Resources: Searchable database of the Leveson Inquiry Transcripts

We have, today, added a new resource to the front page of the blog – a new searchable database of the transcripts of the evidence given to the Leveson Inquiry.

This has been produced by mySociety using Sayit, an open source tool for publishing speeches, discussions and dialogues, simply and clearly, online.  As explained on the mySociety blog this can be used either as a hosted service, or it can be built directly into a website, as a Django app.

The database will be an invaluable resource for researching the large volume of oral evidence relating to the conduct of the press, police and politicians which was given to the inquiry over a period of 10 months.

The database does not, however, included the witness statements received in evidence by the Inquiry – including those which were “taken as read” – these can be accessed on the Leveson Inquiry website “Evidence” section.

In addition to the search function, the Sayit tool has produced

• A page showing all the “speakers” whose words are recorded on the Leveson Inquiry transcripts;
• A page showing all the “speeches” – that is, every day of evidence – clicking on the day shows the evidence given on that day in an easy to follow form.

Hat tip to @arusbridger for his tweet drawing attention to this database.