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Celebrities urge press to accept charter regulation plan Celebrities urge press to accept charter regulation plan
(about 1 hour later)
John Cleese, Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling, and Victoria Wood are among 200 performers, writers and academics calling on newspapers to agree to the Royal Charter on press regulation.John Cleese, Sir David Attenborough, JK Rowling, and Victoria Wood are among 200 performers, writers and academics calling on newspapers to agree to the Royal Charter on press regulation.
They have added their names to an advert from campaign group Hacked Off.They have added their names to an advert from campaign group Hacked Off.
Its declaration says the charter, published a year ago, safeguards newspapers from political interference.Its declaration says the charter, published a year ago, safeguards newspapers from political interference.
But the industry is setting up its own regulator. It says it fears the charter may allow outside control of the press.But the industry is setting up its own regulator. It says it fears the charter may allow outside control of the press.
Proposals to change the existing system of press regulation emerged following the phone-hacking affair and subsequent Leveson Inquiry into the ethics and practices of newspapers.Proposals to change the existing system of press regulation emerged following the phone-hacking affair and subsequent Leveson Inquiry into the ethics and practices of newspapers.
The Royal Charter was finally agreed by all three main political parties last October. It follows many of the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry and proposes the Press Complaints Commission be replaced by a regulator with greater powers.The Royal Charter was finally agreed by all three main political parties last October. It follows many of the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry and proposes the Press Complaints Commission be replaced by a regulator with greater powers.
The tycoon Sir Richard Branson; actors Peter Capaldi, Michael Palin and Miranda Hart; comedians Rory Bremner and Stephen Fry; Professor Richard Dawkins and writer Salman Rushdie; film director Danny Boyle; playwrights Sir David Hare and Sir Tom Stoppard, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams are among the other signatories to the advert backing the charter.The tycoon Sir Richard Branson; actors Peter Capaldi, Michael Palin and Miranda Hart; comedians Rory Bremner and Stephen Fry; Professor Richard Dawkins and writer Salman Rushdie; film director Danny Boyle; playwrights Sir David Hare and Sir Tom Stoppard, and the former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams are among the other signatories to the advert backing the charter.
'Nothing to lose''Nothing to lose'
It appears in several newspapers and magazines and says a "free press is a cornerstone of democracy.It appears in several newspapers and magazines and says a "free press is a cornerstone of democracy.
"It has nothing to lose, and can only be enhanced, by acknowledging unethical practice in its midst and acting firmly to ensure it is not repeated.""It has nothing to lose, and can only be enhanced, by acknowledging unethical practice in its midst and acting firmly to ensure it is not repeated."
The declaration signed by the celebrities adds that "editors and journalists will rise in public esteem when they accept a form of self-regulation that is independently audited on the lines recommended by Lord Justice Leveson.The declaration signed by the celebrities adds that "editors and journalists will rise in public esteem when they accept a form of self-regulation that is independently audited on the lines recommended by Lord Justice Leveson.
"It is our view that this Charter safeguards the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable.""It is our view that this Charter safeguards the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable."
The new regulatory body being set up by the newspapers - the Independent Press Standards Organisation - will have similar powers to impose fines on newspapers for breaches of a standards code to those being proposed by the Royal Charter. The new regulatory body being set up by most of the national newspapers - the Independent Press Standards Organisation - will have similar powers to impose fines on newspapers for breaches of a standards code to those being proposed by the Royal Charter.
But it has been criticised by groups such as the Media Standards Trust for not being sufficiently independent of the big newspaper groups.But it has been criticised by groups such as the Media Standards Trust for not being sufficiently independent of the big newspaper groups.
However, the BBC's media correspondent David Sillito says the newspapers are unlikely to agree to any oversight by the committee proposed by the Royal Charter that seeks to ensure the standards laid out in the Leveson Report.However, the BBC's media correspondent David Sillito says the newspapers are unlikely to agree to any oversight by the committee proposed by the Royal Charter that seeks to ensure the standards laid out in the Leveson Report.
Gerry McCann, father of missing Madeleine McCann, has also added his name to the declaration.Gerry McCann, father of missing Madeleine McCann, has also added his name to the declaration.
He said: "Given the strong public support for Leveson it is not a surprise that all these eminent writers, film-makers, investigative journalists and other leading figures from the creative industries, are backing it.He said: "Given the strong public support for Leveson it is not a surprise that all these eminent writers, film-makers, investigative journalists and other leading figures from the creative industries, are backing it.
"But it is very gratifying that they are prepared to stand publicly with the victims of press abuse and call on the newspapers to comply with the Royal Charter.""But it is very gratifying that they are prepared to stand publicly with the victims of press abuse and call on the newspapers to comply with the Royal Charter."