Comments on: A challenge to the Press Complaints Commission to improve its code http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 03:46:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The Press Complaints Commission: dealing with individuals or dealing with journalism? http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-128084 The Press Complaints Commission: dealing with individuals or dealing with journalism? Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:23:05 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-128084 [...] review of the code the PCC enforces finally produces later this year – and how many of the proposals which various bloggers grouped to together to make get through. Share this story with your [...] [...] review of the code the PCC enforces finally produces later this year – and how many of the proposals which various bloggers grouped to together to make get through. Share this story with your [...]

]]> By: Letters From A Tory http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-106101 Letters From A Tory Mon, 25 Jan 2010 09:50:32 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-106101 Don't mean to be rude Mark, but this is just tinkering around the edges. <a href="http://www.lettersfromatory.com/2009/09/25/when-sorry-is-not-enough/" rel="nofollow">As I have explained before on my blog, the PCC needs power - not extra rules.</a> It is a spineless, impotent organisation that no newspaper or magazine has any reason to fear. Some of your suggestions above seem sensible but they will not change the pervading culture within the media that they can act with impunity, knowing that a printed apology is normally the worst possible outcome for them. Don’t mean to be rude Mark, but this is just tinkering around the edges.

As I have explained before on my blog, the PCC needs power – not extra rules. It is a spineless, impotent organisation that no newspaper or magazine has any reason to fear. Some of your suggestions above seem sensible but they will not change the pervading culture within the media that they can act with impunity, knowing that a printed apology is normally the worst possible outcome for them.

]]> By: New poll shows strong public support for reform of the Press Complaints Commission | Mark Pack http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105960 New poll shows strong public support for reform of the Press Complaints Commission | Mark Pack Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:18:33 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105960 [...] A wise industry would react to that public anger instead of ignoring it. A very wise industry (and I’ve no doubt every journalist reading this falls into that class ) would also appreciate that persuading the public to pay for news becomes easier the more the public believes media outlets are respectable organisations who get stories right. One way to do that would be to back these five proposals. [...] [...] A wise industry would react to that public anger instead of ignoring it. A very wise industry (and I’ve no doubt every journalist reading this falls into that class ) would also appreciate that persuading the public to pay for news becomes easier the more the public believes media outlets are respectable organisations who get stories right. One way to do that would be to back these five proposals. [...]

]]> By: This is why the Editors’ Code of Practice needs reforming http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105887 This is why the Editors’ Code of Practice needs reforming Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:19:41 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105887 [...] hope the current consultation over the Editors’ Code of Practice brings about this change. In the meantime, I’ve dropped the newspaper a line to find out if [...] [...] hope the current consultation over the Editors’ Code of Practice brings about this change. In the meantime, I’ve dropped the newspaper a line to find out if [...]

]]> By: Jamie Neale http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105724 Jamie Neale Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:11:51 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105724 I have experienced the abuse which the papers wrongfully can do first hand all in the name profits if you can get a bit more ethics in to the system more power to you. I have experienced the abuse which the papers wrongfully can do first hand all in the name profits if you can get a bit more ethics in to the system more power to you.

]]> By: PCC http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105695 PCC Tue, 19 Jan 2010 11:46:40 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105695 I’m afraid your blog is is not quite right. The Press Complaints Commission is not "currently reviewing its Editors' Code of Practice". The Code is the newspaper and periodical industry's Code of Practice and so the Code Review is being conducted by the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee (http://www.editorscode.org.uk/) which is a separate body and operates independently of the PCC. It writes the rules for the Press and the PCC independently enforces them; following the normal practice in self-regulation that industry contributes to, and co-operates with, the regulatory system. Suggestions for the Code Review should be sent as soon as possible, but no later than 31 January 2010, to Ian Beales, Code Committee Secretary, PO Box 235, Stonehouse, Glos GL10 3UF or by email to: ianbeales@mac.com I’m afraid your blog is is not quite right.

The Press Complaints Commission is not “currently reviewing its Editors’ Code of Practice”.

The Code is the newspaper and periodical industry’s Code of Practice and so the Code Review is being conducted by the Editors’ Code of Practice Committee (http://www.editorscode.org.uk/) which is a separate body and operates independently of the PCC.

It writes the rules for the Press and the PCC independently enforces them; following the normal practice in self-regulation that industry contributes to, and co-operates with, the regulatory system.

Suggestions for the Code Review should be sent as soon as possible, but no later than 31 January 2010, to Ian Beales, Code Committee Secretary, PO Box 235, Stonehouse, Glos GL10 3UF or by email to:

]]> By: Press the Press Complaints Commission | Lynne Featherstone MP http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105690 Press the Press Complaints Commission | Lynne Featherstone MP Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:58:55 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105690 [...] is currently reviewing its code - so let's all strike while the iron is hot. You can read the post here with all the details of the five proposed changes to the code and links to sign up to the petition. [...] [...] is currently reviewing its code – so let's all strike while the iron is hot. You can read the post here with all the details of the five proposed changes to the code and links to sign up to the petition. [...]

]]> By: whelan http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105688 whelan Tue, 19 Jan 2010 10:44:11 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105688 I think it is right that the PCC only investigated that shameful Jan Moir article once his partner complained. It stops people launching politically motivated complaints, and requires an element of personal impact to be considered. Quite right as well, there are far too many hypocritical self-rightious puritans around these days. That's not to say that public outrage should be ignored, but it should not be an instigator of action in this case. I think it is right that the PCC only investigated that shameful Jan Moir article once his partner complained. It stops people launching politically motivated complaints, and requires an element of personal impact to be considered. Quite right as well, there are far too many hypocritical self-rightious puritans around these days. That’s not to say that public outrage should be ignored, but it should not be an instigator of action in this case.

]]> By: KL http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105679 KL Tue, 19 Jan 2010 09:15:05 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105679 Another obvious change would be for the PCC to allow complaints from people not directly affected by the article. There'd need to be some guidance on when this was acceptable, but to use a recent example it was ridiculous that so many people complained about Jan Moir's piece on Stephen Gateley but nothing could be done by the PCC until his partner complained. Another obvious change would be for the PCC to allow complaints from people not directly affected by the article. There’d need to be some guidance on when this was acceptable, but to use a recent example it was ridiculous that so many people complained about Jan Moir’s piece on Stephen Gateley but nothing could be done by the PCC until his partner complained.

]]> By: Mark Pack http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105675 Mark Pack Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:16:58 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105675 Peter1919: like for like in such a case would mean a front page story, but its size would have to match the error. So one bit in the 23rd paragraph was wrong (and only that) that would mean a correction significantly smaller than the original story. Would there really be a problem with the front page the next day running a sentence correcting that person's name (to take your example)? Peter1919: like for like in such a case would mean a front page story, but its size would have to match the error. So one bit in the 23rd paragraph was wrong (and only that) that would mean a correction significantly smaller than the original story. Would there really be a problem with the front page the next day running a sentence correcting that person’s name (to take your example)?

]]> By: Peter1919 http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105665 Peter1919 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:03:10 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105665 I think suggestion one sounds good but would be pretty impractical. Imagine a big front page story that was run in the genuine belief it was correct but there had been some minor errors (say a relatively inconsequential spelling error in someones name) in it. Would that really deserve a front page correction? I could just about see retractions (& apologies for them being needed) deserving this but (minor) corrections? Not really I think suggestion one sounds good but would be pretty impractical. Imagine a big front page story that was run in the genuine belief it was correct but there had been some minor errors (say a relatively inconsequential spelling error in someones name) in it. Would that really deserve a front page correction? I could just about see retractions (& apologies for them being needed) deserving this but (minor) corrections? Not really

]]> By: Andrew Suffield http://www.libdemvoice.org/a-challenge-to-the-press-complaints-commission-to-improve-its-code-17610.html#comment-105643 Andrew Suffield Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:06:50 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/?p=17610#comment-105643 Certainly a good idea, but I can't help feeling it would be more important to challenge the PCC to <i>enforce</i> its code. They're notoriously lax about it, and mostly leave it up to the individual news outlets to decide how strictly to comply (which, in the case of the tabloids, is not very). Certainly a good idea, but I can’t help feeling it would be more important to challenge the PCC to enforce its code. They’re notoriously lax about it, and mostly leave it up to the individual news outlets to decide how strictly to comply (which, in the case of the tabloids, is not very).

]]>