The flow of information between the government and the press in any nation across the globe is a sensitive ‘flow’ to put it mildly. Sensitive as there are many protocols in place to guide this ‘flow’. These protocols are in place to ensure a just reciprocal relationship between the government and the press. That is, it is the job of the press to act as a watch dog for a nation’s citizens, as it is long believed that a free media is the key to an effective democracy; and that it is the job of a government, to govern justly and in turn act as a watchdog for its citizens, to ensure the press does not violate their human rights as well as take action on parties choosing to engage themselves in criminal activity. In 2005, one of the biggest if not the biggest and most public phone hacking scandals came to light. The scandal in question is none other than the “News of The World” phone hacking scandal. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). The nature, size and impacts of the scandal were so immense that it led to not only several cases of litigation over the span of 6 years but also more on going cases outside of the scandal as a result of evidence collected, ultimately culminating in the closure of the “News of the World” in 2011. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). Moreover, in 2007 former British Prime Minister Tony Blair delivered a speech in regards to the scandal which very much relates to this essay. He said in a statement and I quote, “I do believe this relationship between the media and public life is now damaged in a manner that requires repair. The damage saps the country’s confidence and self-belief; it undermines its assessment of itself, its institutions; and, above all, it reduces our capacity to take the right decisions, in the right spirit for our future”, end quote. (Rutter. 2011.). As another result of the scandal, in 2011 the Leveson Inquiry was set in motion. It can be described as a public judicial inquiry into the ethics and practices of the British press following the scandal. It is my intention to discuss and dissect not only the practice and ethics of both public and media relations in relation to the above mentioned scandal and ensuing inquiry, but to also examine the subsequent impacts this scandal and inquiry have on public and in particular media relations in relation to the ‘flow’ of information; in this case, the ‘flow’ of information between the government of the United Kingdom and its press. The functions of the media, the press being an entity of media, can be described as to inform, investigate, educate and to entertain. However, it is understood that all these objectives must still be achieved at a profit. (Johnston. 2007.). Moreover, the media plays a significant role in bringing to light issues into the public agenda. (Johnston. 2007.). This role must be played in a socially responsible manner and must be in the aid of community and nation building. (Johnston. 2007.). As a whole, the media can be described as the ‘fourth estate’. The ‘fourth estate’ can be seen as media being a defender of public interest and the guardian of democracy as defined by Thomas Carlyle though only official in certain countries such as in the United States of America due to the First Amendment right, and perhaps not like in Malaysia where the government owns most if of mainstream media channels for example. (Underwood. 2008.). In reference to the “News of The World” phone hacking scandal, it can be argued that the organization in question, totally disregarded the manner in which it was supposed to be practicing its methods; therefore, forfeiting the ethics in whilst practicing as well. In fact, based on those definitions, disregarding the functions and roles of which the organization the News of The World’s sole existence rests upon. An array of allegations were brought against the News of The World in 2005 for phone hacking. It was accused of not only illegally gaining access to mobile phone voicemails but also e-mails, text messages as well as other forms of personal communication. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). The number of alleged victims in this scandal amount in the hundreds, well in access of five hundred. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). The alleged victims ranged from individuals who were either of extremely high profiles, such as; members of the royal family or individuals who have been deemed worthy of celebrity status, individuals involved in high profile cases such as homicides and bombings, or quite simply individuals in contact with these high profile targets. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). Or rather quite clearly, crystal shall we say, individuals with key information on stories considered to be headliners or revenue increasers. In the year 2000 Rebekah Brooks was appointed editor of the News of The World and in 2003 she was appointed editor of The Sun leading to her long time deputy editor a Mr Andy Coulson resuming her former position. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). In August of 2006 a Clive Goodman, the News of the World’s royal editor was arrested along with a private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, as the pair were believed to be in cahoots in relation to a story ran on Prince William in the previous year based on information gathered from mobile phone voicemails. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). Mr. Coulson assumed “ultimate responsibility” and claimed “deep regret” in the matter though maintaining he knew nothing of the offences and subsequently resigned. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). This case proved to be just the tip of the iceberg in what we now know as one of media’s biggest scandals. Furthermore, in 2002 it was alleged that the mobile phone of murdered Milly Dowler had been hacked by the News of The World and voicemail messages had even been deleted, thus significantly altering the course of police action. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). Rebekah Brooks editor of the News of The World at that time had maintained her innocence by claiming to have no knowledge what so ever as to the methods practiced by her journalists and investigators involved in the case. However, it was learnt that apparently a private eye by the name of Steve Whittamore had been hired by Brooks to hack a mobile phone in a separate case according to The Independent. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). The prior than later evidently supplied other media organizations with the former directory number of the Dowler family. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). If these instances were not shocking enough it further emerged that even family members of the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks had also been subjected to phone hackings. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). Moreover, it was alleged that News International who’s CEO at the time happened to be none other than Rebekah Brooks who was accusing the News of The World of having made illegal payments to members of the police force to illicit information illegally. These illegal payments had been apparently made with the consensus and approval of none other than her former deputy editor Andy Coulson. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). All the allegations mentioned, have now been confirmed amongst other allegations as well. Therefore, when accessing the manner in which the News of The World practiced their conduct, I find the organization to be most unethical. There is no possible means which by they can justify their organization’s role as the ‘fourth estate’ as they have quite clearly betrayed the functions in which they are supposed to serve. The organization has done so by manipulating the public’s trust, engaging itself in bribery thus corrupting the system, causing the public to question its faith in the police force; a government entity, exploited the grief of individuals private lives, displayed a total disregard for the community by hindering police homicide cases rather than assisting and practicing a complete invasion of privacy to gain intimate details; all in the name of profit and all methods of what can be coined as ‘chequebook journalism’. Former Tory Board Minister, Lord Fowler, in light of this scandal was quoted as saying, “I was once a journalist, but my view of the press is that journalists are there to expose injustice and abuse of power, not to illegally intrude into the private lives of the public. Are we not confronted with one of the biggest scandals affecting the press in living memory?”. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). This statement encompassed with the findings above clearly remonstrate the catastrophic impacts that could occur should this shift in press reporting occur again, go under the radar or simply experience a lack of governance. Ultimately this will result in the disruption of the ‘flow’ of information between all parties involved; that is, the press, the government or government bodies and the public; In a nutshell, the failure of democracy. Opposition UK labour party leader Ed Miliband had this to say in regards to the scandal, “Of course she (Rebekah Brooks) should consider her position but this goes well beyond one individual. This is a stain on the character of British journalism. We need a proper inquiry into the culture and practices which allowed these things to happen”. (Chapman. Greenwood. 2011.). Such an inquiry has come into play as a result of the scandal that is the ‘Leveson Inquiry’. Although this inquiry may only lead to implications in the United Kingdom, it will most definitely have an impact on the global sphere as the world looks on and looks to learn from such a situation, as rightly mentioned earlier this is one of the biggest if not biggest scandals in press history. The inquiry involved not only citizens, politicians and members of the police force but also more than six thousand pages of evidence gathered over 650 hearings. (Sickle. 2012.). As a result Coulson, Goodman, Brooks and former chief reporter, John Kay were all charged and arrested under various counts of misconduct. (Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005.). These were certain areas explored in the inquiry, from where future implications could arise from or from which further governance of current legislations maybe applied. The areas were categorized as “Berserk & Shouty”, “Dirty Bathwater”, “More Privacy?”, “Global Trends”, and “Going Forward”. (Sickle. 2012.). The hacking scandal or ‘hackgate’ as it is now known is viewed as a media epidemic. This is in tangent with the unique competitive nature of the UK tabloid media industry. (Sickle. 2012.). This not only contributes to the “Berserk & Shouty” factor but when accompanied by a piece in the New Yorker by a Lauren Collin perfectly explains it stating that unlike in the US, print tends to come off as berserk and shouty as oppose television being a dignified affair. (Sickle. 2012). Although Rupert Murdoch tried to make this point in his own defence it was argued that the ‘Murdoch’ factor of money, power and reach had come into play hence making him immune from scrutiny due to his monopoly. (Sickle. 2012). In terms of the “Dirty Bathwater” factor it was suggested that Lord Leveson might be utterly disgusted with the findings that he would quite literally ‘throw the baby with the dirty bathwater’ therefore, perhaps enforcing a more stringent outlook rather than a wise one which would encroach on the freedom of the press. (Sickle. 2012). When discussing the “More Privacy?” factor, the public might be surprised to realize that judges in the UK might be sitting too far on the privacy side of the fence. Over the past decade judges have shown an incline to interpret the right to free speech balanced against an individual’s right to privacy. (Sickle. 2012). An example of an issue arising from this, is celebrities using court issued injunctions to conceal their identities when covering up embarrassing affairs as to the act actually being used to defend witnesses in trials whose lives are in fact at stake. (Sickle. 2012). Keeping up with ‘Global Trends’ in itself is a global trend. It is vital to recognize that press freedom is pivotal in this day and age in the upholding of democracy. Moreover, it is a scary fact to digest that the UK a former colonial empire and democracy establisher so to speak is in fact moving away from freedom of speech according to the Reporters Without Borders' Press Freedom Index and this could be a result of the world actually becoming a more dangerous place for journalist to practice unbiased, uncorrupted journalism. (Sickle. 2012). In conclusion, I find the practices and ethics of the News of The World organisation in this scandal to be completely illegal, unethical and guilty of breaching individual’s human rights. Therefore, I find it fitting to conclude this essay with the “Moving Forward” factor which arose from the Leveson inquiry, that is freedom of speech is a human right and in order to ensure the safety of journalists and the authenticity of journalism, we must comply with ethical standards set by governing bodies as well as be sure to be wise rather than stringent when making adjustments or reforms when meeting the rapid changes of media and society. (Sickle. 2012).

References
Chandrasekhar. Wardrop. Trotman. 2005. Phone Hacking: The Timeline of the Scandal. The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8634176/Phone-hacking-timeline-of-a-scandal.html (accessed date 14/03/2013).

Chapman. Greenwood. 2011. News International boss Rebekah Brooks is linked personally to private eye News of the World used in Milly Dowler phone scandal. Mail Online. The Daily Mail. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2011182/News-World-phone-hacking-Rebekah-Brooks-linked-Milly-Dowler-private-eye.html (accessed date 17/03/2013).

Johnston. 2007. Media Relations. Issues and Strategies. Allen & UNwin.

Rutter. 2011. Are our Media threatening the Public Good?. https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:YuP9GvjbZmwJ:www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/publications/Are%2520our%2520media%2520threatening%2520the%2520public%2520good.pdf+rutter+are+our+media+threatening+the+public&hl=en&gl=my&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESg52M0U47OU6Mv2VFO_q4RUJIebac5WDR1sazw-hy_qy1jywIdS--dbCVw6fTTPGSgeiFZ4P6RvWGhVlV3KEA1T1UparKFSkZ4b7L7KkseBgawFyx4UAPGzZYnVZw92kQeh0U0j&sig=AHIEtbSAUf3RpVLu3LiOm1GP__BYXsW0Ug (accessed date 18/03/2013).

Sickle. 2012. The Phone Hacking Scandal: Global Implications. http://www.carnegiecouncil.org/publications/ethics_online/0071.html (accessed date 15/03/2013).

Underwood. 2008. Mass Media: Pluralist View. Fourth Estate. http://www.cultsock.ndirect.co.uk/MUHome/cshtml/media/4estate.html (accessed date 15/03/2013).