View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 7, 2002updated 22 Nov 2022 12:53pm

Drop shield of secrecy

By Press Gazette

Was David Shayler right to pass details of MI5 wrongdoing to The Mail on Sunday? Did he know something so serious that it justified him breaking secrecy rules? Is it a crime to expose a crime? These are the key questions behind his Official Secrets Act trial that has just ended at the Old Bailey.

Unfortunately, the jury was not allowed to consider any of them. Why? Because there is no public interest defence for anybody who has signed the act. The simple fact that he had passed information to journalists – any information – was enough to convict him.

Shayler may be a patriotic whistleblower, or he may be a mercenary fantasist as some portray him. That’s beside the point. It cannot be right that the law prevents him from attempting to justify his actions in court. Yes, the “shield of secrecy” must guard the safety of government agents – but it should not prevent the exposure of wrongdoing by them.

The act needs urgent reform.

Sour grapes on Sunday

Pinot Meunier. Semillon. Chenin Blanc. For all Fleet Street’s impressive knowledge of oenological subtleties, there’s one particular grape variety of which its connoisseurs are particularly fond. It’s a rather cheeky, tart little number, laced with bitter hints of acetic acid. Last week bottles of Chateau Mazher Sour – or Sheik Churl, as it’s sometimes known – were being quaffed by the caseful over Mazher Mahmood and the News of the World’s part in uncovering the Beckham kidnap plot.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“Just a tabloid sting?” sniffed The Mail on Sunday. “Scoop may rebound on the king of sting,” muttered The Guardian. Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror was announcing the story as its own World Exclusive, but carelessly forgetting to mention the NoW. The People’s story was also ‘exclusive’, and NoW-free. The Sunday Express only hinted that ‘reporters’ had tipped off police.

They all have very good reasons, of course, for omitting to acknowledge the role of Mahmood and his team, including Conrad and Gerry Brown and his minder, Jaws, in getting hold of such a sensational tale. But not being bound by such rivalries, we can give due credit to an undoubtedly hazardous and skilful operation.

Cheers Maz, your boys done well, as Becks himself might say, raising a glass of Blue Nun.

Taking sex seriously

Good to see some government recognition for the role that teenage magazines play in teaching young girls about sex. It’s a fact that better education means fewer unwanted teenage pregnancies. It’s also a fact that titles such as Mizz, J17, CosmoGirl!, Sugar, Bliss and Shout play a vital part, even if some parents do find themselves terrified by the nature of their content. They should realise just how seriously those editors take their responsibility.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network