Leveson Round-Up: A New Compact for the Press?

Push came to shove this week in Court 73. The UK newspaper industry outlined to the Leveson Inquiry the initial proposals of its last-ditch pitch for reform of self-regulation. The press, understandably, want to retain some control over their regulation, and Lord Hunt, as chair of the Press Complaints Commission revealed that newspaper publishers offered him a ‘blank sheet of paper’ on which to develop proposals to save self-regulation. Since he was appointed last October, discussions have been going on behind the scenes to develop a beefed-up framework including a ‘contractual’ basis for an “Authority” to replace the PCC, and his proposals have the support of the press industry.