The forthcoming report of the Leveson inquiry is already the subject of a political tussle with the prime minister claiming he does not want "heavy-handed state intervention" in the activities of the press as a result of the inquiry into media ethics.
The Hacked Off campaign today sent an open letter, signed by celebrities including Jude Law and Charlotte Church, to David Cameron voicing concern over reports suggesting he was preparing to reject statutory regulation of the press, even if it was strongly recommended by the report, due within the next few weeks.
But the PM resisted pressure to commit himself in advance to implementing the recommendations of Lord Justice Leveson's upcoming report.
Charlotte Church was one of the celebs who signed the letter
Cameron said that the existing system for regulating the press is "not acceptable" and he hoped Leveson would put forward a "sensible" new regime.
But he insisted that he would wait to see what the report contained before deciding what action to take.
Asked today whether he would stick to his reported promise to implement Leveson's recommendations, providing they were not "bonkers", Cameron told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show: "Absolutely."
But he added: "We must wait for what Lord Justice Leveson says. I don't want to try to prejudge it... We have got to wait until he produces his report."
Cameron said: "We don't want heavy-handed state intervention. We have got to have a free press. They have got to be free to uncover wrongdoing, to follow the evidence, to do the job in our democracy that they need to do.
"But on the other hand, it is quite clear people have been abused, people's families and lives have been torn up by press intrusion.
"The status quo is not an option. Let's let him do his work.
"I fully intend and - I think this goes right across the parties - we all want to put in place a sensible regulatory system. We are hoping Lord Justice Leveson is going to crack this problem for us. But we must let him do his work first."
In its open letter - signed by 60 victims including celebrities, 7/7 victims and members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign - Hacked Off called for an assurance that Cameron would consider Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations with an open mind and that he had not already decided upon a system of continued self-regulation by the press.
"It is highly regrettable to us that these articles, and supporting comments from senior Conservative Party figures, have sought to undermine the work of the inquiry and to threaten any recommendations it may make for effective regulation of the industry," the letter said.
"To remind you once again - you said that the test of the future system of press regulation is not whether it suits the politicians or their friends in the press, but rather the public interest - including the need of members of society to be free from illegal and unethical press practices. Do we have those reassurances?"
Hacked Off director Brian Cathcart said: "The victims of press abuse who signed this letter are alarmed that, before Lord Justice Leveson has even had the chance to report, it is reported that his proposals will be rejected.
"It is hard to believe that the Prime Minister, who after all set up the inquiry, could really have taken such a decision. The judge has spent a year investigating press culture, ethics and practices: his recommendations, when published, surely deserve to be considered with open minds and with the greatest seriousness."