The Press Reform Debate

As a consequence of the phone hacking scandal, the UK press became the focus of a heated public debate. Many questions were asked, and several answers offered. The press had behaved badly and needed to be tamed. But how? Who guards the guardian? How can the press regain its trust? What does this spell for democracy? These were some of the questions asked, as politicians, journalists, the police, the judiciary and other citizens deliberated on how to ensure an accountable press: one that can sustain democracy. Thus, the media became an arena to discuss some of the debates on how to reform the press, if at all. This chapter provides background knowledge on key issues in the debate that followed the News of the World phone hacking scandal. The key issues examined include press freedom, the public interest, privacy, press regulation and media ownership