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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Liam Thorp

Emily Maitlis sets former S*n editor straight on Hillsborough hurt

Emily Maitlis was praised for calling out the S*n's Hillsborough lies in a discussion about journalism.

Broadcaster Ms Maitlis was co-hosting an episode of the News Agents podcast, which was discussing the ongoing controversy surrounding a S*n story which claimed that a top BBC presenter has been paying a person for explicit images.

News Agents hosts Ms Maitlis and Jon Sopel were interviewing former S*n editor David Yelland as part of the discussion about journalism ethics and the problems surrounding the story.

READ MORE: BBC slammed for 'appalling insult' in Kelvin Mackenzie booking

At one point Mr Yelland said: "I heard Kelvin MacKenzie talking earlier, who obviously edited The S*n before I did, talking about the good old days and actually the good old days were very simple because there was no social media."

Kelvin MacKenzie is still reviled on Merseyside for the lies he published on the front page about Liverpool fans as editor of The S*n in the wake of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 Reds supporters were unlawfully killed.

Interrupting Mr Yelland, Ms Maitlis said: "Can I just say, I've got to say this, the good old days for Kelvin MacKenzie were when he maligned and insulted horrifically the people of Liverpool. Let's just get that out of the way because there will be people listening to this who don't want to hear Kelvin Mackenzie talking about the good old days of The S*n newspaper."

Responding, Mr Yelland said: "I couldn't agree more."

Some on social media thanked the broadcaster for her intervention. Ged Wright said: "Well done and thanks for calling out his remark on Kelvin MacKenzie and 'the good old days.'"

MacKenzie has been appearing on broadcast media channels to talk about tabloid journalism in the wake of the current story - including the BBC.

This decision has been called out by Liverpool West Derby fan Ian Byrne, who was in the Leppings Lane end at Hillsborough when the disaster unfolded. Mr Byrne tweeted: "BBC News wheeling out Kelvin MacKenzie to discuss truth in the tabloid media is beyond tone deaf and an appalling insult to Hillsborough families and survivors. Do better."

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