Lord Patten and Phone Hacking
13th July 2011: Lord Patten; phone hacking; the Press Complaints Commission.
The Media Show · BBC Radio 4
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Show Notes
Last week, as the phone hacking scandal at the News of the World escalated, Lord Fowler joined The Media Show to discuss the shocking allegations. A week later the News of the World has closed and News International is under serious pressure. Lord Fowler joins Steve again to discuss the difference a week makes and the implications for News Corporation's future.
Since taking over as Chairman of the BBC Trust in May, Lord Patten has addressed the issue of "toxic" BBC executive pay, suggested the BBC streamline the complaints system and urged programme makers against representing a "small metropolitan pond of stereotypes." Lord Patten outlines his plans for the BBC at a time when it is facing significant cuts.
Last week the Press Complaints Commission came under fire for its handling of the phone hacking scandal. After being described by Ed Miliband as a "toothless poodle" and by David Cameron as "ineffective and lacking in rigour" the PCC faces questions about its future. Stephen Abell, the director of the PCC, discusses whether it can survive.