http://www.cpbf.org.uk Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom News Feed en-us Copyright 2008, CPBF gherman@KeywordsAssociates.com (Gary Herman) webmaster@cpbf.org.uk (Gary Herman) http://www.cpbf.org.uk/images/cpbflogo.gif http://www.cpbf.org.uk 88 31 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2719 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2719 DATELINE: 18/5/12 The planned publication of a communications green paper has been put on hold until after Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, has given evidence to the Leveson inquiry and dealt with accusations that he favoured News Corporation in its negotiations to buy all of BSkyB. Those close to Huntand#39;s Department for Culture, Media and Sport say the communications green paper, which will set out the governmentand#39;s initial policy thinking in areas as diverse as internet piracy, public service broadcasting and spectrum allocation, has largely been written but is now unlikely to be published until autumn at the earliest. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2718 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2718 DATELINE: 17/5/12 The high court has ruled that news broadcasters including the BBC and Sky News do not have to hand over footage of the Dale Farm eviction to police. In a ruling handed down at the high court this morning, Mr Justice Eady said broadcasters did not have to disclose unbroadcast footage of the eviction to the police.The judge said that the police need clear evidence of criminality when applying for production orders against the media. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2717 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2717 DATELINE: 15/5/12 Alastair Campbell has rarely missed an opportunity to launch a demolition job on journalism and in the second round of his evidence to the Leveson Inquiry he was given free rein to go back onto the attack: he claimed David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband were all getting andquot;disproportionately whackedandquot; by the press in retaliation for having given their backing to Lord Justice Levesonand#39;s investigation into media ethics. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2716 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2716 DATELINE: 15/5/12 Rebekah Brooks and her husband, Charlie, are being charged with perverting the course of justice as part of the phone hacking inquiry. She was arrested on 13 March as part of the Met Policeand#39;s Operation Weeting. In a statement, they accused the CPS of andquot;posturingandquot; and said: andquot;We deplore this weak and unjust decision.andquot; The couple will become the first suspects to be charged in an inquiry lasting 18 months and involving 185 police officers and staff. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2715 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2715 DATELINE: 13/5/12 Having been disadvantaged so often by the ability of the Murdoch press to deliver politically-inspired exclusives, I found Rebekah Brooksand#39; testimony to the Leveson Inquiry a telling confirmation of what I and most other journalists had always suspected: the Sun and the News of the World had no scruples when it came to exploiting the privileged access which their editors enjoyed in return for the political endorsement of their papers. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2714 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2714 DATELINE: 13/5/12 David Cameronand#39;s former spin doctor Andy Coulson gave an assured account of himself before the Leveson inquiry into press standards andndash; he certainly avoided giving any incriminating answers about the way the coalition government dealt with News Corporationand#39;s controversial bid for full control of BSkyB. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2713 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2713 DATELINE: 12/5/12 The Government has downgraded its radical proposals to overhaul the lobbying industry in one of a series of U-turns contained in the Queenand#39;s Speech. The creation of a statutory register of lobbyists is expected to be included in next yearand#39;s Queenand#39;s Speech andmdash; but only in draft form, signalling that it could be years before any actual change is introduced. This is despite the priority that David Cameron attached to reforming lobbying, which he called the andquot;next big scandal waiting to happenandquot;. http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2712 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2712 DATELINE: 9/5/12 Index Against Censorship has welcomed the announcement that a defamation bill is being included in the coalition governmentand#39;s new legislative programme. According to Index: and#39;This will be the first wholesale attempt at reform since 1843 and an amazing achievement for the campaign and its 60,000 supporters. The bill will open the way to ending libel tourism and protecting free expression for journalists, writers, bloggers and scientists around the world. However, there is still work to be done and we will carry on fighting to make sure that the detail in the final Bill will truly deliver reform.and#39; http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2711 http://www.cpbf.org.uk/body.php?id=2711 DATELINE: 9/5/12 This week we are likely to see yet more drama and revelations in the saga that is the Leveson Inquiry as the prime ministerand#39;s former spin doctor Andy Coulson and former Sun editor and horse owner Rebekah Brooks take the stand. You may be starting to tire of the blanket coverage but please donand#39;t switch off just yet. There are big issues at stake.