Newsnight: Public say press regulation has failed

A poll for the BBC's Newsnight programme reveals that 85% of people think the phone hacking scandal shows press self-regulation has failed and much tighter controls are needed.

Here is a digest of the poll conducted by ComRes for Newsnight in which 1,002 British adults were questioned between 9-12 December 2011.

Those polled were asked if they agree or disagree with various statements about the revelations of the phone hacking scandal and its likely impact on the future of newspapers?

• 85% agree that the phone hacking scandal shows that the current regulatory arrangements for newspapers have failed and they should face much tighter regulations
• 50% agree that the phone hacking scandal will accelerate the demise of newspapers
• While 49% agree that they are confident that, following the Leveson Inquiry into the phone hacking scandal, newspapers will improve their ethical standards, 45% disagree

The phone hacking scandal shows that the current regulatory arrangements for newspapers have failed and they should face much tighter regulations.
Agree: 85%
Disagree: 11%
Don’t know: 4%

The phone hacking scandal will accelerate the demise of newspapers.
Agree: 50%
Disagree: 43%
Don’t know: 7%

Hacking the phones of celebrities is not as bad as hacking the phones of ordinary people like Milly Dowler and the McCanns.
Agree: 30%
Disagree: 68%
Don’t know: 2%

I am confident that, following the Leveson Inquiry into the phone hacking scandal, newspapers will improve their ethical standards.
Agree: 49%
Disagree: 45%
Don’t know: 6%

The phone hacking scandal and impact on newspaper readership.

• 60% agree that they would not buy a newspaper whose journalists had been caught illegally hacking the phones of celebrities. However, 1 in 3 (34%) disagree.
• 55% disagree that revelations of phone hacking by newspaper staff would not affect their decision whether or not to buy that newspaper, 41% agree.

I would not buy a newspaper whose journalists had been caught illegally hacking the phones of celebrities.
Agree: 60%
Disagree: 34%
Don’t know: 6%

I would not buy a newspaper whose journalists had been caught illegally hacking the phones of ordinary families caught in the media spotlight such as that of Milly Dowler or the McCanns.
Agree: 72%
Disagree: 25%
Don’t know: 3%

Revelations of phone hacking by newspaper staff would not affect my decision whether or not to buy that newspaper.
Agree: 41%
Disagree: 55%
Don’t know: 4%

The recent tabloid scandals have made me stop wanting to follow celebrity tittle-tattle.
Agree: 48%
Disagree: 40%
Don’t know: 12%