Born 1957. Journalist and author and former press secretary to Tony Blair as Leader of the Opposition (1994-97) and as Prime minister (1997-2000). From 2000-2003, he was director of communications for the Labour Party (2000-03). Before 1994, he had been political editor of Today newspaper and the Daily Mirror. Campbell gave detailed testimony on the political media and what he saw as the decline of genuine investigative journalism and the increasing tendency of owners, editors and senior journalists to wish to be political players. Embellishment and pure invention were tolerated and encouraged by some editors and owners, he said.
Editor of MailOnline, the website of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, at the time of the Inquiry. Previously Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail, Clarke had also held editorial positions at the Daily Mirror, Scottish Daily Mail, The Scotsman and the Irish Mail on Sunday. Giving evidence to the Inquiry, he defended some web stories that had been criticised by detailing sources and defended other claims, such as that "racism is hard-wired in the human brain", by reference to original sources. Clarke told the Inquiry that "news speaks for itself".
Actor, comedian, victim of phone hacking by the News of the World and a leading figure in legal actions against the newspaper. He told the Leveson Inquiry that "lurid" details of his private life appeared in the News of the World after he was set up by that paper's former editor. Coogan gave extensive evidence of intrusive stalking and photographing by the Daily Mirror and Sunday Times. He said he had witnessed journalists rummaging through his rubbish bins. He had also been the victim of several kiss-and-tell stories and detailed how the women in question had been fooled and sometimes bribed into giving stories. At the heart of the problem, he thought, was the lack of accountability on the part of the editors and owners.
Chief Crime Correspondent of the Daily Mirror, having worked on national papers and TV since 1992. Also Chairman of the Crime Reporters' Association and an Associate Lecturer at the Police Staff College at Bramshill, Hants. Gave evidence on the CRA and its function in promoting understanding between police and journalists.
Editor of Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror at time of giving evidence. A promotion later in the same year (2012) made him editor-in-chief of the Trinity Mirror group. Asked how the proposals for press regulation as set out by Lord Black would impact on his group, Embley said they would continue changes already underway.
Journalist, writer and campaigner. Hipwell worked on the Daily Mirror's financial column City Slickers, offering financial news, gossip and share tips. In February 2000, he was fired following allegations that the "Slickers" had been giving tips about companies in which he held stock. He was charged, convicted and imprisoned for financial criminal activity. He told the Inquiry that he had witnessed phone-hacking at the Mirror.
A retired schoolteacher, Jefferies was landlord to Joanna Yeates, who was murdered in Bristol in December 2010. Jefferies was the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for which he sued and received damages.
A consultant cardiologist from Leicestershire whose daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in May 2007. Dr McCann, his wife Kate and their holiday companions were the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for some of which they sued and received damages.
A Leicestershire doctor whose daughter Madeleine, aged three, disappeared during a family holiday in Portugal in May 2007. Dr McCann, her husband Gerry and their holiday companions were the subject of multiple libels in national newspapers, for some of which they sued and received damages.
British journalist and television personality. Morgan began his journalism career in Fleet Street as a writer and editor for several tabloid papers, including The Sun, the News of the World and the Daily Mirror. In 1994, he was appointed editor of the News of the World by Rupert Murdoch. He later edited the Daily Mirror, and was in charge during the period that the paper was implicated in the phone-hacking scandal. He told the Inquiry that he took ethics very seriously and was then questioned on the ethics of paying for and publishing details of the discarded bank statements of Elton John.
Award-winning journalist working for the Daily Mirror at the time of the Inquiry. Was asked to give evidence on his coverage of the murder in 2010 of Jo Yeates in Bristol and the arrest and subsequent release without charge of Christopher Jefferies, specifically on the consideration given to issues of public interest.
Investigative journalist working for the Daily Mirror. Since 1997, Penman has written a column, originally called Sorted, with various name changes and co-authors over the years, exposing consumer rip-offs and scams run by businesses or individuals. The column has won many awards. Penman gave the Inquiry a detailed account of his methodology, which includes notifying those he writes about before publication.
Daily Mirror's Crime Correspondent at the time of the Inquiry, having begun his career in 2001 as a reporter for Hackney Gazette. Answered questions on the relationship between media and the police, in particular via the Crime Reporters Association [qv], giving his opinion that, since phone hacking allegations at News of the World, the culture seemed to be marked by uncertainty on the part of the police. He also answered questions on expenses procedures at the Mirror.
Journalist at the Daily Express. Pilditch covered the disappearance of Madeleine McCann in Portugal in 2007. His evidence at the Inquiry criticised Portuguese privacy laws, which forbade anyone talking to the media, leading, said Pilditch, to a “fatally flawed investigation”. Pilditch said journalists were under pressure to find new information. The McCanns received £500,000 compensation from the Daily Express over libellous coverage of the story.
Chief reporter at the Sunday Times, having worked for the newspaper since January 1998. Prior to this, Ungoed-Thomas worked as a general news reporter on the Daily Mirror and the Daily Mail. Described his relationship with the Metropolitan Police on stories such as the 7 July 2005 bombings and a child-trafficking story. His contact involved no hospitality beyond a coffee. He noted increasing trend to channel information through press offices rather than by direct contact.
Editor of the Daily Mirror at the time of giving evidence and until 2012. Described the ethos of the paper and its 110-year history. Told the Inquiry of its post-war support for Labour and of the various campaigns it had supported. Said that he took personal responsibility for the ethics of the paper and that every effort was made to correct errors.
Editor of the Sunday Mirror at the time of giving evidence, a role she had held for 10 years. In addition, she had been a member of the Press Complaints Commission since 2008. Gave detailed evidence of corporate governance at the Sunday Mirror and how the paper ensured lawful, professional and ethical conduct. Was asked to give details of a film made by Chris Atkins called "Starsuckers", a hoax set up to investigate whether tabloid newspapers would be willing to offer money for confidential medical records. Questioned about the film, Weaver made it clear that the Sunday Mirror had been approached but had never considered purchasing such material.
Former Daily Mail picture editor, and picture editor of the Daily Mirror at the time of the Inquiry. Down was asked about Mirror Group Newspapers' policies on acquiring pictures and on digital faking of pictures. He told the Inquiry that the MGN picture desk would deal with tens of thousands of pictures a day. Staff or commissioned photographers would be expected to follow MGN codes of conduct, he said, adding that digital faking would not be acceptable but was increasingly hard to detect.
Journalist and former Political Editor of the Mirror Group and Readers’ Editor of the Daily Mirror. At the time of giving evidence was a trustee of Headliners, an organisation which helps disadvantaged young people through journalism. Seymour had also worked at the Daily Mail. He told the Inquiry that the newsroom culture had changed since he started out in journalism in 1964.
Former Editorial Legal Manager for Telegraph Media Group Limited, having retired in 2011. Over his vast career, Davies served a total of 12 national newspaper editors including the Daily Mirror and the Sunday People.
