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The book was followed by a second report
designed to inform debate around the Leveson
Inquiry. Entitled Regulating the Press: a
comparative study of international press
councils, it was published in April 2012.
– comprehensive statutory requirements for
public service content; incentivised voluntary
ethical standards for the rest of the media; and
baseline protections for children. Regulation
should be incentivised as a selling point for
media providers – a way of differentiating
their offering in an increasingly competitive,
global market – rather than as a burdensome
constraint shuffled off at the first opportunity’.
‘I interviewed the chairs and ombudsmen of
a range of press and media regulators across
the world. I looked at statutory and voluntary
approaches and found each of the countries
grappling with the same profound challenges
as we are. For example what is the role and
status of new media, and how do you enable
citizens to make informed choices about
converging content across broadcasting, print
and online media platforms?’
Lara combines her interest in the media
with a wider interest in governance and
accountability. She is a non-executive board
member of the London Probation Trust and
chairs the governing body at the Children’s
Hospital School at Great Ormond Street and
UCH.
Her Reuters Institute research came to the
attention of the Leveson Inquiry which is
how Lara came to be in Court Room 73 at
the Royal Courts of Justice on a sunny July
Lara giving evidence at the Leveson Inquiry
afternoon being closely questioned by Robert
Jay QC and Lord Justice Leveson.
‘It was a “Through the Looking Glass”
experience. After watching the hearings so
avidly from home, it was extraordinary to
find myself in the hot seat, following in the
footsteps of David Cameron, the Murdochs
and Rebecca Brooks. I was delighted to find
such interest from the Inquiry in my reports
and their recommendations. With a new
Communications Act on the horizon, as well as
the final report of the Leveson Inquiry, it’s a
fascinating time to be working in this area’. n
ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2012/39