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Leveson inquiry: Lawyer says media 'self-serving' Leveson inquiry: Lawyer says media 'self-serving'
(40 minutes later)
The lawyer for 51 alleged victims of press intrusion has told the judge-led inquiry into media practices the whole press stands in the dock.The lawyer for 51 alleged victims of press intrusion has told the judge-led inquiry into media practices the whole press stands in the dock.
Lord Justice Leveson is examining the media's culture, practices and ethics and if its self-regulation works.Lord Justice Leveson is examining the media's culture, practices and ethics and if its self-regulation works.
David Sherborne said the press had a "self-serving agenda" and accused it of buying, stealing and making up stories.David Sherborne said the press had a "self-serving agenda" and accused it of buying, stealing and making up stories.
"The press have a very powerful voice and should not be able to drown out the voice of the victims.""The press have a very powerful voice and should not be able to drown out the voice of the victims."
Mr Sherborne said the experience of his clients was "primarily and largely" at the tabloid or popular end of the press but "it is the whole of the press that stands in the dock".Mr Sherborne said the experience of his clients was "primarily and largely" at the tabloid or popular end of the press but "it is the whole of the press that stands in the dock".
"While there are 51 core participant victims there are many more with similar stories.""While there are 51 core participant victims there are many more with similar stories."
"The press is a powerful body. They have a common interest and a self-serving agenda... this is about survival.""The press is a powerful body. They have a common interest and a self-serving agenda... this is about survival."
Mr Sherborne said the media had tried to influence politicians and persuade them that less regulation would make journalism better.Mr Sherborne said the media had tried to influence politicians and persuade them that less regulation would make journalism better.
But he said: "A number of individuals have already been vilified for agreeing to share their experiences with this inquiry."But he said: "A number of individuals have already been vilified for agreeing to share their experiences with this inquiry."
  • href="15756249 - Leveson inquiry: Early signs of judge's thinking" >Early signs of judge's thinking
Mr Sherborne said police had pointed to over 2,000 tasks relating to the News of the World (NoW) in notebooks belonging to Glenn Mulcaire - the private investigator jailed in 2007 for illegally accessing the voicemails of royal aides for the tabloid.Mr Sherborne said police had pointed to over 2,000 tasks relating to the News of the World (NoW) in notebooks belonging to Glenn Mulcaire - the private investigator jailed in 2007 for illegally accessing the voicemails of royal aides for the tabloid.
He said this suggested that over the four years the notebooks covered, each edition of the tabloid could have had around 10 stories a day based on phone hacking "even leaving aside the other dark arts practiced by the newspaper".He said this suggested that over the four years the notebooks covered, each edition of the tabloid could have had around 10 stories a day based on phone hacking "even leaving aside the other dark arts practiced by the newspaper".
He said the newspaper's stories were built on "manifestly unholy and indefensible ground" and the number of stories "must surely raise questions about who knew what and what level".He said the newspaper's stories were built on "manifestly unholy and indefensible ground" and the number of stories "must surely raise questions about who knew what and what level".
He said regardless of what those in senior posts knew at the time, there was a concerted attempt later "to conceal the ugly truth from ever surfacing".He said regardless of what those in senior posts knew at the time, there was a concerted attempt later "to conceal the ugly truth from ever surfacing".
'Tangled web''Tangled web'
Mr Sherborne said what had since unfolded had little to do with News Corporation newspapers "coming clean of their own accord".Mr Sherborne said what had since unfolded had little to do with News Corporation newspapers "coming clean of their own accord".
The "tangled web" that had subsequently been spun, he said, had "revealed at the very least that someone somewhere is not telling the truth".The "tangled web" that had subsequently been spun, he said, had "revealed at the very least that someone somewhere is not telling the truth".
Hacking victims were not always well-known people, he said, but were sometimes just involved with or friends of those in the public eye.Hacking victims were not always well-known people, he said, but were sometimes just involved with or friends of those in the public eye.
Such victims were "the collateral damage in a war where every means - fair or foul - has been employed".Such victims were "the collateral damage in a war where every means - fair or foul - has been employed".
Mr Sherborne alleged the NoW had also targeted other journalists "albeit broadsheet ones". "The press are even prepared to turn on their own."Mr Sherborne alleged the NoW had also targeted other journalists "albeit broadsheet ones". "The press are even prepared to turn on their own."
Mr Sherborne said that Sara Payne, mother of murdered girl Sarah Payne, had been told her phone - given to her by the NoW - was probably hacked by Mulcaire.Mr Sherborne said that Sara Payne, mother of murdered girl Sarah Payne, had been told her phone - given to her by the NoW - was probably hacked by Mulcaire.
That alleged hacking was "a sickening postscript, perhaps a new low" for the newspaper, he said.That alleged hacking was "a sickening postscript, perhaps a new low" for the newspaper, he said.
Mr Sherborne added that the parents of murder victim Milly Dowler - whose phone was allegedly hacked by the NoW - would both give evidence to the inquiry.Mr Sherborne added that the parents of murder victim Milly Dowler - whose phone was allegedly hacked by the NoW - would both give evidence to the inquiry.
Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger told the inquiry it was important it looked at the 18 months after News International's "so-called rotten apple excuse" had exploded.Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger told the inquiry it was important it looked at the 18 months after News International's "so-called rotten apple excuse" had exploded.
Mr Rusbridger referred to "dogs that didn't bark", asking why it took four inquiries before phone-hacking allegations were taken seriously.Mr Rusbridger referred to "dogs that didn't bark", asking why it took four inquiries before phone-hacking allegations were taken seriously.
He said the events leading up to Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry had been "shocking and immensely damaging".He said the events leading up to Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry had been "shocking and immensely damaging".
"There was, in short, a failure of the normal checks and balances in society to hold power to account.""There was, in short, a failure of the normal checks and balances in society to hold power to account."
Mr Rusbridger asked whether News International's influence had been too dominant: "Did people both internally and externally feel a fear of News International?"Mr Rusbridger asked whether News International's influence had been too dominant: "Did people both internally and externally feel a fear of News International?"
'Relentless' pressure'Relentless' pressure
Earlier, National Union of Journalists head Michelle Stanistreet said journalists face relentless pressure to deliver stories but that cutbacks diminished the ability to generate quality journalism.Earlier, National Union of Journalists head Michelle Stanistreet said journalists face relentless pressure to deliver stories but that cutbacks diminished the ability to generate quality journalism.
She described the pressure on journalists to deliver stories as "relentless", saying: "Such pressures lead to shortcuts and can result in the abandoning of fundamental principles."She described the pressure on journalists to deliver stories as "relentless", saying: "Such pressures lead to shortcuts and can result in the abandoning of fundamental principles."
She added that editors "ruled the roost" in newsrooms and imagining them as "mere bystanders" was "fanciful to say the least".She added that editors "ruled the roost" in newsrooms and imagining them as "mere bystanders" was "fanciful to say the least".
Lord Justice Leveson told the hearing he was "starting to get to grip with solutions that work for everybody".Lord Justice Leveson told the hearing he was "starting to get to grip with solutions that work for everybody".
He said he would like to see some sort of mediation system that ran in parallel to the courts.He said he would like to see some sort of mediation system that ran in parallel to the courts.
Prime Minister David Cameron established Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry after revelations that the voicemail of Milly Dowler may have been hacked by the NoW while the schoolgirl was missing.Prime Minister David Cameron established Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry after revelations that the voicemail of Milly Dowler may have been hacked by the NoW while the schoolgirl was missing.
Live video of all the inquiry sessions is being streamed on the inquiry's website.Live video of all the inquiry sessions is being streamed on the inquiry's website.
After the conclusion of the police investigation into NoW phone hacking, and any resultant prosecutions, a second phase of the inquiry will examine the extent of unlawful conduct by the press, and the police's initial hacking investigation.After the conclusion of the police investigation into NoW phone hacking, and any resultant prosecutions, a second phase of the inquiry will examine the extent of unlawful conduct by the press, and the police's initial hacking investigation.