My Father always used to say the newspapers could always make a headlin it was easy all you had to do was ring a high profile person ask them something like are you having an affair with so and so,they say no and your headline is X denys affair with Y
result people buy paper because there is no fire without smoke ,the only thing to beleive in the papers is the football scores and I confirm them on sky sports

Hi,

Derek (Dec 9, 22.12) - I will have a look at the headline you mention with regard to drink driving.

Ian
Online editor

@Ian Online Editor
The Australian show - look what they have done. It doesn't really matter who it is does it? It's the media in general, whether it's redtops, broadsheets, TV News, current affairs programs, radio shows, breakfast telly, CN Publishing - you name it, they all want something to make the viewer tune in, buy in, look in - the more viewers the more advertising, the more advertising the more revenue - go on, tell me you're just running a newspaper as a charity?

And sensationalistic headlines - get your act cleaned up CN - e.g. Cumbria worst for drink drivers By Victoria Brenan Published at 10:58, Saturday, 08 December 2012 - No, actually it is Cumbria ONE OF the worst for drink drivers.

A very good article. Remember one important point, politicians are not really interested in protecting the Dowlers, the McCanns etc. Laws exist now to punish the rogue press. What politicians what to do is protect themselves against their decisions and behaviour being made public. Well done Mr Cameron for sticking to his guns.

Hi,

Derek (13.16 Dec 5) - weren't the 'press' you are talking about here 2 Australian radio DJs (presenters), calling from a Sydney-based station? They made a hoax call, for which the station has sincerely apologised. They weren't the 'press'...

And before you ask, I do think the hoax call was a very silly thing to do and it shouldn't have happened.

Ian
Online editor

Yes again, the press strike the royals

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20610197

Absolutely no consideration given to the injured parties. About time some law was passed to limit their activites into a reasonable, ethical and responsible code of conduct.

I feel some regulation of the media is long overdue, this includes tv as well as newspapers.
My heart went out to those innocent people in West Cumbria following the Derrick Bird shootings whose lives were blighted by our over zealous 'let's get an exclusive at all costs' attitude for many weeks.
Self regulation doesn't work.

These PAPARAZZI have been operating under their own laws for years in order to be the first to "break" the most scandalous (or public interest) stories possible in order to sell more copy. SO WHAT if someone is hurt, slandered, libelled, destroyed, maligned, psychologically damaged or even driven to suicide - they have their story, they have sold more papers, generated more income and ultimately made more profit for their greedy owners to buy another yacht or Ferrari.

Handful? They are all at it, not just the ones at the centre of the enquiry. Everyone. The bosses turn a blind eye and plead innocence - until they are caught, named, shamed and sentenced.

It's high time for laws to PROTECT THE INNOCENTI, the Dowlers, McCanns, Princess Diana (and the rest) of this world who are VIOLATED by the GUTTER PRESS in the name of Freedom of Information.

Good points, well made, I would hate to see the press hamstrung by regulation