Signatories to the Hacked Off Declaration, unveiled on the anniversary of the Leveson report, urge newspapers to embrace the Royal Charter system. The Declaration states:
“We believe that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy. It should be fearless in exposing corruption, holding the powerful to account and championing the powerless. It has nothing to lose, and can only be enhanced, by acknowledging unethical practice in its midst and acting firmly to ensure it is not repeated.
“We also believe that editors and journalists will rise in public esteem when they accept a form of self-regulation that is independently audited on the lines recommended by Lord Justice Leveson and laid down in the Royal Charter of 30 October 2013.
“It is our view that this Charter safeguards the press from political interference while also giving vital protection to the vulnerable. That is why we support it and that is why we urge newspaper publishers to embrace it.”
The Declaration has been co-ordinated and published by Hacked Off, the campaign for a free and accountable press, funded by members of the public responding to a Hacked Off appeal.
Commenting on the launch of the Declaration, Prof Brian Cathcart said, “Leading figures in free expression and this country’s cultural life, like the public, are expecting change in the conduct of the press and are backing the Royal Charter as the only credible way to deliver it.
“It is time for newspaper publishers to put aside groundless claims of a threat to free expression, embrace the improvements offered under the Royal Charter system and rebuild the public’s trust.”
Signatories to the Declaration include:
Margaret Aspinall – Hillsborough family press victim
Bryan Adams - Musician
Riz Ahmed - Actor and musician
Monica Ali - Writer
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown - Journalist and author
Lisa Appignanesi - Author
Michael Apted - Film director
Neal Ascherson - Journalist and author
Sir Alan Ayckbourn CBE - Playwright
Clare Balding OBE - Broadcaster
Antony Beevor – Writer
Helen Belcher - Transmediawatch
Alan Bennett - Writer
Sophie Bennett - Acting Director, UK Feminista
Patricia Bernal – Mother of murder victim and press victim
Anthony Bernal – Brother of murder victim and press victim
Sir Geoffrey Bindman QC - Human Rights Lawyer
John Bishop - Comedian
Prof Colin Blakemore - scientist and broadcaster
James Blunt - Musician
John Bowers QC - Employment silk
William Boyd - Writer
Rory Bremner FKC - impressionist, playwright and comedian
Marcus Brigstocke - Comedian
Peter Burden – Media Author
Guy Chambers - Record Producer
John Cleese – Comedian & Python
Dr Madeleine Coy - Deputy Director, Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University
Prof James Curran - Professor of Communications, Goldsmiths, University of London
Paul Dadge – 7/7 first responder and press victim
Stephen Daldry – Producer and director
Nick Davies - Investigative journalist, writer and documentary maker
Professor Richard Dawkins – Scientist and Writer
Helen Fielding - Author
Bill Forsyth - Film Maker
Prof Suzanne Franks - Professor of Journalism, City University
Michael Frayn - Author, playwright
Stephen Frears - Film director
Prof Chris Frost - Professor of Journalism, Liverpool John Moores University
Stephen Fry - Broadcaster & Writer
Prof. Conor Gearty - Professor of Law, LSE
Mo George – Actor and press victim
Terry Gilliam - Film Maker & python
Susana Giner – Director, Youth Media Agency
Roger Graef – Documentary-maker
A C Grayling - Author
Sarah Green - Campaigns Manager, End Violence Against Women Coalition,
Lee Hall - Writer
Jacqui Hames - Former police officer and Crimewatch presenter and press victim
Sir David Hare - Playwright
Prof Ian Hargreaves - Professor of Digital Economy, Cardiff University
Katie Hickman - Writer
Alan Hollinghurst - Writer
Baroness Sheila Hollins – Mother of Abigail Witchells & victim of press
Richard Horton - Nightjack' Blogger
Rufus Hound - Comedian
Sir Nick Hytner - Theatre Director
Karen Ingala Smith - Chief Executive of domestic and sexual violence charity
Christopher Jefferies – victim of press abuse
Terry Jones – Comedian, film-maker & Python
Baroness Helena Kennedy QC - Human Rights Barrister
Nicolas Kent - Theatre director
Imran Khan - Solicitor
Baroness Beeban Kidron - Film Director
Peter Kosminsky - Film director
Mike Leigh - Writer and Director
Robert Llewellyn - Actor, presenter and novelist
Gary Lineker - Broadcaster
Prof Joni Lovenduski - Professor of Politics, Birkbeck, University of London
Angus Macqueen - Documentary-maker
Krish Majumdar - Documentary-maker
Michael Mansfield QC - Human Rights Lawyer
Zoe Margolis - Author - victim of press
Prof Kevin Marsh – ex-broadcaster
Gerry & Kate McCann - Victims of press abuse
Ian McEwan - Author
Prof Maire Messenger Davies - Professor of Media Studies, University of Ulster
Sir Jonathan Miller - Author, director, doctor, polymath
Julian Mitchell - Playwright
Peter Morgan – Film-writer and Playwright
Baroness Onora O'Neill - Philosopher
Lord Brian Paddick – Ex-police officer and press victim
Sir Alan Parker - Film Maker
Prof Julian Petley - Chair, Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom,
Professor Gavin Phillpson - Durham Law School, Durham University
Guy Ritchie – Film Director
Sue Roberts – Hillsborough families press victim
JK Rowling - Author
Salman Rushdie - Author
Willy Russell - Playwright
Prof Jean Seaton - Professor of Media History, University of Westminster
Stephen Sedley – retired Court of Appeal -Judge
Sir Tom Stoppard - writer
Peter Tatchell – Human Rights Campaigner
Terrence Tehranian – Media entreprenuer
Emma Thompson - Screenwriter and actress
Claire Tomalin - Author
Polly Toynbee – Journalist
Prof John Tulloch – 7/7 survivor and press victim
Anna Van Heeswijk - Chief Executive, OBJECT campaign
Bishop of Wakefield
Margaret & James Watson – Bereaved parents and press victims
Irvine Welsh - Writer
Rowan Williams – former Archbishop of Canterbury
John Willis - Documentary-maker
Jane Winter - Northern Ireland human rights campaigner
Victoria Wood - Writer and Comedian
Brian Woods - Documentary-maker
David Yelland – Former editor of The Sun
