The Leveson Inquiry was a significant judicial public inquiry into the practices and ethics of the British press following the News International phone hacking scandal in 2011 and the interview with Ian Hislop during the proceedings was one of the most defining of the case. It’s an inquiry that’s seen a vast array of people ranging from questionable journalists to celebrities and editors brought in for public questioning and while they all contributed to the eventual report recommending sweeping changes to the way the press undertake their investigations, Hislop’s responses during the hearing are among the most influential.
With the likes of Steve Coogan talking brilliantly in previous weeks it felt like the Leveson Inquiry had already had its final word, but that changed when Ian Hislop’s interview broke on the 17th January 2012, giving new fire to the motion for change. While the cultural aspect of the inquiry is touched upon, alluding to the need to change the mindset of the people in charge of newspaper storylines, it’s the laws and policing that surround this that form key points in the interview.
The videos are here for you to see, so you can make up your your own mind, but clearly his points are simple, and it’s a compelling case he puts forward. Firstly, he talks about the idea that the laws needed to govern the press and media are already in place, making statutory regulation unnecessary. When phone tapping, contempt of court and police bribes are already illegal, surely it’s not more legislation that’s needed, but more rigorous enforcement of the laws on unethical press and media activity.
This leads on to his second main point, which is to suggest that the lack of rigorous enforcement came about as a result of the relationship that was built up between the police and News International and the involvement between politicians and senior News International people. If the law enforcers have an unethical or unhealthy relationship with the very people and organisations that break the law then this is probably the area that needs to change.
Issuing his hope for a Leveson inquiry interview with the current Prime Minister, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to explain their part during the escalation of unethical activity, it’s clear that Ian Hislop is putting the case forward for the ongoing protection of a free and fair-practice press. Maybe there are more words to come from the Leveson inquiry, especially if high ranking government officials are are ever called into question, but in Ian Hislop’s interview the true final words might already have been spoken. Shame about that hat he wears though.
