Press Complaints Commission director Tim Toulmin is today due to give journalists at the News of the World a seminar on undercover journalism and privacy.
His visit to the newspaper’s Wapping headquarters follows an invitation from editor Colin Myler, who replaced Andy Coulson following his resignation in the wake of the Clive Goodman Royal phone-hacking affair.
Tomorrow’s seminar, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session, is the first in a series of briefings planned for staff, Media Guardian reported on February 16.
Mr Toulmin said: “They’ve asked me to go down and make a presentation, and hold a Q&A session on the PCC’s approach to privacy issues including undercover subterfuge – when it’s acceptable in the public interest and when it’s not.
Related
“It’s part of a set of measures I think they are pursuing at the moment, raising awareness of the PCC code.”
His presentation would be based on the examination of real cases and hypothetical scenarios.
A News International lawyer would also be talking about the legal issues which investigative journalists face.
Content from our partners
This was not an uncommon project for the PCC, which was committed to continuing professional training for working journalists, said Mr Toulmin.
The PCC has launched an investigation into the Royal phone-hacking affair, but cannot now question Mr Coulson about events at the newspaper during his editorship because of his resignation, which was announced on the day Clive Goodman was jailed.
Goodman, 49, was sentenced to four months at the Old Bailey on January 26 for hacking into messages on royal phones, including some left by Prince William.
The News of the World Royal Editor and his co-defendant, private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, 36, who got six months, tapped into more than 600 messages on the mobile phones of Royal Family aides, the court had heard.
Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog
