Whether you like him or not, Piers Morgan arguably understands opinion media. 

 

This much is reflected in the fact that ITV shares have dropped by almost five percent since his departure from the channel's flagship morning programme.

 

Station management reacted quickly to Morgan's comments about the Oprah interview with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and his subsequent walk-out on live television. 

 

I'm not an apologist for Mr Morgan - in fact, I hardly ever watch his or any other morning TV programme. But it seems we may have a media culture in which straight news journalists are allowed to express opinions while opinion journalists are not.

 

The right to freedom of speech is not unrestricted. We must speak with respect for the common good and in accordance with government regulations (unless those regulations support an obvious social injustice).

 

Beyond that, personal opinions must be allowed, or autonomy is a joke.