Leveson Inquiry: Ian Hislop says new press laws not needed

[dipsydoodle]

New laws are not needed to govern the press, Private Eye editor Ian Hislop has told an inquiry into media ethics.

Practices such as phone hacking, paying police officers and being in contempt of court contravene existing laws, Mr Hislop told the Leveson Inquiry.

He said the inquiry should examine why the laws were not rigorously enforced.

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Any inquiry must find out why existing rules and laws were not enforced, he added.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16591790

[tjwmason]

1. Too frequently there is a rush to legislate

Without consideration of whether the failure was of the law or of the enforcement of the law.

There's a delicate balance to be struck here - I hate the way in which the media have turned so much of news into celebrity popularity contests...but at the same time government regulating the actions of the media too closely rings alarm bells with me.

[ikri]

2. I tend to agree

Probably the most important issue is why people haven't been properly investigated when it has been pretty clear to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention that there has been some industrial-scale lawbreaking going on.

A real inquiry into the influence the media has over the police and politicians is past due.