THE SUNDAY TIMES

Transparency and honesty are essential in the delivering of facts, interpretations and judgements. The vested interests that lie behind those who disseminate need to be declared. Newspapers and journalists cannot escape the same requirements. The coverage of the judgement by the Sunday Times has not been impartial.

The Court of Appeal confirmed that the defendants were liable for libel and malicious falsehood in respect of meanings 2 and 3, that they knew the meanings 2 and 3 were untrue, that the journalists were malicious in relation to meanings 2 and 3, that there were many shortcomings in the Sunday Times articles. Consequently, the Court of Appeal made an award of £50,000 for damages in favour of the claimant and maintained the injunction relating to meanings 2 and 3.

This weekend, the Sunday Times has devoted two full pages to lauding their success re meaning 1. Peter Cruddas has no such access to soap box his views, advertise his success or air brush his loss. Who then is the David and who the Goliath, and with whom is integrity found?

At its heart, money, power, networks and influence have been at play in the political, judicial, media and personal circles concerned. Just as politicians and judges must declare their interests, so must newspapers and journalists. The truth remains that politicians, judges, newspaper editors and journalists are all pursuing their careers, securing their incomes, feathering their nests, guarding their reputations, extending their influence and dissembling over their motives; all are at the same game, all are feeding from the same apple.

The sinister difference being, that the Sunday Times and its journalists, can bury truths they find uncomfortable under mountains of verbiage, as they too are found wanting and as they participate in the power brokers' corrupt masquerade.

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/comment/leaders/article1534338.ece