Those who would shackle the press should look to the Stephen Lawrence case
It was media campaigning that led to the convictions in the Stephen Lawrence case. Shackling them will not serve the nation's interests, says Dougal Paver.
When the Guardian newspaper describes something as "without question, the Mail's finest hour" you know there's merit in a free and questioning press. No friends, they, of Britain's tabloids, after all.
Their praise, of course, was levied in the light of the convictions in the Stephen Lawrence case - brought about, in no short measure, by the Daily Mail's bold and vigorous campaign against the accused.
They famously labelled them 'murderers' in a front page campaign opener, effectively daring them to sue. They never did.
The end result we're all familiar with but it flags another issue: press freedom. One would hope that the clamour among politicians to shackle the natural inquisitiveness of the media following the 'Hackgate' scandal would be tempered by the Mail's good work.
A free press may be messy, uncomfortable and occasionally step over the line, but it's an essential tool of democracy and a transparent, properly functioning executive. So lay off.
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