As some of you may be aware, the government is currently consulting on the implementation of the Leveson Inquiry and section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.

Said section 40 is a draconian piece of law that, if commenced, would see newspapers who will not sign up to a government approved regulator forced to pay the costs of any libel cases brought against them regardless of whether they are found guilty or not. Such court cases have the potential to bankrupt publications, leaving the door wide open for the press to be bullied into submission by those with the money to bring such a case.

Frankly, it is ludicrous that this is even being consulted on, and it would mark the end of our centuries-old tradition of the free press that we are lucky enough to take for granted. It is among the most important pillars of a free, liberal democracy, and it matters to all alike, no matter what your political orientation and views.

I urge anyone who believes in the free press to submit a response to the consulation. The consultation is open until the 10th January - all you need to do is call on the government to repeal section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 and you reponse must be logged.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultation...ementation

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Press Policy, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 4th floor, 100 Parliament St, London SW1A 2BQ

Consultations get bombarded by special interest groups so every voice counts.  Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
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You say free press but we as the public have a right honest news not made up stuff, or news created by sting operations. if free press means they can write what ever they want then I dont want to read it.

These papers dirtied their own nests, either they sign up to a regulator or there on their own sounds fair to me. its not like they havn't been warned time after time to clean up their act.
the whole truth and nothing but the truth

And can we see see people making important announcements without 20 camera flashes in their faces, let them say what they have to say unimpeded, then take the photographs. At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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Do you believe there is anybody in the world who can determine if everything is truthful? Would you sign up to let somebody censor your own speech? It's all very well meaning, of course; it's just that that isn't the way the world works, so we have to have freedom from censorship. What one person thinks is objective fact is not the same as another, so we have to hear both.  Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
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The press have made this situation for themselves and I suspect they are now worried about profits falling in their 'free' press.

Many, and I dare say a significant majority of, journalists have made no such mess, but even if some had, that the world is not perfect is not a reason to do damage, and that the press is their for their own interest does not mean that it is not in the interest of others too.  Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
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yes a journalist cant always be sure that what he writes is 100% true, fair enough but the actions of some has spoilt it for the many yet again.

free speech is a flawed concept sadly

can I ask unbiasedly are you in the news business? At work
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"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

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Zero connection.

Free speech is flawed in what way? Freelander 2 2007 TD4 Manual HSE Tambora Flame
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Err ... it's not free!, there are too many things these days you simply cannot say for a variety of reasons.

flawed because some journos repeatedly use the free speech get out, to say what ever the hell they want,

Free speech in a pub situation is ok because if you talk crap people just move to the other end of the bar, In a newspaper its different , people buy the paper to be updated and informed with facts not untruths.

I respect most journos and like to believe what I read, I am not happy when I find what I read turned out to be untrue, As then when I repeat the facts in the pub it turns me into a liar, making people move to the other end of the bar (again before anyone else says it ) At work
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When hacks stop inundating every public sector organisation with FOI requests that are costing the taxpayers millions to respond to their reputation might improve.

How else are the press going to find out that the politicians promises don't match their rhetoric if they don't submit FOI requests?

For example, the SNP are always banging on about how the public should use public transport while they themselves never use public transport unless its for a publicity shoot. Why should the likes of Hugh Grant and Max Mosley be so keen on Press reform? How about the scandal of MPs expenses? None of this would have seen the light of day if the Press had not exposed it. While the Press is far from perfect, they appear at least to have tried to put their house in order unlike our elected representatives.

This sums up the press for me  Do it now ! Your a long time dead !!

That Denzel clip is brilliant. The press deserve a good kicking they pander to the lowest common denominator for one reason and one reason only , profit. 2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

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Don't generally buy newspapers because of all the cr@p/miss informed stuff they come out with.


I was involved in an incident a couple of years back that made the national news and not a single newspaper reported accurately.
but then again nor did the TV or radio.

The point is that this act could quite easily destroy what remains of good investigative journalism in this country because papers will be afraid to print anything controversial for fear of having to pay massive legal costs (and I mean massive) even if they are found to have printed the truth.

We will be left with nothing but 'advertorials' and celebrity gossip.

I for one will be registering my opposition.