Live webchat with Hugh Grant (!!!) about the Leveson report and press reform, Monday 10 December, 8pm

[JustineMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce that sleb-actor-turned-campaigner Hugh Grant (yes it's Hugh ) is joining us for a webchat tonight, Monday, December 10 at 8pm.

Hugh keen to talk to us about the Leveson report and press reform. As you probably know he's been a prominent member of Hacked Off, and before that was best known for his quintessential English gent roles in movies such as Four Weddings and a Funeral and Love Actually.

Hacked Off is an alliance of victims of press abuse, journalists, academics, lawyers and others who successfully campaigned for a public inquiry into the phone hacking scandal.

And now that the inquiry's been held (by Lord Leveson), Hacked Off wants all Leveson's recommendations for press reform implemented.

(This webchat is focused on Leveson, so we hope you'll understand that Hugh will prioritising Qs about that ahead of Qs about his career/personal life/choice of biscuits - although, if there's time, he will do his best to address a few of those too.)

So, join us and Hugh, online at 8pm tonight. If you can't make it then, you can post up advance questions on this thread.

Excellent! I'll be back to post a question, once I've had a good 'think' about it.

i love Hugh Grant, and lucky for him im looking for a boyfriend this christmas

I have one!

I really enjoyed watching your good self on News Night (almost as much as Justine ).

Despite the fact you can clearly hold your own, and are able to debate intelligently and very well, do you think people try and represent you as the 'sleb spoke person, rather than an advocate for a very important issue? Do you think the media will continue to think people who, to an extent, choose to be in the limelight are fair game, (like the Duchess of Cambridge and those photos for example) whilst making sympathetic noises for people such as Milly Dowlers parents?

Is it true that no other publications are likely to be charged with any wrongdoings; as the Motorman report appears to have been sat on?

oooo!

Since your involvement with Hacked Off have you noticed any difference in the way the paps + press treat you? Do they hold back or are they more aggressive?

OK, I've had a think (!) and this is my question - Hugh, welcome! Fantastic to have you here talking about this issue. My question is on the media response to the Leveson report - it's clear (to me) that Cameron has weighed up the potential fall out from backing the report in full, when faced with the 'backlash' that would follow from the printed press, and back-tracked from the intitial 'if the recommendations aren't bonkers, I'll back it' to 'lets not be hasty...rubicon...blah' stance - in light of this, do you think there is a realistic chance of the recommendations being implemented when the media still have such a huge influence over those who would be/should be responsible for pushing the recommendations through parliament? Are there any compromises that you/Hacked Off would deem acceptable to get the bulk of the recommendations through i.e. is there any part of the report recommendations that would be acceptable to be implemented at the expense of other recommendations?

Also, given the media focus on Hacked Off, and those who back the campaign i.e. who are they, where is the funding coming from? - do you, or Hacked Off, have any plans to show some more transparency on that point, to address that 'concern' from the media?

Oh my.
This IS good news.

Hi Hugh!

Do you think that the general public have been complicit in the activities of the more unscrupulous newspapers by continuing to purchase them?

(And advertisers too?)

Don't have a question, just want to say Well Done, That Man.

No question - just wanted to say you were FAB at the inquiry - spoke more sense than anyone else

Hi Hugh, no question, but also want to say well done. Fed up with the gutter press and refuse to participate in their crap by purchasing their rags.

Also just wanted to add my 'well done'. I've seen you talk (a lot) very passionately, and it's nice to see someone willing to make a stand, and stand up for EVERYONE.

You talk a lot of sense, and very eloquently.

MWAH MWAH MWAH MWAH

im still thinking of my question, but i will see you at 8, i'll bring the mistletoe

Do you think prostitution is a victimless crime or paid rape? Doubt my q will get asked, but hey-ho worth a go.

I have always thought 'slebs who actively 'court' the media should be differentiated from the professional actors etc who try to keep their private life away from the media.

Do you think if the media had two different levels of reporting for the two different types of celebrity, it would help to distinguish in the publics minds who is an actually being hounded and those who set it up themselves?

I.e. if PA has an article about some drivel, the public would then know he's opted into that type of relationship with the media. So know to accept it as chip paper but if someone like yourself is subject of the same type of 'oh look he's walked from a car to a shop' article the public then know you didn't ask for any type of commentary about your life and we should be avoiding those articles/complaining, feeling socially uncomfortable with the intrusion.

Hello. You were great at the Leveson inquiry. Firstly, Well done for speaking up on behalf of those who don't have a voice. Just after you gave evidence the Daily Mail wrote a pretty scathing response to your comments about them, which, if I remember correctly, Leveson was not very pleased about.

Do you feel that since then their coverage of you has been more or less positive? Or don't you care?

Do you think that it will be possible to persuade Cameron to change his mind about his complete betrayal of the people you have been representing refusal to even consider some of Leveson's proposals? Is he motivated by the desire for positive press coverage? And what do you think of the proposed bill Milliband has put forward today?

Sorry, lots of questions there. Ignore as many as you like :)

Hi Hugh,

Do you think after this enquiry they might be a shift in the way newspapers deal with salicious or so called investigated scandals.

Do you think the jounalists can wash the slate clean and start with a more integrity in their reporting or will it never change ?

I feel personally that even middle road newspapers using more & more gutter press antics.

So fingers crossed for more moral standards even if they are just enforced by rules.

Sorry, I know I'm breaking the guidelines by asking another question. But do you think the web news and social media, blogs, forums etc, should be subject to the same scrutiny and regulations as the press or would this be unworkable in practice?

I'll shut up now.

Hi Hugh, I saw you on This Morning and thought you were great. What are your views on the disc jockeys in Australia?

Hello Mr Grant,

Leveson agreed that the press "apply a demeaning and sexualizing lens" to women. Personally I think The Sport should be placed on the top shelf along with the rest of the porn and that ppl who take non-consensual 'upskirt' shots, (possibly along with anyone who describes a 4 yr old as "cavorting provocatively in a tiny pink swimsuit"), should be placed on the sex offenders register.

What do you think can practicably be done about issues like these and do you think media sexism is likely to change because of Leveson?

In your opinion, is Paul Dacre an actual cunt or is it all just media spin?

Hello Hugh {almost faints}

Reform of the press is very badly needed, they seem to think that it's OK to snoop into the lives of others at will. Surely the human rights act (home and family life) should come into play here (not a question, just a thought)? Do you agree with the findings of the Leveson inquiry?

Would you like to come and join us for Christmas lunch? Roast goose?

mcmooncup

Hugh

I will personally think a lot less of you if you don't answer mcmooncups question