Editor-in-chief of the Manchester Evening News and Trinity Mirror Huddersfield at time of giving evidence. Was questioned on the Lord Black proposals for self-regulation based on contractual obligations. Decisions on this would not be his responsibility, he said. The decision would be taken by Trinity Mirror's senior management. Gave his view that the relationship with the Press Complaints Commission had worked well for the regional press.
Independent consultant to the police, local authorities, faith groups and private organisations and, at the time of the Inquiry, Public Relations Officer of the Federation of Muslim Organisations (FMO) Leicestershire. Expressed concern that the Inquiry had at that time not fully addressed the negative representation of Muslims in the media. He referred to a report from Lancaster University on the adverse effects of irresponsible and prejudiced reporting in the period 1998-2009.
At the time of the Inquiry, the Newspaper Society represented the regional media industry. The majority of regional newspaper publishers, whether large group or small family-run business, are members of the NS. Told the Inquiry that "self-regulation worked in the regional and local press". No regional title has ever refused to publish an adverse adjudication.
Independent membership organisation for editors at all levels, within national, regional and local publications across all medias, working to protect the freedom of the press. The Society made several submissions throughout the Inquiry and many of its members gave individual evidence. Of particular concern to the Society and the editors it represented was the "Section 40" proposal that would force newspapers to pay the costs of legal action against them, regardless of the merit, if that publisher hadn't signed up to an "approved regulator". At the formal closing of the Inquiry, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock told the house that Section 40 would not go ahead.
Founded 1827. London-based free newspaper, published Monday to Friday. Owned by Russian businessmen Alexander Lebedev and his son Evgeny and edited from May 2017 by former Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne. It is the dominant regional evening paper for London, covering national and international news and City of London finance. Evgeny Lebedev gave evidence to the Inquiry on his perception of the importance of a free press.
The Manchester Evening News is a regional daily newspaper covering Greater Manchester; following its sale by Guardian Media Group in early 2010, it became owned by Trinity Mirror plc. Editor Maria McGeoghan gave evidence that the paper worked to the Trinity Mirror Code of Business Conduct. She gave examples of how that worked in practice and cited examples where the paper had held off publishing information on grounds of privacy.
A multimedia news agency operating in the UK and Ireland, PA Group is a private company with 26 shareholders, most of whom are national and regional newspaper publishers. Jonathan Grun, editor at the time of the Inquiry, gave evidence for PA and said the Association took its responsibilities very seriously indeed. PA had a reputation for speed, accuracy and flexibility and had no political views, he said, adding that all transactions adhere closely to the PCC code of conduct.
Regional evening newspaper based in Wolverhampton and covering the West Midlands and Staffordshire. Adrian Faber had been editor of the Express and Star for 10 years at time of giving evidence and spoke of the culture change that had occurred when the West Midlands Police introduced press officers. Told the Inquiry that relationships were generally good but that the police's aim of "reassuring the public" could be frustrating.
