Newspapers: Regulation

Newspapers: Regulation

The debate regarding the regulation of the newspaper industry has been one of the most controversial and important media issues of the last 10 years.

You need to understand how the newspaper industry is regulated, how some people think it should be regulated and what might happen in the future. Most importantly, you need to form your own opinion on newspaper regulation and how the industry should operate following the 2012 Leveson Inquiry.

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.

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.

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.

Watch the following videos on Leveson and the press regulation debate:

BBC News overview:


Newsnight debate:




Task One: Media Magazine article and 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?

 190, and in ten years time it will be weekly instead of daily as well as incredibly expensive.

 2) How does Perch view the phone hacking scandal?

 He believes it was not only illegal but also immoral, and the police didn't intervene or persecute the criminals. He also says the press was acting in a completely unacceptable way.

 3) What does IPSO stand for and how does it work?

 IPSO stands for the Independent Press Standards Organisation, and it is in place to persecute any newspapers that do things that aren't morally right or unethical, possibly even criminal. They have the right to force newspapers to post apologies on the front page, and even fine them.

 4) What is Perch's view of newspaper ownership?

 He believes that someone such as Rupert Murdoch having this much power and control is quite a new thing to have emerged but it's ultimately not his fault for it as people choose to listen to what he has to say and what his newspapers offer.

 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?
Yes, as long as the channels don't promote radicalised ideas and they don't slander the other side. Basically, as long as they stick to the facts and simply show people their side and their perspective.

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