Cancer of bent and twisted journalism

What communications took place between Andy Coulson's office when he was editor of the News of the World and Conservative party HQ or Tory politicians, and was any hacked material communicated to the party? As most of the Labour cabinet at the time appears to have been hacked, could this be another Watergate – perhaps Wapping-gate?

Martin Quinn

Tavistock, Devon

The Italian government is widely perceived to be corrupt because much of the media is controlled by its prime minister. In Britain governments go in fear of a media mogul who manipulates them and influences their policies. The difference between Cameron and Berlusconi? At least Berlusconi pulls his own strings.

Denis O'Connor

Otley, West Yorkshire

Whether or not certain individuals are found to have known about the disgraceful practices of those working under them, many in decisive positions in the media encourage this type of action by insisting on news as equating with voyeuristic salaciousness and treating the intelligent public with contempt and condescension. "This is what people want!" they cry, providing them with little or nothing else and thus conditioning notions of what reporting is really about in the formative minds of the young.

Ian Flintoff


I am sure that if the government were now to introduce a bill stipulating that any person wishing to own substantial media outlets in this country must be a citizen of the UK and pay taxes here, it would receive near-unanimous support across the political spectrum.

David Gladstone


At last, incontrovertible evidence of climatic change (Nick Davies on how police warned Rebekah Brooks, 7 July). News International has turned Britain into a banana republic.

Peter Taylor


The scene: the newsroom of the News of the World. The time: every morning. Enter the editor, who wanders in dreamily, picks up a copy of that day's paper and exclaims, "Oh my, another scoop, what a lovely surprise! Aren't we lucky!" Exit in a cloud of implausibility.

Lucy Blackburn


Would it be an appropriate time to re-show Melvyn Bragg's interview with Dennis Potter? In it Dennis tells us why he named his cancerous tumour Rupert.

Will Hannam

Ringmer, East Sussex


Roger Jinkinson