Leveson and Media Policy: A Lost Opportunity?

Setting up a judge-led inquiry into press standards had a number of advantages when compared to previous government-appointed Royal Commissions on the press, government appointed reviews such as Calcutt, and Parliamentary Committee Inquiries. Lord Justice Leveson’s Inquiry enjoyed genuine operational independence from both press and government, and legitimacy from all sides of the debate. This was hugely important at a time when there was widespread loss of trust in the ability of politicians to deal with powerful media interests. The Inquiry also had a very high standard of proof and a forensic approach to evidence, and could summon witnesses for cross-examination. And the inquisitorial court setting provided a perfect live-streamed theatre for public catharsis following the trauma of multiple failures of legal and democratic checks and balances.