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Press victims' letter tells Rupert Murdoch of 'regret' over regulation Press victims' letter tells Rupert Murdoch of 'regret' over regulation
(about 3 hours later)
Victims of press intrusion, including the parents of Madeleine McCann, Christopher Jefferies and Hugh Grant, have written to Rupert Murdoch expressing their "deep regret" that his UK newspapers are rejecting "meaningful reform" of industry regulation.Victims of press intrusion, including the parents of Madeleine McCann, Christopher Jefferies and Hugh Grant, have written to Rupert Murdoch expressing their "deep regret" that his UK newspapers are rejecting "meaningful reform" of industry regulation.
In a letter to Murdoch, executive chairman of News UK parent News Corp, and the rest of the company's board, they accused the Sun, Times and Sunday Times publisher of attempting to "preserve the failed [press regulation] arrangements of the past".In a letter to Murdoch, executive chairman of News UK parent News Corp, and the rest of the company's board, they accused the Sun, Times and Sunday Times publisher of attempting to "preserve the failed [press regulation] arrangements of the past".
They also accused News UK of "leading a disreputable campaign of scaremongering" about the government-backed proposals for a new press self-regulator underpinned by royal charter, while failing to reflect the views of the majority of the British public, who they claimed back this system.They also accused News UK of "leading a disreputable campaign of scaremongering" about the government-backed proposals for a new press self-regulator underpinned by royal charter, while failing to reflect the views of the majority of the British public, who they claimed back this system.
"We write now to express our deep regret that the management of News UK is turning its back on an important opportunity to restore trust," the letter states."We write now to express our deep regret that the management of News UK is turning its back on an important opportunity to restore trust," the letter states.
"In defiance of an exceptionally broad consensus of opinion in the UK about the best way for the press to proceed, News UK is rejecting meaningful reform of the UK self-regulatory system and attempting to preserve the failed arrangements of the past."In defiance of an exceptionally broad consensus of opinion in the UK about the best way for the press to proceed, News UK is rejecting meaningful reform of the UK self-regulatory system and attempting to preserve the failed arrangements of the past.
"Worse, News UK is leading a disreputable campaign of scaremongering while failing to reflect the majority view in its papers. You once said, Mr Murdoch, that newspapers had 'a great power for evil' – the power to withhold important information from the public. News UK papers are currently exercising that power.""Worse, News UK is leading a disreputable campaign of scaremongering while failing to reflect the majority view in its papers. You once said, Mr Murdoch, that newspapers had 'a great power for evil' – the power to withhold important information from the public. News UK papers are currently exercising that power."
News UK, along with most other newspaper and magazine publishers, is backing a rival self-regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which is expected to be up and running by June. However, the royal charter-backed alternative system endorsed by the three main political parties only exists on paper.News UK, along with most other newspaper and magazine publishers, is backing a rival self-regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which is expected to be up and running by June. However, the royal charter-backed alternative system endorsed by the three main political parties only exists on paper.
The letter was sent to the News Corp board in New York on Tuesday by Jefferies, the man wrongly linked to the murder of Joanna Yeates who won libel damages from eight papers, on behalf of 20 signatories, with the backing of Hacked Off, the group campaigning on behalf of victims of press intrusion for stricter industry regulation.The letter was sent to the News Corp board in New York on Tuesday by Jefferies, the man wrongly linked to the murder of Joanna Yeates who won libel damages from eight papers, on behalf of 20 signatories, with the backing of Hacked Off, the group campaigning on behalf of victims of press intrusion for stricter industry regulation.
Other signatories include Kate and Gerry McCann, Grant, Steve Coogan and former Formula One governing body president Max Mosley.Other signatories include Kate and Gerry McCann, Grant, Steve Coogan and former Formula One governing body president Max Mosley.
The letter has also been sent to a number of US politicians.The letter has also been sent to a number of US politicians.
A spokesperson for News Corp said: "Not one UK publisher has agreed to seek recognition under a royal charter for a new regulator of the press. More than 94% of the industry, left and right, tabloid and broadsheet, local and national have signed up to Ipso (the Independent Press Standards Organisation) which will come into being this June."
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