Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Media
The Leveson Inquiry: There’s a bargain to be struck over media freedom and regulation
n A balanced outcome from the inquiry could both strengthen the legal defences for good journalism done in the public interest and create incentives for regulation which does not rely on statutory backing. Both the law and regulation must make more use of an effective public interest test.
George Brock, The Foundation for Law, Justice and Society, 2012
n A balanced outcome from the inquiry could both strengthen the legal defences for good journalism done in the public interest and create incentives for regulation which does not rely on statutory backing. Both the law and regulation must make more use of an effective public interest test.
George Brock, The Foundation for Law, Justice and Society, 2012
Free expression is the bedrock of a free society. The moral case for a truly free press is overdue a hearing
The real danger isn't state censorship but the consolidation of a sterile, conformist atmosphere in which it's accepted that it simply won't do to publish some stories
Mick Hume, Independent Voices, 4 October 2012
The real danger isn't state censorship but the consolidation of a sterile, conformist atmosphere in which it's accepted that it simply won't do to publish some stories
Mick Hume, Independent Voices, 4 October 2012
The Leveson report will be good for freedom
Although regulation is the word widely used (often pejoratively), what it should mean here is the industry having due process, effectively applied standards and accountability, and effective redress, none of which is objectionable, and has been supported by virtually all the press insiders in their submissions to Leveson.
Peter Lloyd, Free Society, 26 September 2012
Although regulation is the word widely used (often pejoratively), what it should mean here is the industry having due process, effectively applied standards and accountability, and effective redress, none of which is objectionable, and has been supported by virtually all the press insiders in their submissions to Leveson.
Peter Lloyd, Free Society, 26 September 2012
Leveson revealed the tabloid tribe and their weird customs
They are strange creatures, the tabloid hackery. Too often they fit the film stereotype of the man in the trilby hat complete with a "press" label and long raincoat smoking a cigarette – with a taste for loose women and even looser morals.
John Mair, Guardian, 24 September 2012
They are strange creatures, the tabloid hackery. Too often they fit the film stereotype of the man in the trilby hat complete with a "press" label and long raincoat smoking a cigarette – with a taste for loose women and even looser morals.
John Mair, Guardian, 24 September 2012
Making trouble is the greatest press freedom of all
An excoriating book by Mick Hume on the 'rogues' of Fleet Street casts an important new light on the tight and nervous world of post-Leveson journalism
Peter Preston, Guardian, 23 September 2012
An excoriating book by Mick Hume on the 'rogues' of Fleet Street casts an important new light on the tight and nervous world of post-Leveson journalism
Peter Preston, Guardian, 23 September 2012
Don't Fall for the Crocodile Tears of the Hillsborough Hypocrites
Following the publication of the damning report on the Hillsborough disaster, there have been paroxysms of handwringing in the political and media classes.
Brendan O'Neill, Huffington Post, 13 September 2012
Following the publication of the damning report on the Hillsborough disaster, there have been paroxysms of handwringing in the political and media classes.
Brendan O'Neill, Huffington Post, 13 September 2012
There is No Such Thing as a Free Press ...and we need one more than ever
Once the media reported the news. Now it makes it. The phone-hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry into the culture, practice and ethics of the media has put the UK press under scrutiny and on trial as never before.
Mick Hume, Imprint Acaademic, 1 September 2012
Leveson 'loading a gun' against papers, warns Independent's editor
Chris Blackhurst says letter from Lord Justice Leveson warning of potential criticism of press in inquiry's report is a 'diatribe'
Lisa O'Carroll, Guardian, 29 August 2012
Chris Blackhurst says letter from Lord Justice Leveson warning of potential criticism of press in inquiry's report is a 'diatribe'
Lisa O'Carroll, Guardian, 29 August 2012
Leveson on the press: "It all sounds rather depressing, actually"
Lord Justice Leveson's quest for balance between press freedom and censorship leaves only one task outstanding - the creation of a new regulatory body for the British press...
Raymond Snoddy, MediaTel, 18 July 2012
Lord Justice Leveson's quest for balance between press freedom and censorship leaves only one task outstanding - the creation of a new regulatory body for the British press...
Raymond Snoddy, MediaTel, 18 July 2012
Summing up what we’ve learnt on Leveson, Murdoch and law
The fuss has died down as the inquiry has piled up a mountain of facts and opinions. Politicians have realised that the interest in the scandal outside the worlds of media and politics has faded.
George Brock, georgebrock.net, May 2012
The fuss has died down as the inquiry has piled up a mountain of facts and opinions. Politicians have realised that the interest in the scandal outside the worlds of media and politics has faded.
George Brock, georgebrock.net, May 2012
What's innovation good for?
"The Battle of Ideas was a great success; it enabled large numbers of people to hear and interact with well-known speakers who have thought about and contributed significantly to the discussions of many important issues."
Richard Swinburne, emeritus professor, philosophy of religion, University of Oxford; author, 'The Existence of God and The Evolution of the Soul'
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