Lib Dems want huge fines against media chiefs who break conduct codes

Party to debate media laws at conference after demands for new newspaper code in wake of phone-hacking scandal Heavy fines large enough to change media executives’ behaviour should be imposed on errant newspapers by a new independent press regulator, the Liberal Democrats are to propose. An emergency motion, due to be published on Wednesday and discussed at party conference next week, calls for the fines to be large enough to act as a real deterrent, and change the culture of newspapers in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at News International. The fines would be imposed on newspapers that breached the terms of a new newspaper code. They would also be required be put corrections in more prominent positions than at present. In line with proposals from the information commissioner, the Lib Dems are also proposing that reporters found guilty of breaching the Data Protection Act on unlawfully obtaining material should be subject to custodial sentences. A previous attempt to make journalists liable to prison sentences was blocked following strong private lobbying by newspaper groups. Nick Clegg’s party is also proposing that competition authorites should be able to intervene on issues of media plurality not just at the point of a takeover, but also when a newspaper group is gradually increasing its shareholding in a company or its market share. The Lib Dems regard the phone-hacking scandal as one of the issues on which they can claim to be apart from the other two main parties, since they have always had strained relations with News International titles. The motion – which is certain to be passed – will give the party probably the most developed policy of the main three on future media ownership laws. The party is keeping an open mind on whether the new regulator superceding the Press Complaints Commission should be statutory, but recognises that a regulator with powers to impose large fines will probably need some form of legislitive backing. One model being examined by the Liberal Democrats is to follow the example of solicitors, where the Legal Services Board has legal powers to oversee the work of the Solicitors; Regulatory Authority, which is appointed by the Law Society and capable of fining solicitors or striking off firms. The conference motion deplores the “illegal and intrusive behaviour of those journalists and private investigators who have been complicit in phone hacking, especially where the bereaved or victims of crime have been targeted”. It also condemns “the gradual erosion of safeguards on media plurality and independence over the last 30 years, and the failure of previous governments, the police and the Press Complaints Commission to take effective action to address this”. The new regulatory body would be required to “impose appropriate sanctions against proprietors, editors and journalists guilty of breaching the code; such as financial penalties that are large enough to act as a deterrent, and the power to ensure that apologies and retractions are given due prominence”. It also calls for a strengthening of the rules on fit and proper ownership, to ensure corporations as a whole are held to account and not just senior individuals within them. Don Foster the Liberal Democrat culture spokesman said: “We can’t continue having periodic crises of confidence in the media. “This motion outlines a broad vision of what media regulation should look like. It seeks to establish Lib Dem priorities without prejudicing the Leveson inquiry’s eventual findings. “We have heard enough empty condemnations from politicians who used to be in bed with press barons. Now is the time to talk about fundamental reform.” Liberal Democrats Liberal Democrat conference 2011 Phone hacking News International Newspapers & magazines Media law Press Complaints Commission Patrick Wintour guardian.co.uk

Posted by on September 13, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.