5 August 2000 – Every reporter knows, or ought to know, that bad journalism has serious consequences. This basic fact of our trade, drummed into every young reporter, appears to have eluded Rebekah Wade, editor of the News of the World. It has taken two weeks of attacks on the innocent, disappearing paedophiles, and finally a major riot, to convince Ms Wade that she may, after all, have been wrong to publish the names and photographs of convicted child-sex offenders. The police, the probation service, virtually every child protection agency – even PressWise – warned her this would happen. Now, finally, she has got the message.

With becoming modesty, Ms Wade has declined to appear in person to explain why the campaign has been abandoned (and why it was ever started in the first place). Instead, she has left that humiliating task to lesser executives in the NoW hierarchy. They have done their best to spin this hypocritical exercise into a cloak of injured virtue, but the words ring hollow from a newspaper which, week after week, fosters voyeurism and sexual innuendo.

One of the unhappiest features of the affair has been the way in which the grieving parents of Sarah Payne, the murdered 8-year-old, have been exploited to support the NoW campaign. They were mercifully spared participation in the final climb-down, but the damage caused to an already-traumatised family must be tremendous. It is all about consequences, Ms Wade. Consequences. Consequences. Consequences.

It is yet to be seen how Rupert Murdoch will react to this gaffe by his latest protégé. But just in case Ms Wade should find herself with time on her hands in the near future, may we suggest that she studies the dozens of journalistic Codes of Conduct contained on our website. She might find them instructive.

Bill Norris
Associate Director

(Bulletin No 25)