Fourth Estate or Political agenda?

It is quite surprising how journalism ethics seem to have been conveniently pushed aside as the public is subjected to days of information on MP's expenses.

Let's not though forget the basics.A national newspaper has paid money for information that has been obtained by illegal means

As Charlie Beckett says

Cheque-book journalism by a right wing newspaper has laid a Labour Government low and yet no-one seems to be blaming the media with any success. The charge of corruption, indifference and disdain levelled at the politicians of all colours seems to have too much resonance for anyone to worry seriously about the messenger.

Yet the implications could be far reaching.There is even some talk of a general election having to be called.

Let's just examine the Telegraph.

It could be accused of cynically exploiting the timings of its release to undermine a Labour government.Release Labour figures for the weekend papers to mull over and when the public has had enough,release the Tory ones which by all accounts are as bad.

Secondly release information that could be seen to be misleading,and without giving its victims a right to reply.How many codes of conduct does that break?

Yes there is the public interest aspect.This information will be portrayed as the fourth estate keeping our political masters under scrutiny as is its role.Yet I question whether this was done for that fact or to play a particular political agenda by the Telegraph