Planet-F1

NotW editor fears for press freedom

Friday 25th July 2008

News of the World editor Colin Myler fears Max Mosley's victory in court on Thursday is a sign that British press freedom is being eroded.

Mosley won his privacy against the British tabloid after a London High Court judge ruled that the News of the World's claims about his private life were not proved. The judge awarded Mosley £60,000 damages for a breach of privacy.

But while Mosley welcomed the ruling, Myler fears the implications the FIA President's victory could have on press freedom in the future.

"The newspaper believed that what it published on March 30, 2008 was legitimate and lawful and, moreover, that publication was justified by the public interest in exposing Mr Mosley's serious impropriety," Myler said in a statement.

"As the elected head of the FIA, Mr Mosley is the leader of the richest sport in the world, with a global membership of almost 125 million.

"This newspaper has always maintained that because of his status and position he had an obligation to honour the standards which his vast membership had every right to expect of him.

"Taking part in depraved and brutal S&M orgies on a regular basis does not in our opinion, constitute the fit and proper behaviour to be expected of someone in his hugely influential position.

"We are delighted that the judge has acknowledged that Mr Mosley is largely the author of his own misfortune.

"We are also pleased that the judge did not award Mr Mosley exemplary damages. He found that the notion of such punitive awards has no place in this creeping law of privacy.

"The News of the World believes passionately that its readers deserve to be informed of when the trust is placed in their elected leaders and public officials has been violated.

"It is not for the rich and the famous, the powerful and the influential, to dictate the news agenda, just because they have the money and the means to gag a free press."

Related Links
Mosley: Ruling puts lie to rest