Misha Sillifant

Investigate a UK based example of a breach in journalistic Ethics.

“Another News of the World phone hacker goes to jail.”

The Guardian have reported that News of the World reporter Ian Edmondson has been the most recent reporter found for being involved in the phone hacking scandal. Edmondson was a reporter for the News of the World since 1996. In 2000 he left and worked for Sunday People but returned as associate news editor for the News of the World in 2004. By 2008 he had been promoted to news editor and then assistant editor. Now he has been jailed for eight months and is the fourth ex-News of the World employee to have been sent to prison for phone hacking. According to The Guardian “Sentencing Edmondson, the judge, Mr Justice Saunders, said: “The list of victims of hacking with whom Edmondson was involved included celebrities, politicians and one person who was famous because of his links with the royal family.” (Ian Edmondson jailed for eight months over phone hacking, 2014).

However Edmondson was one of the original eight defendants in the phone hacking trial including Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson. But he was removed from the trial due to health reasons on the 29th day.  The Guardian also stated “The jury heard that Edmondson was one of four news editors for whom convicted hacker Glenn Mulcaire worked. At the heart of the prosecution case against him were three emails unearthed by News International in January 2011. The emails, sent to Edmondson by Mulcaire in April 2006, suggested that the private investigator had been tasked to intercept the voicemails of former culture secretary Tessa Jowell, Lord Prescott and Lord Freddie Windsor. In the emails Mulcaire also sent Edmondson each of the targets’ mobile numbers, mailbox numbers and pin numbers – evidence, the prosecution alleged, that Edmondson was able to hack the phones himself.” (Ian Edmondson jailed for eight months over phone hacking, 2014). This proved that Edmondson was a vital part of this hacking as specific numbers and email addresses were being sent to him to process the hacking. The case was investigated and Edmondson was sacked from the company a few days before after being suspended in December 2010.

According to The Guardian Edmondson’s barrister, Sallie Bennette-Jenkins QC had said “his personal and professional life had been left “in tatters” in the wake of the scandal. The reality of the investigation which was restarted in 2010 was that Ian Edmondson was suspended without any warning and weeks later dismissed. The situation caused by these actions has led to a complete breakdown of his ability to work within the profession and complete decimation of his ability to cope in a personal sense ... the very real effect wreaked on his family, his wife and those close to him. He has lived daily with the consequence of these matters.” (Ian Edmondson jailed for eight months over phone hacking, 2014). This suggested that Edmondson was in a very unstable state and later turned to alcohol after pleading not guilty to help cope with stress and high amounts of pressure. This is an argument for Edmondson that The Guardian are promoting however they also turn the argument around and share some of the judges’ opinions against him. “Saunders reduced Edmondson’s sentence from 10 months to eight in part because of his guilty plea – in spite of it being “very late” – and other mitigating factors such as the journalist’s medical problems, including depression. Saunders said he had received a very moving letter from Edmondson’s wife about the effect of the investigation and prosecution on their young family. “While I have considerable sympathy for Mr Edmondson’s family I am afraid that an immediate sentence of custody is inevitable,” the judge added.” (Ian Edmondson jailed for eight months over phone hacking, 2014). The Guardian are suggesting that the judge couldn’t allow not to take the case further as it was very serious and he couldn’t dismiss it just for family reasons.

However the Telegraph used a much darker quote from the judge Justice Saunders “I am satisfied that he is suffering from depression as well as having other medical problems. Mr Edmondson was dismissed from his job at the NotW and he has lost his reputation as a journalist. He has only himself to blame for that.” (Former News of the World executive Ian Edmondson jailed for phone hacking, 2014). This shows the judges’ true opinion of Edmondson’s condition and how it would affect the trial itself. The Telegraph also shared that the judge had said "The list of victims of hacking with whom Edmondson was involved included celebrities, politicians and one person who was famous because of his links with the royal family. Taken together they amount to a substantial invasion of privacy which has caused distress to many people, the majority of whom cannot be accused of courting publicity." (Former News of the World executive Ian Edmondson jailed for phone hacking, 2014). This quote again describes in more detail of what Saunders really felt about the case, however The Guardian didn’t include these deeper thoughts quotes and kept the article very balanced.

Many other news websites have released articles about the story, such as The BBC, The Daily Mail and iMediaEthics, but mostly all of them have structure and have presented the information in the same way. They all promote the article in a serious manor and share quotes for and against the trail by adding quotes from the judge and the victim and his barrister. They all share the same information involving what happened and when and who was involved whilst being fair to the families of the victim or anyone who hasn't committed any crime.

     Reference

• http://www.theguardian.com/media/2014/nov/07/ian-edmondson-jailed-eight-months-phone-hacking-news-of-the-world (Ian Edmondson jailed for eight months over phone hacking, 2014) [accessed date 25/11/2014]

• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/11215669/Former-News-of-the-World-executive-Ian-Edmondson-jailed-for-phone-hacking.html  (Former News of the World executive Ian Edmondson jailed for phone hacking, 2014) [accessed date 01/12/2014]