Press regulation blasted

The Press Compliants Commission does not maintain standards nor does it protect the freedom of the press according to a report on self-regulation by the Media Standards Trust.

The report, whose authors include senior journalists and lawyers, concludes that self-regulation can be effective but the PCC is just not doing a very good job.

The report suggests improving the PCC, including:

• It should be independent of the press (currently newspaper editors dominate)
• It should have the power to fine newspapers for transgressions
• It should monitor whether the press complies with its standards (currently it only deals with complaints)
• It should publish details of how it is funded

The report says the public trust in journalists is at an all-time low. According to a YouGov survey conducted in December for the report:

• 75% of the public agrees with the statement newspapers frequently publish stories they know are inaccurate
• 10% agrees with the statement we can trust newspaper editors to ensure that their journalists act in the public interest