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Tag: Des Freedman (Page 2 of 3)

The wider significance of Peter Oborne’s resignation – Des Freedman

February 19, 2015 / / 2 Comments

ObornePeter Oborne’s resignation statement as chief political commentator of the Telegraph has touched a nerve for a whole number of reasons.

First, simply because of its rarity. Very few journalists are confident enough to speak out against their employers or to refuse to write stories that they don’t agree with. Richard Peppiatt’s resignation from the Daily Star on the basis of its sexist and anti-Muslim coverage was an extremely unusual case of a journalist publicly outing his bosses. Continue reading

The Meaning of the Hacking Trial, a free press would be a really good idea – Des Freedman

June 27, 2014 / / 2 Comments

Press on SaleWhen asked what he thought of western civilisation, the Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi replied that ‘I think it would be a great idea’. The verdicts handed down from the phone hacking trial together with the information contained during the eight months at the Old Bailey suggest pretty much the same thing. We need a free and fearless press because we certainly don’t appear to have one now. Continue reading

Five reasons why Ed Miliband’s flirtation with the Sun was a disaster – Des Freedman

June 18, 2014 / / 1 Comment

Miliband%20SunEd Miliband’s decision to pose with a copy of the Sun’s World Cup special that was delivered to households across the country is outrageous on so many levels.

First, it is smacks of desperation. Miliband claimed he was showing support for the team and not the newspaper but who will believe him? Hitching your electoral fortune to making peace with the Murdoch empire is about as sensible a strategy as depending on an England victory in the World Cup. Continue reading

Four more years to wait for media plurality – Des Freedman

February 5, 2014 / / 1 Comment

Des FreedmanThe House of Lords Communications Committee has just published  its report into media plurality and few media moguls will be losing much sleep tonight. In its 82 pages, the Committee describes the issue very well – in terms of the need both to provide citizens with a proper range of information and to break up undue concentrations of power – but steps back from taking immediate or decisive action. Continue reading

A Year after Leveson: Has British press cleaned up its act? – Des Freedman

December 1, 2013 / / 1 Comment

LevesonOne year ago, Lord Justice Leveson delivered his damning report on the “culture, practices and ethics” of the British press. Called into action following the revelations of widespread phone hacking at the best-selling (and now defunct) News of the World tabloid, Leveson concluded that sections of the press “had wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people whose rights and liberties have been disdained.” Continue reading

Opinion: The press can’t decide if they’re for press freedom or against it – Des Freedman

October 18, 2013 / / 0 Comments

Press on SaleWeekends are supposed to be for calm reflection of the week that has passed and some rest before the challenges of the week to come. Not this last weekend where dozens of articles appeared in our newspapers raging against the ‘licensing’ of the press in the light of the proposed Parliamentary Royal Charter on press self-regulation, marking the next stage in a peculiar struggle for liberty that is led by some of the most privileged voices in the country. Continue reading

Opinion: The Daily Mail knows all about ‘hate’ – Des Freedman

October 4, 2013 / / 1 Comment

Mail and MilibandIf any single article demonstrates the abuse of press power, the Daily Mail’s hatchet job on Ralph Miliband, the father of Labour leader Ed Miliband, has got to be right up there with the best of them. The Mail has now twice run an article accusing Miliband Senior of ‘hating Britain’ based on the latter’s disgust at the class privilege and old boys’ networks that he saw running the country. Continue reading

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