City University hacking debate: how far should a reporter go to get a story?

In what promises to be a riveting evening, City University's journalism faculty is staging a panel debate entitled How far should a reporter go? The lessons of the News of the World phone-hacking story . Speakers include Nick Davies , who has made all the running on the hacking revelations for The Guardian , former News of the World reporter Paul McMullan , solicitor Mark Lewis , who is acting for many alleged hacking victims, former director of public prosecutions, Ken Macdonald , and Max Mosley , the former Formula One chief who won a privacy action against the NoW after it revealed that he took part in sado-masochistic orgy. It will be chaired by Andrew Caldecott QC , who was once described in The Times as the most cerebral and the most persuasive of libel barristers. Oh yes, I nearly forgot. I am taking part too, though I will not be advancing my own views. You will note from the line-up above that there is no speaker from the News of the World. So I will be arguing the paper's case, not as a comic routine, but in complete seriousness. I will be the voice of the NoW throughout. I ought to point out that at least one of the NoW's senior executives was prepared to attend, but the discussion clashes with the Conservative party conference in Birmingham, and he - like his colleagues - is required to be there. The event takes place next Tuesday, 5 October, starting at 6.15pm. Though hosted by City for its students, it will be open to the public. But advance bookings must be made here . Admission is free.