Watching the Watchdog

This briefing for the "Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee Inquiry into Self-regulation of the Press" from MediaWise is
based on both their experience of dealing with consequences
to citizens of inaccurate, intrusive or sensational press coverage, and their attempts to strengthen the United Kingdom's press conduct self-regulation tools. In short, MediaWise is reframing public debate about the way print and electronic media are regulated.

In the context of press misconduct, the author, Mike Jempson, claims that competitive commercial pressures encourage journalists, editors and publishers to find a way around restrictions, despite a code of conduct and a regulatory commission. The briefing then balances criticism of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC), a body established by the press for self-regulation, with a case for independent scrutiny of press behaviour.

In the debate between government press regulation and press self-regulation, MediaWise argues for a unified, independent system of media regulation: "A single ‘content regulator’ with a clear and accessible system for adjudication on
complaints and the awarding of redress across all media, could restore public confidence about the quality of the journalism they receive. Free independent professional advice and support should be available to members of the public who
need assistance with complaints about any aspect of abuse of power by the mass communications industries."

In discussing punitive measures where professional ethics are breached by proprietors and editors, Jempson compares the public opinion of the short comings of self-regulation among professionals, such as politicians and police, to the short comings of press self-regulation, one of which is compensation. While not favouring direct punitive measure, he recommends compensation for those suffering genuine hardship due to inaccurate, sensational coverage, as well as the possibility of sanctions for breaches of the code of conduct.

A MediaWise strategy currently having demonstrated success, according to this briefing, is the appointment, per publication, of a readers' editor to both provide journalistic accountability and enhance media literacy. Further, the briefing supports appointment of a media ombudsman to give grounding to new journalists in media regulation and conduct, to receive appeals of regulatory decisions, to initiate debate about responsible media, to work against erosion of press freedom, and to serve as a conduit for consumer views on human damage done by the press.

Jempson takes the position that a privacy law directed against the press would be inimical to press freedom, but proposes that a more precise definition of individual protection from unwarranted intrusion would be a useful guide.


In conclusion, Jempson proposes the creation of a Human Rights Commission (HRC) "able to offer guidance or assistance to members of the public with complaints about the media, and with the power to initiate legal challenges where important issues of principle are at stake," including the use and development of a co-regulation system utilising existing arbiters and an independent media ombudsman if further legal recourse is needed, with the objective of "establish[ing] ‘case law’ as a guide to the balance that needs to exist between the power of the mass media and the rights of the citizen."