Newspaper ethics addressed

Half listening to the radio a moment ago and an interviewee used the phrase "extremely strict regime". My attention locked on to what she was saying - it turned out she was talking about editorial standards at Rupert Murdoch's new Sunday paper.

But my imagination was off... "You'll find, Miss Willings, that you will be subject to an extremely strict regime of oversight while you're working with us," the Editor said, as they crossed the open plan newsroom.

Sarah paused and looked around her as her new boss strode on ahead. She was used to working in newspaper newsrooms, but found The Daily Bugle's a rather strange one - little noise, heads down and no banter.

The Editor looked back, found she had fallen behind and said: "Come along, keep up please..."

Stung into action by the steely tone Sarah hurried to fall into step as they moved into a corridor of glass-fronted office cubicles and meeting rooms. When they arrived at the open door to the Editor's office she heard a loud crack, followed by a cry that was somewhere between a curse and a howl.

It seemed to Sarah to be a female voice and to come from the room opposite the Editor's door. Unlike others along the corridor its door was wood rather than glass and was shut; a small 'do not disturb' notice was hanging from the door handle.

Sarah was puzzled by the sound. Her first thought was that someone had hit their thumb with a hammer. Building work, maybe?

But then that sound again, this time followed by a long, howl of discomfort. She looked to the Editor questioningly. "As I said, Bugle standards are high. Reporters are subject to an extremely strict regime..."