Description:
Standards of press behaviour have plunged and the PCC sees much of this as "inevitable", writes editor and columnist Linklater. Now's the time for those at the sharp end to revolt: "When innocent citizens are caught in the crossfire of media investigation, it is the responsibility of the reporter to remember that the measure of an intrusive inquiry should not just be the depth of tomorrow's headline, but the human being on the receiving end of it. It is, of course, the responsibility of editors and proprietors to ensure that their newspapers observe the basic rules that should govern all good journalism. But ultimately, it is the reporter, the correspondent, the writer of first instance who must decide, by listening to his or her own conscience, whether they are treating their subjects with decency and respect rather than cavalier disregard for everything except the next day's headline."