who is the true villain? The media, of course. Philpott was "a good story". First for local papers; then for Jeremy Kyle; then for national tabloids... goading him on... "do worse, do worse Mick... get headlines, give us content... be disgraceful... 17 children! Two wives! My God you're dreadful but let's build you up; give you more inches in our rags and on our screens. Children as earners - benefit wages... it's a good story. No, it's a GREAT story! How about burning your house down Mick? And killing six children? Great story! Little white coffins! Great pictures!"

Sorry to be cynical and of course these thoughts didn't officially go through their heads, but this is the deep, unthinking immorality of the media that Leveson SHOULD have been looking at. The media ignores the repercussions. If Lord Leveson or someone with responsibility, brains, power and influence said - DO NOT PUBLISH these stories. DO NOT encourage the "hide young girl under bed, say she's gone missing, make money" loonies to get ideas there would be one, united media response...


NOOOO! It's a great story! We MUST print/carry/air GREAT STORIES! Who cares if they are true or about dead people or encourage criminal behaviour, only one thing matters. It's a great story.

And that applies to all media - The Guardian, the BBC, Twitter...

So who's to blame? We are. We can't resist a good story. Why do you think I've written this?