Lord Leveson published his report today. It ran to 1,987 pages and no, I must confess I haven't read it. Nor, I suspect have the vast majority of us. We're having to rely on the press to tell us all about it
- the same press which is the subject of the report, of course.
Lord Leveson is a judge, a legal man through and through. So it's not surprising that he sees a legal solution to all that has been
shown to be rotten about some elements of the media. But on a day when a much-anticipated report focuses on the excesses of some journalists, we hear of the success of the campaign to release Danny Nightingale - a campaign strengthened enormously by
the power of the press.
We need a free press. I fear that the legal remedy proposed by Lord Leveson will only assist those with the money and influence to take a case through the courts. And the lawyers,
of course.
My first job was as a journalist. I am sad that my early profession has been so discredited by the actions of a few. The remedy surely lies in the hands of the media - because the freedom
of the press comes at a price and that price is accepting responsibility, acting with integrity, standing up for the oppressed and not kow-towing to the powerful.
Lord Leveson won't make that happen.
Who will?