MST calls for independent inquiry into phone hacking

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Following allegations by the Guardian that News International journalists had 'repeated involvement in the use of criminal methods to get stories', the Media Standards Trust today called on the Press Complaints Commission to appoint an independent inquiry.

In a release issued by the UK-based media organisation, the Media Standards Trust (MST) said that it believes that 'only an independent inquiry - initiated by the press itself - will have the necessary remit, authority and resources to give the public confidence in the outcome.'

Last week, the PCC announced its intention to re-open an investigation : 'any suggestion that further transgressions have occurred since its report was published in 2007 will be investigated without delay,' it said.

In addition, the body said it would begin to investigate 'the older cases, which suggest the Commission has been misled at any stage of its inquiries into these matters'.

The MST, however, believes that the PCC is 'unable to conduct a comprehensive investigation.'

Earlier this year the MST published its contentious 'A More Accountable Press: is self-regulation failing the press and the public?' , the result of an independent MST review group which found PCC mechanisms inadequate for regulating the UK press - a claim the PCC chair at the time, Sir Christopher Meyer, refuted . Meyer has since been succeeded by Baroness Peta Buscombe .

The MST is currently working on part two of its project, with the aim of finding solutions to problems indicated in part one. Regulatory issues arising in the industry are reported at the Press Review Blog .

In today's statement the MST said that 'the PCC is not constituted to conduct proactive investigative inquiries.'

"Its constitution only establishes it as a complaints resolution body. It does not have sufficient budget (£1.8m pa) or skills to undertake investigations of this kind.

"The PCC should set up an independent investigation to examine the claims and to demonstrate that self-regulation can be effective. Self-regulation remains by far the most preferable system for the press. But self-regulation must be seen to work effectively," said Martin Moore, director of the Media Standards Trust, who also shared his thoughts in a blog post last week .

"If the public are not reassured that self-regulation is effective then it will weaken the arguments against those who want to use government or the courts to scrutinise the operations of the press more closely. That would be a real threat to press freedom."

Lack of newspaper industry support for Guardian

Guardian columnist Peter Wilby described a lukewarm reception by other national newspapers in today's Media Guardian section : "They didn't clear their front pages for their later editions on Thursday morning.

"On Friday, as the row grew over the role of David Cameron's adviser, the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson, the story remained on the inside pages of most national papers, and well down their websites," Wilby reported.

Stephen Glover, a commentator for both the Independent and the Daily Mail, said it was 'an old story re-heated, and re-presented by the Guardian and the BBC in the most sensational manner' in today's Independent. News of the World has strongly refuted allegations in an editorial piece on Sunday . News International also released a lengthy statement on Friday accusing the Guardian of being deliberately selective and misleading in its reports.

Although the police has decided not to re-open inquiries, the Home Affairs committee will discuss the issue this week; the Culture, Media and Sport select committee will hear further evidence tomorrow; and the Crown Prosecution Service has announced its intention to undertake an urgent review .

Critics - such as the editor of the ConservativeHome.com blog, Tim Montgomerie - however, have accused the Labour government of using the opportunity to take a shot at the opposition. Conservative leader David Cameron has continued to defend Coulson's position at the party.

Meanwhile, over the weekend the Guardian continued to report the ramifications of alleged phone hacking practices at News International titles.