Journalism's failings

In the past week the reputation of the British press has reached a new low.

First Johann Hari the Independent columnist, who to my surprise has become almost a cult figure amongst the trendy British left, has been accused of plagiarism and bad journalistic practice. His technique was to spice up his interviews with quotes from the interviewees' sayings or writings elsewhere. It is as if he had written 'I asked Lady Thatcher if she would change her mind. 'The Lady's not for turning', she said' (not that he would have ever spoken to Lady Thatcher). The Orwell Prize judges are considering withdrawing their award to him, and bloggers, inspired it must be said by a touch of jealousy, are going over everything he has written with a fine-toothed comb.

Worse, far worse, are the accusations against the News of the World, concerning the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. It is alleged that their full time investigator, Glen Mulcaire, hacked Milly's 'phone, with their usual technique of raiding the voicemail. While she was missing, and perhaps still alive, the police kept her 'phone topped up in the hope she might use it. But after a while the voicemail was full, so, it is said, Mulcaire wiped off some of the messages - evidence in the investigation of a missing child - to allow more to get put on, which he could then report. Relatives, checking her voicemail, assumed she must have wiped them off, and thus that she was still alive.

It seems inconceivable that someone could do this. Perhaps the poor financial performance of printed newspapers has led to cutthroat competition, but these poor standards cannot be left to continue. The Press Complaints Commission should give some thought to its future role.

You can never bribe or twist
- Thank God! - the British journalist
But seeing what the man will do
unbribed, there's no occasion to.