As another Paper admits lying

[Oneeyedvic]

Is it time that legislation was brought in for the fourth Estate? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/75285 22.stm TV personality Kerry Katona has been awarded substantial damages over newspaper claims she worked as a prostitute before she was famous. The former Atomic Kitten singer has accepted an undisclosed amount following the libel case against the Sunday Mirror at London's High Court. The newspaper ran a story on 22 June which said Katona's mother intended to publish a book including the claims. It published an apology on Sunday, and said the claim was "entirely false".

[brachiopod]

In terms of invoving Criminal Law, well I don't think we should go down that route.

However, if a court found for a complainant, then the apology from the newspaper should occupy the same number of column inches as the offending article.

So if " ''X' CAUGHT IN DRUG-FUELLED TAX EVADING SPY GAY SEX PROSTITUTE ORGY RAPE" occupies the front page aswell as pages 4, 5, 6, 7 and a special pull-out-and-keep centre section, then the apology should occupy exactly the same space - perhaps filled with a rather boring reproduction of the court's findings in full and a somewhat less-than-attention-grabbing front page - all irrespective of what else happens to be in the news on the agreed date of publication of the apolgy.

Then watch their circulation and advertising revenues fall for that edition.

The b*stards.

:o)