10. 08. 2013

UK INTRODUCING A MEDIA CONTROL BODY

London, August 10, 2013 (B92) - British officials adopted a plan to introduce a supervisory body to control the media that will have the support of the government, said the secretary for media Maria Miller.

Miller added that the proposal was rejected that papers regulate themselves.

Miller said to members of parliament today that such a supervisory body is the best way to deal with the abuse uncovered after the scandals of tapping the phones by the daily "News of the World " owned by Rupert Murdoch.

According to Miller, the scandal has revealed that the media routinely violate the law, by interception of telephone messages, bribing politicians and by breaking in computers to come up with exclusive information.

The investigating committee, headed by judges, proposed an independent regulatory body with the authority to impose severe fines and order the publication of an apology, but the media objected, stating that it will leave too much power in the hands of politicians. Instead, they proposed a system of self-regulation.

Answering complaints that the new body could enable politicians to censor the media, Miller said that a priority will remain to preserve the freedom of the press in the country, " which is such a vital part of her democracy."