Newspaper regulation: notes
A brief history of newspaper regulation
The newspaper industry was regulated by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) between 1990 and 2014. It was a voluntary regulator with no legal powers and was heavily criticised for saying it found no evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World in 2007.
The PCC had a code of practice that provided guidelines for newspapers in how to report inaccuracies, crime, news stories involving children and more. However, the PCC was effectively run by the newspaper editors themselves and papers merely had to print a small apology when the regulator ruled against them.
A brief history of newspaper regulation
The newspaper industry was regulated by the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) between 1990 and 2014. It was a voluntary regulator with no legal powers and was heavily criticised for saying it found no evidence of phone hacking at the News of the World in 2007.
The PCC had a code of practice that provided guidelines for newspapers in how to report inaccuracies, crime, news stories involving children and more. However, the PCC was effectively run by the newspaper editors themselves and papers merely had to print a small apology when the regulator ruled against them.
The Leveson Inquiry 2011-12
The Leveson Inquiry in 2011-12 was a judicial public enquiry ordered by the government into the culture and ethics of the British press. This followed the revelations of the phone hacking scandal and the closure of the News of the World.
The Leveson Inquiry in 2011-12 was a judicial public enquiry ordered by the government into the culture and ethics of the British press. This followed the revelations of the phone hacking scandal and the closure of the News of the World.
Post-Leveson: IPSO and IMPRESS
Following the Leveson report, a new press regulator was introduced: the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO is more powerful than the PCC and can order newspapers to print apologies or corrections on the front page or fine papers. However, it crucially doesn’t act on Leveson’s key recommendation that the regulator is backed by government legislation.
Alongside IPSO, IMPRESS was also set up as an alternative regulator. This was fully compliant with Leveson – but no major newspapers have signed up with IMPRESS.
Following the Leveson report, a new press regulator was introduced: the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). IPSO is more powerful than the PCC and can order newspapers to print apologies or corrections on the front page or fine papers. However, it crucially doesn’t act on Leveson’s key recommendation that the regulator is backed by government legislation.
Alongside IPSO, IMPRESS was also set up as an alternative regulator. This was fully compliant with Leveson – but no major newspapers have signed up with IMPRESS.
Watch the following videos on Leveson and the press regulation debate:
BBC News overview:
BBC News overview:
Newsnight debate:
Channel 4 News debate:
Read the following articles and features on the press regulation debate:
Viewpoints – Should the press be regulated? BBC website
THEOS think tank website – press regulation debate
Guardian letters – How should the press be regulated?
Roy Greenslade – Why I oppose regulation
Newspaper regulation: blog tasks
Read the following articles and features on the press regulation debate:
Viewpoints – Should the press be regulated? BBC website
THEOS think tank website – press regulation debate
Guardian letters – How should the press be regulated?
Roy Greenslade – Why I oppose regulation
Newspaper regulation: blog tasks
Task One: Media Magazine article and questions
Read the Media Magazine article: From Local Press to National Regulator in MM56 (p55). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here. Once you've read the article, answer the following questions:
1) Keith Perch used to edit the Leicester Mercury. How many staff did it have at its peak and where does Perch see the paper in 10 years' time?
At it's peak it had 180 journalists. In ten years time if it is still in print, it will be weekly, extremely expensive, and have a very small circulation; if it is online only – the likeliest outcome – it will be unlikely to make money, and so would employ as few as five or six staff.
2) How does Perch view the phone hacking scandal?
Perch seems to agree with the idea of statutory regulation and believes that the scandal should have been dealt with legally.
3) What does IPSO stand for and how does it work?
Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) - its main role is to ensure that newspapers are following the rules and regulations of publishing and if they do make a mistake then they can be held accountable for it, for example publish an apology on the front page. IPSO does not act on the Leveson recommendation that the regulator is supported by the government.3) What does IPSO stand for and how does it work?
4) What is Perch's view of newspaper ownership?
Perch doesn't support the common view that powerful businesses and corporations such as The Sun should be forced to sell some of their businesses in order to share control of the media. This is due to the idea that audiences still have the option to purchase from other businesses and publications but they choose not to and they continue to purchase the Sun.
5) Do you agree with his view that broadcast news should have less regulation so that TV channels can support particular political parties or people?
I disagree with his view that broadcast news should have less regulation so that TV channels can support particular political parties or people. This is because the content (news) people take in usually contributes to their overall opinion on something and they should be given all outlooks on something rather than a bias one as it may create strong bias and lack of knowledge on opposing views.
Task Two: Newspaper regulation essay
Write an essay on your blog answering the following question:
What are the arguments for and against statutory regulation of the newspaper industry?
Your answer should be at least 750 words and feature a minimum of five paragraphs.
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