Editors note; This is a repost from December last year and is relevant to the news surrounding the closure of the News Of The World after 168 years. The original article is from a Coventry Conversation by David Yelland (former Editor of the Sun), commenting on phone tapping and hacking which has once again come to light. Sean Carson is the original author of this post.
13.59 – Is there any real news out there? David says you don’t have to find any real news anymore as the advent of reality TV has taken over in terms of a primary source of news. Instant fame will cause a lot of hurt, believes David.
13.54 – PR suits David down to the ground according to him. As a commander of information he is in his element being counsel to clients. Personal integrity in both journalism and PR is key. “Once you’ve lost your personal integrity,” says David, “you’re gone.”
13.52 – David on the Andy Coulson News of the World scandal – As an editor, David can’t believe a fellow editor would not know phone tapping was in action, especially with the rumoured remuneration of £100,000 to a private detective in The News of the World’s case. Anything more than £1000 would have to be signed off by “someone in deep carpet land. It would be impossible for anyone at News International to not know what was going on” says David.
13.48 – Privacy vs press freedom. Should injunctions and super-injunctions be allowed? A sensitive issue believes David, citing the fact that along with the obvious legal issues, the object of a story can take defensive measures and disclose information to rival publications.
