Transcript Document

Stephen Abell
Director
5th October 2011
What is the PCC?
“The PCC is an independent body which administers the system of selfregulation for the press. It does so primarily by dealing with complaints,
framed within the terms of the Editors' Code of Practice, about the editorial
content of newspapers and magazines (and their websites, including editorial
audio-visual material) and the conduct of journalists. It can also assist
individuals by representing their interests to editors in advance of an article
about them being published. The purpose of the PCC is to serve the public by
holding editors to account. We strive to protect the rights of individuals,
while at the same time preserving appropriate freedom of expression for the
press. We proactively advertise our services and reach out to people who
may be in need of our help. We aim to promote high standards by developing
clear guidance and practical principles through our rulings, and offering
training and advice to editors and journalists”.
Functions
• negotiating remedial action and amicable settlements for
complainants; issuing rulings on complaints;
• using published rulings as a means of guiding newsroom practice
across the industry;
• publicly censuring editors for breaches of the Code;
• passing on pre-publication concerns to editors to prevent the Code
being breached; passing on requests to editors that their
journalists ease contacting individuals, and so prevent media
harassment;
• issuing formal guidance, based on its interpretation of the Code, to
the industry on important issues;
• instigating its own investigations under the Code in the public
interest where appropriate;
• conducting training seminars for working journalists and editors;
• and liaising with other press councils internationally.
The Editors’ Code of Practice
1. Accuracy
2. Opportunity to reply
3. Privacy*
4. Harassment*
5. Intrusion into grief or shock*
6. Children*
7. Children in sex cases *
8. Hospitals*
9. Reporting of Crime*
10. Clandestine devices and subterfuge*
11. Victims of sexual assault
12. Discrimination
13. Financial journalism
14. Confidential sources
15. Witness payments in criminal trials*
16. Payment to criminals*
NB: there may be exceptions to the clauses marked * where they can be
demonstrated to be in the public interest.
Sanctions
• negotiation of an agreed remedy (such as a published apology,
published correction, clarification or explanatory letter, private letter
of apology, amendment or removal of online information, amendment
of a publication’s internal records, ex gratia payments);
• publication of a critical adjudication in the offending publication, which
may be followed by public criticism of a title by the Chairman of the
PCC;
• a letter of admonishment from the Chairman to the editor;
• follow-up from the PCC to ensure that changes are made to avoid a
repeat of the failing and to establish what steps (which may include
disciplinary action, where appropriate) have been taken against those
responsible for serious breaches of the Code;
• formal referral of an editor to his or her publisher for action.
Adherence to the Code is written into the majority of journalists’
contracts. The PCC is committed to examining how its sanctions can be
further improved.
Key statistics (2010)
7,000
The PCC received well over 7,000 complaints in writing last year, although this
figure includes multiple complaints (where more than one person complained
about the same article), as well as those that did not fall within the
Commission's remit or were not pursued after an initial contact
1,687
The PCC made rulings, or brokered amicable resolutions, in respect of nearly
1,700 cases
750
This was the number of complaints which the PCC judged to have merit under
the terms of the Editors' Code of Practice. This means that they raised a likely
breach of the Code
557
The PCC successfully mediated or ruled on 557 cases that related to privacy in
2010
Key statistics (2010)
544
Resolving complaints to the satisfaction of complainants is a key priority for
the PCC. Last year, 544 complaints were amicably settled through the
Commission's mediation service
188
There were 188 complaints in respect of which newspapers offered remedial
action that the Commission considered to be sufficient, even though an an
amicable settlement was not reached
18
In 18 cases where a suitable remedy had not been offered or was not
appropriate, the PCC formally ruled in favour of complainants
Pre-publication intervention and advice
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Pre-publication advocacy
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24 hour anti-harassment service
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117 occasions in 18 months
86 occasions in 18 months
Ethical advice to editors and journalists
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16 occasions for the month of August 2011
Raising standards
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Development of case law
Editors’ Codebook
Key areas: suicide reporting; social networking
Ongoing training of journalists and editors
Editorial guidance notes covering a range of issues
Public service
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95% of complainants to the PCC are ordinary members of the public
25 proactive approaches to individuals caught up in media stories in
2010
Protocol for dealing with a major incident (e.g. terrorist attack)
Detailed advice on a wide range of issues for members of the public
(most recently “Media attention following a death”
Regional Open Days (public meetings) throughout the UK
www.pcc.org.uk