Tuesday 15 April 2014
Summary | ||
The Defence of Andy Coulson Contines | ||
Counsel for Coulson continues question about production | ||
Contact with the Police | ||
Coulson’s knowledge of Phone Hacking | ||
The Milly Dowler Story | ||
Phone calls with Rebehak Brooks | ||
Contacts with Surry Police | ||
Changes to Milly Dowler Stories | ||
Coulson as Editor of News of the World | ||
News of the World Think Tank | ||
Coulson’s opinion of Senior Journalists | ||
The PCC Code | ||
Subterfuge | ||
Public Interest | ||
Dark Arts | ||
Legal Clearance to Publish | ||
News of the World Campaigns |
The Defence of Andy Coulson Contines | ||
Counsel for Coulson continues question about production | ||
Back at the #hackingtrial after a slight delay. Andy Coulson, former editor of NOTW, carries on with his evidence in chief. | ||
Timothy Langdale QC explores on last topic on the production of NOTW with his client Andy Coulson: he goes to the floor plan of the office | ||
Jury shown a NOTW floor plan from 24/10/07 – before the move to the Thomas More Square. | ||
Langdale explores the topography of Coulson and Wallis’ offices. There’s an empty office between the editor and deputy editor. | ||
Kuttner’s office is close to Coulson and Wallis’ offices. PA for both editors and managing editor nearby | ||
Coulson explains how the secret office at NOTW had moved to a “corridor running out of main office”: then the doors were moved. | ||
Coulson explains the purpose of the secret NOTW office: “to protect stories that are sensitive and we didn’t want leaked” | ||
“On a Sunday paper your exclusives are very important property, and you do anything to prevent them being leaked” says Coulson | ||
There were no curtains. “Over time the Art Editor… would take proofs of a front page… and paste it on the glass” says Coulson | ||
Coulson asked about the “soundproofing” because Wallis shouted so much: “It’s nonsense” – though he points out Wallis stayed after he left | ||
The #hackingtrial jury are now shown the topography of features and sports hubs at NOTW – the editorial conference room nearby | ||
Back bench, middle bench and subs (times 22) of NOTW are shown to jury: “the production engine of the newspaper” says Coulson | ||
Some subs were staff, others came in on a temporary basis as the NOTW neared production, explains Andy Coulson. | ||
Coulson explains how the sports operation of NOTW would move into the adjacent Sun offices on the Saturday. | ||
As for the rivalries between the Sunday and daily: “it was more an issue for the Sun than the NOTW” because a corridor passed their offices | ||
Andy Coulson explains “in general terms” he’d spend early part of week in his office: by Friday he’d spend “more time on the back bench” | ||
Coulson would spend his time on the back bench looking at drafts, the back of the book, and the flood of sources and stories coming in | ||
“I’d either be looking at Hermes, the editorial system, or… sketches of the paper” says Coulson of the last cycles of production. | ||
“Back of the book” pages might be ready by Thursday: a “dummy” was created by pasting in other pages with glue by Saturday evening. | ||
Coulson explains how a dummy was made up of the whole paper, but separate pages handed around. He would mark pages or talk to art editors | ||
Langdale asks how much of the paper Coulson would actually be reading; “I wouldn’t have read every word” says Coulson. | ||
“I’d tend not to read early versions of material because it would change” says Coulson of Wednesdays and Thursdays. | ||
“I did my focused reading as we got closer to Saturday” Coulson says. He was more concerned with front page and bigger stories. | ||
Coulson says he’d also be focused on the underspread: he’d talk to Sun sports on a Saturday. | ||
Coulson speaks of the “production impact” of moving a story: at the time of the Milly Dowler story NOTW wasn’t full colour. | ||
“Colour pages take a lot longer to change” Coulson explains compared to black an white: “As a general rule I looked to the mono pages first” | ||
Changes to NOTW between editions were “reasonably common” says Coulson: every edition under his editorship had change he thinks. | ||
Coulson says mistakes would be fixed straight away for the second edition of NOTW. | ||
“If you’re late with your first edition it’s a domino effect” says Coulson of the financial costs of missing deadlines. | ||
“It’s frenetic” says Coulson of the Friday and Saturday leading to the publication of NOTW. | ||
Of the editorial conference ‘story list’ Coulson says “quite a lot” wouldn’t make the paper. Other stories the News Ed “wouldn’t list” | ||
“If a news editor was nervous about a story leaking” says Coulson “he might not put it on the list”. | ||
Some stories might be lost to daily papers: others held over for the next week. | ||
Coulson estimates that any story would be looked at by at least five people a) reporters b) news desk c) backbench d) chief sub e) sub | ||
Lawyers would be “in conference most days” says Coulson of NOTW meetings. Reporters should report and write ‘Please Legal’ | ||
“The News Editor should have the law in mind… Harry Scott on the back bench might say “hold on there’s an issue here” says Coulson | ||
Coulson says most news stories in NOTW “would have been looked at by a lawyer” | ||
Justice Saunders asks about more secret stories: “wouldn’t be discussed at conference… if people felt nervous” says Coulson | ||
Coulson talks about the presence of other senior NI staff who would be in conversation with him as editor, either in phone or in person | ||
Coulson says senior NI execs would ask about the “content of the paper” | ||
Contact with the Police | ||
Langdale addresses the issue of “contact with the police” and NOTW in “general terms”: they co-operated in general terms says Coulson. | ||
“It depended on issue and the story, but we would work with the police. Part of the NOTW’s DNA was catching criminals” says Coulson | ||
“The NOTW came in contact with the police in regular occasions” says Coulson of the success of investigative reporters such as Maz Mahmood | ||
Coulson denies his reporters “tried to get in the way… It wasn’t the NOTW’s role to interfere with police investigations” | ||
“There were occasions when the police wanted… NOTW’s help….sometimes we acted effectively as the police’s agents” says Coulson. | ||
Coulson explains a Fake Sheikh tip off about the purchase of Red Mercury for a ‘dirty bomb’: they were directed by police to continue. | ||
The Red Mercury story was a “long process that ended in a trial” says Coulson, and estimates it was sometime in 2004: trial 2006 | ||
Langdale now turns to the ‘Sarah’s Law’ campaign that started when Coulson was Brooks’ deputy: it continued under his editorship and beyond | ||
“By the time I became editor the campaign was by no means at its peak, and it ebbed and flowed” says Coulson of Sarah’s Law. | ||
The “big moment” for Sarah’s Law under Coulson’s editorship was the agreement of Home Secretary John Reid to publish sex offender addresses | ||
Coulson’s knowledge of Phone Hacking | ||
Coulson says he “was aware of it in very vague terms” of phone hacking in 2002: “It was in the ether… gossiped about” | ||
However, the term phone hacking wasn’t used in early noughties, says Coulson. He says he wasn’t aware it was widespread. | ||
“I don’t think I knew in any detail… I assumed it was to do with voicemail messages” says Coulson of phone hacking. | ||
Coulson says he “possibly heard” that voicemail hacking was do with PIN codes. | ||
Coulson says he thinks had a mobile and voicemail messages himself in 2000: he can’t remember if he had a PIN | ||
Coulson thinks that circa 2000 it was expensive to use mobiles abroad, and so he probably first used PIN code on his personal phone then | ||
BREAKING: Coulson denies ever being party to phone hacking at News of the World. | ||
He also denies any knowledge of, or being party to, hacking of Milly Dowler‘s phone in 2002 | ||
Coulson says he was unaware phone hacking was a crime in 2002 but thought it was “intrusive… a breach of privilege… lazy journalism” | ||
Coulson explains that the people he worked with were never interest in phone hacking. | ||
Coulson confirms that phone hacking was only specifically mentioned in PCC code in 2004: “I’m certain I would have known” of change he says | ||
The Milly Dowler Story | ||
Langdale turns to the NOTW edition of 14/04/02 which Coulson edited, and contained details of Milly Dowler voicemails. | ||
Langdale points out the previous edition of NOTW had mentioned Milly Dowler‘s disappearance. | ||
Langdale goes through ‘agreed facts’ or ‘admissions’ over Milly Dowler including the fact that Mulcaire began hacking her mobile 10/04/02 | ||
Langdale says by 02/04/02 Milly Dowler‘s father was considered (completely wrongly) to be have been a suspect. | ||
Coulson says he was aware of (false) police suspicions about Milly Dowler‘s father and “was aware of it” before NOTW edition produced | ||
Langdale picks up 26/03/02 news schedule for NOTW the week before Rebekah Brooks went on holiday. | ||
A reporter is attached to the Milly Dowler story on these late March NOTW schedules: Coulson explains how that reporter might change | ||
Coulson says a news editor wouldn’t necessarily have to ask him about changing reporters by-lines. | ||
On the timeline Kuttner’s notebook for 29/03/02 shows him making notes to contact Surrey Police | ||
Coulson says that Kuttner might well not inform an editor about approaches to police, but it could come up in conference. | ||
Langdale adduces Kuttner’s draft Milly Dowler leader for News of the World from 30/03/02 | ||
“My Fears for Milly” and Sarah Payne article appears in NOTW on that Sunday. Then a Milly Reward entry in Kuttners notebooks. | ||
Second entry in Stuart Kuttner‘s notebooks for police numbers in that first week in April. “Missing Milly’ still on NOTW list for 05/04/02 | ||
Sarah Arnold and Ben Proctor are named for the draft story weekend of the 07/04/02: double page article ‘Milly the Last Pictures’ in NOTW | ||
From 07/04/02 Coulson is editor in Brooks absence: ‘Missing Milly” still on NOTW News List – Peter Rose now attached as reporter. | ||
Coulson doesn’t know why the Milly Missing story went down the list: “very early in the week… very much a work in progress” | ||
Glenn Mulcaire tasked on Wednesday 10/04/02 to hack Milly Dowler‘s phone on timeline. 12/04/02 – Ryan Sabie also reporting on Dowler | ||
Coulson confirms that Ryan Sabie was a third reporter on the Dowler story with a new story: 17/04/02 same story carried over | ||
Phone calls with Rebehak Brooks | ||
Langdale cites 11/04/02 a call from Brooks in Dubai to Editor’s desk at NOTW: Coulson confirms that would be a way of contact him. | ||
Coulson explains it’s the editor’s office number, not his direct line – so can’t be sure if he spoke to Brooks or anyone else did. | ||
Coulson says it wouldn’t be unusual for Brooks to call while she was away – and the calls would increase as NOTW neared production | ||
Coulson and Brooks are also in contact with Dave Reid over those days: pages missing from Coulson’s bundle. To be sorted in break | ||
Langdale continues his questioning of Coulson with an up to date bundle over texts to Dave Reid. | ||
Langdale explains a NOTW front page on Eastenders and Michael Greco: Coulson confirms he was organising an interview. | ||
Brooks was also involved in procuring the story of a departing Eastenders actor that weekend. | ||
“I’m not suggesting Michael Greco is unimportant” says Justice Saunders while confirming the meaning of front page ‘splash’ | ||
Missing Milly story still on NOTW new list on Friday 12/04/02 when a number of reporters sent up to Telford to see if Milly was there. | ||
Coulson says “I don’t think I was aware people were being sent to Telford”. That same day Brooks calls editor’s desk at NOTW. | ||
There are various calls and texts on that Friday 12/04/02 between Brooks and Coulson – could have been about “any number of things” | ||
Thurlbeck contacts Monday’s recruitment agency that Friday. Chris Bucktin claims expenses to Telford | ||
More texts and calls between Brooks and Coulson – a call in the afternoon for over 30 mins: Coulson says she could have spoken to others | ||
This was not the first time Coulson had edited NOTW in Brooks’ absence: 2 years in he estimates he would have taken over 6-8 times per annum | ||
There is a call from Neville Thurlbeck to Coulson that Friday evening at 9.43 – Coulson calls him back and talks for 4 minutes on 12/04/02 | ||
Coulson reiterates that on that Friday: “I don’t think I did know reporters had been sent to Telford”. | ||
“Neville was standing in as news editor that week” says Coulson: “seems logical he was… talking about 1st editions of other newspapers” | ||
“I can’t say that was the conversation, it was so long ago, but that seems logical” says Coulson of Thurlbeck conversation. | ||
Coulson was told about Dowler recruitment rumours: “It seems logical to me… I was told Milly Dowler had taken a job… in a factory” | ||
“It may have come out in a conference, it may have been said to me directly… I was very clear about my reaction to that…It was nonsense” | ||
“The idea that she could walk into a factory and take a job seems ludicrous to me” says Coulson of Milly Dowler recruitment story | ||
Coulson never gave any “credence” to this rumour given the high profile disappearance. | ||
“Internally the paper believed, very sadly Milly Dowler was dead… and there was the suggestion… her father was involved” says Coulson | ||
Coulson remembers this “false” information about father being present at a “very early stage” in NOTW’s coverage of the Milly Dowler story | ||
Coulson says sending reporters to Telford was “the news editors job” and he wouldn’t necessarily been made aware of it. | ||
Vanessa Altin, Coulson believes, was based in Essex not London. He doesn’t remember one photographer, but remembers Peter Powell | ||
Coulson can’t remember “Chris Bucktin” very well. Dominic Herbert he remembers as a district reporter. Dave Goddard based in Manchester | ||
Coulson remembers Anna Gekoski as London based. | ||
On Saturday 13/04/02 Brooks is calling Harry Scott night editor early in the morning. Other NOTW contacts cited in timeline that day. | ||
Coulson texts Dave Reid over Eastender story – two calls, one long one very short, from Brooks in Dubai to editor’s desk that Saturday PM | ||
“We’re moving closer to production… Rebekah… might have wanted to know if Rupert Murdoch had called,” says Coulson of Brooks’ calls. | ||
Contacts with Surry Police | ||
Both Thurlbeck and Kuttner were in contact with Surrey Police that afternoon 13/04/02 – Thurlbeck telling them he had PIN number | ||
Coulson says “I don’t think I was aware” of Kuttner’s contact with Surrey Police, and never knew of Thurlbeck’s accessing voicemails | ||
Coulson says, had he been aware of Dowler’s voicemail access: “My instinctive concern would have been interference in police investigation” | ||
More contact from Thurlbeck to Surrey Police that night saying NOTW had two versions of the Dowler story ready to go on 13/04/02 | ||
Thurlbeck contacts McGregor at Surrey police about a hoaxer – too late to change edition of NOTW he told her. Coulson not aware of this. | ||
“I don’t believe that’s right” says Coulson of knowledge of any changes to the story of Dowler at NOTW. That night the father told of hoaxer | ||
“I don’t remember anything about it” says Coulson of police passing on information about voicemail messages to Milly Dowler‘s father. | ||
BREAKING: Coulson says “I don’t remember having any discussion about Milly Dowler with Rebekah” during her absence in Dubai in April 2002 | ||
Langdale adduces the billing on Coulson’s phone relating to Dave Reid, PR guy involved in Michael Greco Eastender’s story. | ||
A message from Ian Kirby to Brooks on Saturday 13/04/02 sets out ‘main stories of the day’ and SAS heroes getting a congressional medal | ||
Langdale adduces a Stuart Kuttner document for £1000 plus news items – it mentions £2k on ‘Missing Milly’ story. | ||
Coulson “hazards a guess” that these costs relate to SA Milly (Sue Arnold a reporter on the Dowler Telford story): he wouldn’t have seen doc | ||
Coulson reiterates that he never thought that anyone at the NOTW hacked Milly Dowler‘s phone. | ||
Changes to Milly Dowler Stories | ||
“I’ve seen the changes that were made so I can track back and work out what logically would have happened” says Coulson of Milly stories | ||
On first edition story of Dowler story with voicemails: “I may have concluded it came from sources.. .perhaps police stories” says Coulson | ||
Langdale goes through the first edition of NOTW on 14/04/02 – pages 1-37: in total the paper would range from 96-120 pages. | ||
Langdale goes through the edition of NOTW – front page splash ‘Beppe Blasts Eastenders” – a spread follows on subsequent pages. | ||
Langdale cites the Leader Page on Page 5 about Israel and Palestine: articles by Richard Perle: “A former Reagan adviser” says Coulson | ||
“It was something of a minor coup for us” says Coulson about getting Perle to write for NOWT, and Rupert Murdoch would be interested. | ||
Coulson remembers having a conversation with Rupert Murdoch about Richard Perle: “I think it was on this occasion” says Coulson. | ||
The Missing Milly story is on the next page: Coulson has no idea why Robert Kellaway got the by-line. | ||
Langdale reads the original Dowler story which cites the voice mail messages left Midland’s employment agency. | ||
NOTW article, seen many times before in Court 12, mentions various messages and sets out a timetable of her disappearance. | ||
Coulson says “I don’t remember reading this story” but the fact a “senior officer leading the hunt” suggests a police source. | ||
Coulson points out that there’s no “exclusive” or NOTW “investigates” seal: “I would have thought this is an unremarkable story” | ||
Coulson says he would have concluded, if he say the article, this went out to other newspapers and that police would have been source. | ||
Coulson says he might well have been involved in placing story but only insofar as “Milly goes on page nine” | ||
Coulson says ‘new picture’ may have been the “main motivation” for putting Milly Dowler story on P9: “helpful to find missing schoolgirl” | ||
On pages 10 and 11 – is the exclusive SBS Ian Kirby story. 12-13 a Beckham spread: 14-15 Ad and Show Biz column. 16-17 Skyjackers | ||
Langdale runs through the remaining spreads of NOTW on 14/04/02 – Falklands story, Linford Christie, Fire, a free one hour video promotion | ||
24-25 NOTW “to do with TV stars without many clothes” says Langdale. Ali Ross column: Coulson: “he was on NOTW until Rebekah pinched him” | ||
More pages on paedophiles, drugs, Rolling Stones, ads, Ian Duncan Smith, Michael Winner from that NOTW edition adduced by Langdale | ||
Coulson says the significance of Milly Dowler compared to other stories: “I don’t want to appear dismissive of fact she was missing” | ||
“I don’t think I rated this as a story” says Coulson : “Hoax stories aren’t really stories… this is a hoax wrapped in the riddle” | ||
Langdale turns to NOTW 3rd edition in which Dowler story had changed content, and was moved from page 9 to page 31 | ||
Langdale says the prosecution are suggesting the move was to hide voicemail messages were used at NOTW. | ||
Coulson says there were two reasons it would have been removed: a) not a significant story b) for cosmetic reasons. | ||
Without seeming “trivial” Coulson explains why Dowler story was moved for ‘cosmetic’ reasons: “a mix of different types of stories” | ||
“I went through the paper and the mix was wrong” says Coulson of moving Dowler voicemail stories: serious and lighter stories “spaced out” | ||
Langdale goes through the third edition of NOTW on 14/04/02 and the differences in editions. He pauses at “new page nine” on SBS Heroes. | ||
Justice Saunders confirms that the SBS story was in previous edition. Coulson says “it’s the same story” given greater prominence. | ||
A Star Trek story is bumped. The rest of the pages to Milly Dowler story on page 30 are pretty much the same | ||
The new version of Dowler story has new by line of Arnold. Talks of ‘deranged hoaxer’ giving agency “Milly’s real mobile number” | ||
This third edition does not cite any voice mails – police say hoaxer has hampered other high profile inquiries. | ||
Story has an appeal from Milly Dowler‘s godmother again: asking for her to call. | ||
Coulson says backbenches or newsdesk would have been responsible for changing story. He says he normally wouldn’t be involved. | ||
Coulson says there was nothing to hide in this story, but he has no memory of moving or altering it. | ||
“I would have expected it to have been looked at by a lawyer” says Coulson of Dowler story. | ||
Coulson says that a lawyer reading 1st Edition Milly Dowler story “may have been prompted to ask some questions about it” – no alarm bell | ||
Coulson says “I don’t remember any conversation” with a lawyer about the Dowler voicemail story | ||
Coulson: “Can I reinforce one point… I mentioned mix of the paper. There was a lack of glamorous content at front of paper” | ||
Coulson says he moved a picture caption up the pages – it was a mono picture – to make paper more attractive. “Glamorous content” | ||
“Only black and white glamour” points out Justice Saunders. | ||
Back after lunch at #hackingtrial – Andy Coulson continuing with is evidence in chief, questioned by his QC Timothy Langdale. | ||
Langdale completes the Milly Dowler ‘aspect’ of Coulson’s evidence by going back to April 2002 timeline. | ||
Langdale turns to the moment Brooks returns from Dubai on 14/04/02 – and further contact with Kuttner and Police and further NOTW pieces. | ||
BREAKING: Coulson says he cannot remember a conversation with Brooks about Milly Dowler story on her return from Dubai holiday | ||
“It’s possible I would have avoided a conversation about Milly Dowler” says Coulson: “I wouldn’t have wanted to highlight got mix wrong” | ||
More ‘Missing Milly’ entries on the NOTW news list for the next couple of weeks – Coulson had gone on holiday from 21/04/02 | ||
Coulson as Editor of News of the World | ||
Langdale now turns to the time of Coulson’s editorship of NOTW which began 14/01/03 | ||
Coulson didn’t “assume” he’d be editor: but he met with senior NI exec and was told of his promotion. | ||
Internal NI memo cited by Langdale about the appointment of Andy Coulson to editorship of NOTW | ||
Coulson explains he had about 160 people under his editorship, the vast majority were journalists – production or reporting. | ||
Coulson says there was a separate NOW office in Scotland, Ireland and ‘for a period’ in Manchester – a handful | ||
Coulson says he’s “primary focus was on producing…. a competitive paper, a successful paper”. He initiated a re-design. | ||
Coulson also focused on the marketing budget of NOTW. The paper won Newspaper of the Year, and Sunday Newspaper of the year several times. | ||
In terms of management style, Coulson says he tried to “fair, firm at time. No doubt occasions I lost my temper… pretty quick to apologise | ||
“I wanted to create… continue a team feeling on the paper” says Coulson: “I took a lot of pride in finding talented people” | ||
“I took a great pride in being part of people’s careers” says Coulson. “I liked to congratulate people in front of the office.” | ||
Coulson says though “newspaper competitive business deadline driven” he wanted people to enjoy working at NOTW. | ||
“I’m not a bully” says Coulson. “80s and 90s was a very different era” he adds though. | ||
Coulson “absolutely rejects” the idea there was any bullying culture during his editorship of NOTW. | ||
“I was out and about quite a bit” says Coulson, building relationships with people. “You get to know more interesting people” as he rose up | ||
“I continued doing what I did as a reporter” says Coulson of keeping contacts outside the newspaper office. | ||
Coulson praises his PA as “fantastic…. when I talk about esprit du corps she was part of that.” Great travel and events organiser. | ||
“I’d say I was risk averse” says Coulson. “I had no interest in landing the paper in trouble… I’d be landing myself in trouble.” | ||
“As editor of the newspaper you’re the custodian of brand, and I took that seriously” says Coulson of his NOTW editorship | ||
Coulson talks about how some weeks he’d been hands on with the journalism – other weeks hands off. New printing presses took him away | ||
Project HAL involved purchasing big huge colour presses offsite: Coulson says “spent far too many years of my life” arguing prod deadlines | ||
“It’s impossible to micromanage a newspaper: there are too many moving parts” says Coulson: “you rely on people around you” | ||
Coulson talks about the ‘process’ at NOTW: “everyone knew what their jobs were: everyone knew what was expected of them” | ||
Langdale asks about the volume of emails at NOTW: a large number seen, “a much larger number not available” | ||
Coulson explains how the email traffic “increased as the week went on” and a “regular stream of email that turned into a bit of a torrent” | ||
Coulson said he generally dealt with his own emails. One of the windows on his computer system was always open to emails. | ||
Coulson says on the preview system he could see email without opening: “there were occasions I’d choose not to read email” | ||
Coulson says he “might or might not” read the back chain behind an email chain. Internal emails he was copied in on “part of production” | ||
“My not reading that email didn’t make me feel like I was falling down on the job” says Coulson of internal production emails. | ||
News of the World Think Tank | ||
Langdale cites a 14/09/04 Coulson email sent to his deputy Wallis among others: a summary from his NOTW Think Tank. | ||
“We had a think tank every year of my editorship” says Coulson: “they’re a tradition in newspapers… part bonding, part idea generating” | ||
“All of the execs, senior journalists, columnists” came to the annual think tanks. Coulson says Clive Goodman attended several. | ||
The last think tank was the “three peaks challenge” says Coulson: “more walking than thinking” in England, Scotland, Wales. | ||
Think tank included job Promotions: Celeb columnists (Hague and Urika mentioned): Spanish editions: a text promotion idea: Save the Planet | ||
“New cartoonist, internet revamp, anti PC campaign… Childrens Champs, Knives Campaign” all mentioned by Langdale in Think Tank | ||
Pensioners, Pets and School of Excellence also mentioned in this think tank. Lawyers in last section to deal with “dangers of dark arts” | ||
Coulson says he’d been running regular “PCC and legal refreshers” for his NOTW staff: ‘School of Excellence’ extended that to a full day. | ||
Half the day of this school of excellence would be involved in promotions ideas says Coulson. | ||
More Think Tank ideas cited by Langdale: email from Rachel Richardson TV reporter writes back about training day. | ||
Another internal NOTW email cited to Coulson about ‘Eastenders Orgy’ talks about Dave Reid as point of contact. | ||
“The girls who appear to be onside to the paper have provided some voicemail messages themselves” says Coulson of Eastenders Orgy story | ||
Coulson agrees these Eastenders stories have no voicemail hacking source. | ||
April 2005 email from Coulson cited to staff about need for quality stories: “we need a hit badly” | ||
Coulson asks staff in April 2005 to arrive in Tuesday “with 2 or 3 splash ideas” and Saturday meetings for desk heads. | ||
A message from NI exec to Coulson about executive pay cited by Langdale. Coulson replies wants to reward staff who’ve had “a cracking year” | ||
25/06/05 Coulson writes to Fran Goodman about a conversation remaining private. New rules established. | ||
25/01/06 Coulson writes to desk heads on 2006 being a tough year – praising Maz Mahmood’s work on Sven, but needing more ‘homegrown’ stories | ||
“More bigger agenda setting exclusives” was Coulson’s main agenda for a small NOTW gathering in early 2006. | ||
“On a lighter note” says Langdale in an email exchange between Coulson and another desk head: Coulson jokes he’s thinking of emigrating | ||
“Indicative of my approach” says Coulson of desk head “we were pulling each other’s leg” References transfer to News Corp’s Fijian Times | ||
Coulson’s opinion of Senior Journalists | ||
Langdale asks Coulson about another senior journalist who cannot be named for legal reasons – “hard working, focused… I liked him” | ||
Another senior NOTW journo who cannot be named for legal reasons “he worked hard… intelligent guy. Interesting ideas” | ||
This journo had taken a “step back down” after an unfortunate unhappy posting out of London. | ||
“He’s not afraid of speaking his mind” says Coulson of Wallis. Praises his encouragement of other journalists. Had great contacts. | ||
On Wallis “Neil was a friend of mine… I known him for a long time. Worked for him for a brief time when I was bizarre reporter” | ||
“He has the nickname of Wolfman and it’s all to do with his beard as far as I know” says Coulson of Neil Wallis. | ||
The PCC Code | ||
Item 3 of 1999 PCC code “justifying intrusions into private life without consent” and “listening devices and private phone conversations” | ||
The exceptions to the PCC privacy code are public interest exceptions | ||
2003 PCC Code also gives a public interest asterisk for ‘privacy’ and ‘listening devices… intercepting private telephone conversations’ | ||
Langdale turns to the PCC code, and asks Andy Coulson ‘particular points’ | ||
Coulson says ‘protection of sources’ in PCC code is “terribly important”. | ||
PCC Editor’s Code of Practice 2004 version now cited by Langdale: takes effect from 01/06/04 | ||
The differences in 2004 PCC Code adds “subterfuge” to “clandestine devices… intercepting mobile messages, emails” | ||
“On the face of it, if you intercepted someone’s voicemail messages from June 2004, you’d also be in breach of the code” says Langdale. | ||
Coulson says “I’m confident this would have been drawn to the attention of all my staff” | ||
Coulson says his deputy, Neil Wallis, was involved in drawing up this new PCC Editor’s Code in 2004 which includes voicemail messages. | ||
Coulson talks about the dangers of defamation and libel at NOTW: “One of the more serious risks” | ||
Subterfuge | ||
Coulson says “subterfuge” was an issue. He speaks about Maz Mahmood’s non Fake Sheikh investigations which required subterfuge | ||
Coulson talks about a Rob Kellaway story investigating airport security: another of a NOTW reporter becoming a prison officer. | ||
This NOTW reporter, Coulson says, found himself sitting outside the cell of Ian Huntley – the Soham murderer | ||
15/06/03 edition of NOTW shown to Jury: ‘How the Hell were we able to take this Photo?’ about security for Ian Huntley. | ||
09/11/03 NOTW edition also cited: action taken in courts against undercover reporter. | ||
At this time in November 2003, David Blunkett was Home Secretary – a ‘break out’ quote from him “praising McGee’s undercover report” | ||
“David Blunkett expressing his support for what NOTW had done” says Langdale of the undercover prison report. | ||
‘Charges against Huntley Jail Reporter Dropped’ says NOTW in 24/04/04 in Dave McGee case. | ||
Justice Saunders asks Coulson whether different lawyers for subterfuge other than libel: in house lawyers could consult outside counsel | ||
Public Interest | ||
Coulson explains his definition of public interest – officials lying or showing hypocrisy. | ||
“My rule of thumb on politicians was the public had the right to know who they were, what they were about” says Coulson. “A right to know” | ||
Coulson says of Snowden Guardian leaks “I think I would have turned them down – there is a potential here for putting lives at risk” | ||
“It’s a bit rich” says Coulson of celebrities making money out of their fame by “engaging with the media… weren’t in position to complain” | ||
Saunders asks Coulson whether celebrity PR would justify hacking celebrities voices mails:” Absolutely not” | ||
Coulson agrees that the public interest isn’t the same as what the largest number of people interested in. | ||
“I was particularly sensitive about children having become a father myself” says Coulson: “Can’t say hard and fast rule” on children stories | ||
Coulson talks about his life as a reporter – “blagging” a VIP pass for celebrity areas, or “blagging” a phone number. | ||
Coulson talks about “turning and spinning” mobiles: a “perfectly legal” method of getting addresses and contact details. | ||
Coulson talks about surviellance, hidden cameras concealed in video bags would be “classed under dark arts category” | ||
Coulson says that, by dark arts, he meant “investigative techniques”. He says “it’s an expression used in newspapers” | ||
“Watching people and following people” would be included in dark arts. “Blagging is a pretty broad term” says Coulson | ||
Dark Arts | ||
Langdale now goes back to Sept 2004 think thank on School of Excellence organised by Bob Warren and ‘dangers of dark arts’ | ||
Coulson says he “should have inspected” the issue of phone traffic – billing records etc – a bit more while editor of NOTW. | ||
Dark arts were on the “acceptable legal side of the line” says Coulson of newspaper techniques like blagging and surviellance | ||
“In extreme instances” says Coulson; he applied a “public interest” test to forms of surveillance. | ||
Coulson says he would include ‘phone traffic’ in the legal dark arts. | ||
Coulson agrees that phone hacking would have ‘crossed the line’ of dark arts and would be ‘unacceptable’ | ||
Coulson says he is “very confident” this NOTW School of Excellence first half of day would cover PCC code. He attended the lunch. | ||
“Every member of staff” would attend School of Excellence: the second session in the afternoon would consider how paper could improve. | ||
PCC Code on phone voicemails changed in June 2004. By the time of School of Excellence in September this would have been a topic. | ||
Coulson is asked about another NI exec who cannot be named for legal reasons. | ||
Coulson talks of his ‘respect’ for this “very experienced” person: “In general terms I followed x’s advice” | ||
This senior figure usually came to NOTW conference on Fridays and Saturdays – would spend Saturday on newsroom floor. | ||
Legal Clearance to Publish | ||
Getting stories “legalled” is “a given in newspapers” says Andy Coulson. | ||
NOTW headline about a Jockey and a ‘Fixer’ is mentioned by Langdale. Coulson says “it was my decision and a wrong decision” | ||
The headline was followed by litigation, and apology and “I believe it was settled” says Coulson of NOTW splash. | ||
“Pope Candidate and Paedophile” headline discussed by NOTW staff. Legal advice is that they couldn’t run story. | ||
Other legal battles over NOTW stories cited by Langdale in the #hackingtrial. | ||
“Do I need to spoof?” asks Coulson in another NOTW email. Sometimes “required from a legal perspective” to prevent injunctions. | ||
Coulson talks about another story – a Beckham exclusive – and a spoof edition to protect their story from “rivals” | ||
‘Broadmoor Pics’ also discussed in internal NOTW emails – no criminal legal bars, but possible PCC and privacy issues. | ||
“Am I OK?” is another “terse message” about legal issues at NOTW cited in court 12. | ||
“This exchange is my concern” about legal cover and “advice about the table leg” in some NOTW story (I’ve no clue either) | ||
Legal issues over Goodman’s Blackadder column mentioned in brief passing as Langdale goes over NOTW internal emails. | ||
“Have we legalled Ulrika lead?” asks Coulson in one email. “Robust but permissible comment” comes the reply. | ||
News of the World Campaigns | ||
Langdale now addresses Coulson’s various campaigns – Helping Hands, an anti bullying campaign. | ||
Coulson explains how he would lobby politicians over various campaigns, like compensation for 7/7 victims. | ||
“We were given assurances by politicians that didn’t come to pass” says Coulson of campaigns. “Not necessarily deceitful” | ||
Coulson explains how ministers would change jobs, so they’d have to “reapply pressure” for NOTW campaigns. | ||
08/06/03 Helping Hand campaign at NOTW start: “An anti bullying in schools” campaign, after schoolboy Karl Peart took his own life | ||
Langdale notices a column by Charles Clarke, then education secretary, who was supportive of Helping Hands NOTW campaign. | ||
Justice Saunders asks if this campaign meant legislation: Coulson says main aim was a Children’s Commissioner and bully policy in schools | ||
25/09/05 NOTW starts a campaign for accelerated compensation for 7/7 victims. | ||
Lord Stevens – the Chief – writes an article in support on 7/7 victim compensation. Charles Clarke ‘applauded’ for 7/7 Victory. | ||
May 2006 “Victims win 7/7 Victory – Compensation Doubled because of NOTW campaign” | ||
“What I’d like to make clear is that this story was published in the belief we had achieved victory for these people” says Coulson. | ||
Langdale turns to August 2004 story on David Blunkett. | ||
Langdale gives the “background”: Coulson was contacted while on holiday in Italy in July 2004. | ||
18/07/04 ‘Sven Week One’ mentions Goran Eriksson’s secret affair: it continued for numerous editions of the newspaper. | ||
25/07/02 Week Two of Svengate: Ryan Sabey exclusive “I bedded Sven and his boss” with Fariah Alam, citing her confidence to friend. | ||
“Week One was Fariah Alam anonymised” says Coulson. 01/08/04 Week Three 08/08/04 ‘Svengate exclusive Number Four’ | ||
On week Two of Svengate more info came to the paper: Fariah Alam “went to Max Clifford and sold her story to NOTW and Mail on Sunday” | ||
BREAKING: Coulson says Fariah Alam/Eriksonn story came from a ‘source’ known to him, and was paid for it. | ||
Coulson says the Alam buy-up was Week 4 of Svengate: he was on holiday for weeks 2 and 3 and has “some knowledge not complete” of sources | ||
Coulson says this four week Svengate series was “unusual”: “I remember I spent quite a bit of time on holiday dealing with it” | ||
Break till tomorrow 10 am |
Note: All the defendants deny all the charges. The trial continues.
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Kuttner Notes of Conversation with Goodman Just After his Arrest
Some of the Mysteries of Phone Hacking – Unlocked
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Texts to Rebekah Brooks from Tony Blair on the Eve of her Arrest
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