These are incredibly tough times for quality journalism across Britain, and cuts at the BBC -- the country's flagship broadcaster -- are making things even worse.

The Leveson report has been a long time coming. Since 1949 there have been five inquiries into the operation of the press in Britain. On each occasion, we have heard the same kind of outcry against independent scrutiny from media barons, a narrow band of newspaper pundits and politicians who serve the rich and powerful.