THE editorial in this week’s Evesham Journal likens the Government's proposed Bill to make the UK press accountable for its actions to the atrocity at Charlie Hebdo.
The Government's Bill was intended to make the Press answer for its actions.
The UK press wields enormous power and influence and is accountable to no one, which leads to cellphone bugging, website hacking, chequebook wielding, libel, misinformation and made up stories.
When asked to account for their mistakes they cry "freedom of the press" – to defame and damage without comeback, presumably.
The Press in France are quite different, deferential and likely to apologise before they ask a slightly awkward question of a politician.
It is satirical magazines like Charlie Hebdo that take up the slack and exercise the scrutiny and mockery that we take for granted in this country.
To liken a move to encourage the UK Press to act responsibly to the blood butchery of a dozen innocent people is a strong argument in favour of the kind of laws the government were considering.
Has the editor of the Journal never heard the rhyme: "You cannot hope to bribe nor twist/Thank God, the British journalist/But seeing what the fellow will do, unbribed/There's no occasion to".
Power without accountability is tyranny.
Sandy Cochrane
Evesham
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