At the time of the Inquiry, Battle was Head of Compliance at Independent Television News (ITN), having worked as a lawyer in broadcasting since 2001. He previously worked at the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Today newspapers.
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".
Journalist and editor of the Daily Mail at time of giving evidence. Was also editor-in-chief of DMG Media, which publishes the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, Metro, the Mailonline website and other titles. Dacre was a member of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) from 1999 to 2008, leaving to chair the PCC's Editors' Code of Practice Committee. After giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry about his views on regulation, he was later recalled to answer accusations made against the Mail by actor Hugh Grant.
General Manager of News International at time of giving evidence. Lewis had been Editor of the Daily Telegraph from 2006 to 2010, having been appointed at the age of 37, making him the youngest Telegraph editor in its history. Credited with exposing the MPs expenses scandal, which he has said he had a duty to make public. Refused to answer questions at the Inquiry about a leak from the Telegraph to the BBC about Business Secretary Vince Cable's concerns over the acquisition of BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch.
Political Editor of the Mail on Sunday at time of giving evidence. A Lobby member since 1983, Walters previously worked at The Sun and Sunday Express. In 2013, he was Political Journalist of the Year, the third time he had been given the accolade. One of the stories commended was his revelation that Lord Leveson had "threatened to quit" over criticism from a Cabinet Minister. Another concerned text messages between David Cameron and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks revealing that the Government would resist calls arising from the Leveson Inquiry for tougher press legislation.
Editor of the Mail on Sunday at the time of the Inquiry. Wright joined the Daily Mail in 1979, working on various desks before becoming Deputy Editor and then Editor of the Mail on Sunday in 1995. He told the Inquiry that there was strict demarcation between the editorial and commercial functions of the Mail on Sunday and that he felt no commercial pressure. He also said that he would ask a reporter for the source of any story likely to be contentious and that he learnt during the Operation Motorman inquiry that MoS staff were using "inquiry agents", a practice that was subsequently banned.
Originally founded in 1905. National newspaper and website publisher, now known as DMG Media. Owners of titles such as the Daily Mail, MailOnline, the Mail on Sunday, Metro, Wowcher and Teletext Holidays, with an estimated annual revenue of £931m.
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.
Labour MP for Rhondda. Member of the Commons Media Select Committee, where he raised concerns about News International journalists making payments to police officers. Bryant told the Inquiry that, shortly after this, his phone was hacked by the News of the World and Bryant was reported by several papers to have used a gay dating site. In 2012, he received £30,000 damages from NI.
Picture editor of the Mail on Sunday at the time of Inquiry, having previously worked on Today and the News of the World. Described procedures and code of practice followed by the picture desk. Outlined the picture sources used and said she personally reviewed most of the 20,000 pictures that came in each day. Stated that she had never sought intrusive snatched pictures of Charlotte Church and that the MoS had not commissioned pictures of Kate McCann.
Councillor in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets since 2006 and leader of the opposition Conservative Group on the council since 2007. Previously Golds served as a councillor in the London Borough of Brent between 1990-1998.
Journalist, theatre critic and political sketch-writer at the time of giving evidence, writing for The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and The Oldie, and previously for The Times. Told the Inquiry that he had not intended to give evidence since he had been commenting daily on proceedings. However, he offered his thoughts on the difference between "gallery reporters" and "the Lobby" and expressed his opinion that in journalism there was a perfectly ethical place for sketch-writing, despite its bias and subjectivity.
Editor of the Sunday Express at time of giving evidence. Described corporate governance and editorial procedures. Had previously worked as showbusiness editor of the Mail on Sunday's You magazine and as editor of OK!. He stated that he had never been involved in, or knew of, any "computer hacking" in the organisation.
English journalist, editor of The Mail on Sunday and former editor of Tatler and the London Evening Standard publications. Appointed editor of the Daily Mail in 2018.