
Chief Executive of the Advertising Standards Authority, UK regulator of ads in all media at the time of the Inquiry, and responsible for executing the ASA's strategy to make ads responsible, including through the development of regulatory policy. Outlined for the Inquiry how investigation of complaints, enforcement activity and the system's communications, marketing, public affairs and research activities worked in practice.
At the time of the Inquiry, Richards was Chief Executive of Ofcom, the independent regulator for the communications industry in the UK, stepping down in 2014. He told the Inquiry that he thought any proposal for editors to be part of a new regulatory board, as proposed by Lord Black, would not work. Previously worked as a senior policy adviser to Prime Minister Tony Blair, and before that as Controller of Corporate Strategy at the BBC.
At the time of the Inquiry, Thompson was Director General of the BBC. He said in evidence that in the wake of the emergence of phone hacking at the News of the World newspaper, he had ordered a wide-ranging review of BBC practice, including whether staff at the BBC had engaged in phone hacking, made improper payments to police and made any use of private investigators. He concluded that no BBC staff had been involved in such activities.
Chief Executive Officer of Object, a human-rights organisation set up to challenge the sexual objectification of women and girls in the media. Heeswijk argued that the Inquiry had a unique opportunity to put the hyper-sexualisation of women on the reform agenda.
Chief Operating Officer in Europe of Microsoft search engine Bing at the time of the Inquiry. Gave evidence on the feasibility of pulling down links in cases of invasion of privacy and on protection, licensing and litigation of intellectual property rights. Also answered questions from Lord Leveson on whether systems were able to filter defamatory material.
At the time of the Inquiry, Chief Executive of A&N Media, the consumer media operation of DMGT plc, which includes Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, Mail Online and Metro. Told the Inquiry that as Chief Executive he had no editorial functions since the editors had complete editorial independence and high ethical and professional standards went hand in hand with the commercial objectives of the newspapers.
Director-General of the BBC from January 2000 to January 2004, a position from which he resigned following heavy criticism of the BBC's news-reporting process in the Hutton Inquiry (into the circumstances surrounding the death of David Kelly). Credited with introducing 'tabloid' television to British broadcasting and reviving the ratings of TV-am. Held chief executive positions at LWT Group, Pearson Television and Channel 5. Gave evidence to the Inquiry of the ethical procedures in place during his time as Director-General including the use of hired investigators and undercover operators.
Former CEO of Trinity Mirror. Deputy Chair of Ofcom and Chairman of the Ofcom Content Board at the time of the Inquiry, Graf was also a member of Ofcom's Remuneration Committee and the Radio Licensing Committee. He was Chief Executive of Trinity Mirror Group when the company merged with the Mirror Group in 1999, a position he held until February 2003.
Chief Executive Officer of ITN at time of Inquiry. Asked to provide comprehensive details of corporate governance and editorial practice at ITN.
