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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \cb2 BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 Should the British press be regulated? A British judge says the nation\'92{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK
"http://news.sky.com/story/1018425/kate-mccann-pm-should-act-swiftly-on-leveson"}}{\fldrslt s media have}} shown \'93significant and reckless
disregard for accuracy.\'94 In video {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://news.sky.com/story/1018425/kate-mccann-pm-should-act-swiftly-on-leveson"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 via Sky News}}, Lord Justice Leveson called a free press a \'93true safeguard of
democracy,\'94 but, he said... \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93Unfortunately as the evidence has shown beyond all doubt on too many occasions,
those responsibilities ... have simply been ignored. This has damaged the public interest...\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 Leveson recommends an independent group \'97 backed by law\'a0\'97 be set up
to regulate the nation\'92s media. This after a yearlong inquiry into the newspapers of
media mogul Rupert Murdoch and others in the British press accused of phone-hacking private
citizens \'97 among other reckless tactics \'97 in the pursuit of sensational stories.
{\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20541140"}}{\fldrslt \cf3 As the BBC points out thoug}}h, Leveson\'92s
recommendation has divided British lawmakers, including Prime Minister David Cameron.
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93...David Cameron welcomes the principals of the report, but is not convinced
by the need for a new law. We should, I believe, be weary of any legislation that has the potential
to impede free speech and a free press.\'94 \f1\b0\fs24 \
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 But the Leveson recommendations don\'92t call for state regulation \'97 more
like \i self-regulation
\i0 \'97 but backed by law that allows for the imposition of fines. It\'92s up to the
press to act on the recommendations, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.itv.com/news/2012-11-29/levesons-proposals-drive-a-wedge-into-coalition/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 but an ITV analyst asks}} \'97 what about the good media outlets out there?
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93...the editors of hundreds of local and regional newspapers and the majority
of the national newspapers who haven't been accused of phone hacking will resent being
regulated for the consequences of actions that they will say they didn't commit.\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 Either way, both Prime Minister David Cameron and Leveson agree \'97 the status
quo that allowed sensationalist outlets to carry on phone-hacking and police-bribing
\'97 can\'92t be left unchanged. Then again, {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2012/11/29/leveson-quiet-on-the-future-of-new-media/"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 The Wall Street Journal\'92s Ben Rooney makes}} an interesting point: When it comes
to non-traditional media, the Leveson report had almost nothing to say.
\f1\fs24 \ \
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93It seems \'85 the internet was just too hard to deal with. The whole
tone of his report with regard to the internet is one of almost resignation.\'94
\f1\b0\fs24 \ \
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\f0\fs30 \cf0 But with Prime Minister Cameron doubting the need for a new law to give a
regulatory body the teeth it would need to do its job \'97 his Deputy Prime Minister
fervently in disagreement with his boss \'97 and a public still calling for heads to roll
after the press scandal \'97 {\field{\*\fldinst{HYPERLINK "http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/11/29/leveson-inquiry-s-report-sparks-a-war-in-the-british-parliament.html"}}{\fldrslt
\cf3 The Daily Beast\'92s Peter Jukes predicts}}... \f1\fs24 \
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\f0\b\fs30 \cf0 \'93...\cf4 rather than closing a chapter on the hacking scandal ... today
has merely lit the fuse to an explosive political battle, which could well explode the coalition
itself.\'94}