News International is prevented by confidentiality obligations from discussing certain allegations made in the Guardian newspaper yesterday.
However, in light of the assertions about activities of News of the World journalists, News International would like to set out the following chronology of events and the Company’s response to them.
May 2006: The Information Commissioner published a report entitled “What Price Privacy?” This outlined the use of private investigators by the media, insurance companies, solicitors and local authorities in order to obtain personal information during the period from early 2001 to early 2003.
December 2006: The Information Commissioner published a follow-up to his report of May 2006. This contained a list of 31 newspapers and magazines said to have used private investigators to obtain confidential information, which included titles from Associated Newspapers, Trinity Mirror, News International, Guardian Media Group and others. The Information Commissioner reaffirmed the right to obtain confidential information to prevent or detect crime or in the course of genuine investigatory journalism that can be justified in the public interest. These reports were examined in depth and attracted significant press coverage following their publication.
August 2006: News of the World journalist Clive Goodman and Glen Mulcaire, a private investigator, were arrested and charged with illegal interception of communications under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000. This followed a police investigation with which News International fully cooperated.
January 2007: Clive Goodman was sentenced to four months in prison and Glen Mulcaire received a sentence of six months in prison. Andy Coulson, the Editor of the News of the World, resigned taking ultimate responsibility. Colin Myler was subsequently appointed the new Editor of the News of the World.
February 2007: Colin Myler wrote to every member of staff on the newspaper clearly setting out the conduct expected of journalists as employees and subsequently implemented a sustained compliance programme along the following principles:
* All journalists must operate within the law
* All journalists must adhere to the PCC Code of Conduct as set out in their contracts of employment
* Every member of staff has a duty to represent the News of the World in a professional manner
* All journalists attended regular training seminars on legal and PCC issues.
March 2007: Les Hinton, then Executive Chairman of News International, appeared before the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee. Mr Hinton testified that, to the best of his knowledge, following internal investigations, Goodman was acting alone.
Since February 2007, News International has continued to work with its journalists and its industry partners to ensure that its journalists fully comply with both the relevant legislation and the rigorous requirements of the PCC’s Code of Conduct. At the same time, we will not shirk from vigorously defending our right and proper role to expose wrongdoing in the public interest.
About News International
News International says: “News International Limited publishes The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun, News of the World and thelondonpaper. In terms of growth, share, circulation and reader engagement, the Company’s titles are among the world’s most successful. NewsPrinters Ltd prints the national titles and operates as a contract printing subsidiary for the three state of the art printing plants. Further brands which are part of the group include the Times Literary Supplement and milkround.co.uk. The News International group has investments in property search-engine globrix.com and fashion website BrandAlley.co.uk”
