Phone-hacking: UK tabloid reviews editorial practice -Governance Now

Phone-hacking: UK tabloid reviews editorial practice

Trinity Mirror, which announced review of its editorial controls, publishes the mass circulation Daily Mirror, People, and Daily Record tabloids, besides 160 regional newspapers across Britain

PTI | July 27, 2011

After Rupert Murdoch's News International received flak for dubious news gathering practices at its titles, another British tabloid group - 'Trinity Mirror' - has announced a review of its editorial controls and procedures.

The review has been announced amid allegations that phone hacking was not confined to the Murdoch-owned News of the World. Trinity Mirror publishes the mass circulation Daily Mirror, People, and Daily Record tabloids, besides 160 regional newspapers across Britain.

The six-week review is being led by Trinity Mirror's group legal director Paul Vickers and will include all of the group's national and regional newspapers, the company said. Former Daily Mirror reporter James Hipwell has claimed that hacking was widespread at other newspapers, including the Mirror.

A separate report on BBC alleged the use of phone hacking and private detectives was widespread at the Sunday Mirror. Trinity Mirror described both sets of allegations as "unsubstantiated", saying its journalists "work within the criminal law and the Press Complaints Commission code of conduct". A company spokesman said: "We can confirm that we're conducting a review of editorial controls and procedures."

The Daily Mail & General Trust, another major tabloid publisher, ruled out an internal review into phone hacking, with chief executive, Martin Morgan, saying that:"I have received assurances that we have not published stories based on hacked messages or sources obtained unlawfully. We have strong processes and procedures right across the group."

The BBC said it had found evidence of possible hacking at the Sunday Mirror. The BBC's Newsnight programme has spoken to a journalist who worked on the Sunday Mirror in the past decade who claimed to have witnessed routine phone hacking in the newsroom.

The source said celebrities including actress Liz Hurley and footballer Rio Ferdinand were targeted and the technique was used on a daily basis.

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