Mersey Reporter - #Merseybites #News

THE Press Recognition Panel (PRP), the independent body which oversees the system of press self regulation, published its 9th annual report on the effectiveness of the Recognition System created in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry into the conduct of the press.

The report highlights how the rolling back of the Leveson Inquiry's recommendations around independent press self regulation in 2024 has increased the risk to the public from press intrusion and harm. While high-profile legal cases brought by celebrities such as:- Hugh Grant and Prince Harry have led to settlements and substantial payouts, the vast majority of victims of press abuse cannot afford to pursue justice and redress in the face of powerful and influential media owners.

Examples of press intrusion and harm highlighted in the report include CCTV footage of a fatal hit and run being posted on a news publisher's website for clickbait, journalists informing siblings on the doorstep of the death of their brother in a terrorist attack, and news outlets falsely accusing people of murder.

The report highlights how no other industry, including broadcast journalism, enjoys the privileges and protections that:- 'news publishers' enjoy in law. However, these protections and privileges are not balanced by responsibility or accountability.

News publishers are not required to participate in independent press self regulation, which has resulted in a fractured and incoherent system. Over 130 news publishers have joined Impress, the only press self regulatory body that has demonstrated that it meets the criteria recommended by the Leveson Inquiry for independence, financial security, and effective complaints handling. However, all the major national titles have instead opted to do their own thing or join the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), which does not meet the criteria for an independent regulator. between:- 2018 and 2022, IPSO investigated just 3.82% and upheld 0.56% of the eligible complaints it received, far lower than the proportion of cases upheld by Impress.

The PRP's report notes that news publishers often cite concerns around the impact of regulation on freedom of the press as one of their reasons for not joining a regulator which meets the criteria for independence. However, members of Impress undertake high-quality investigative journalism without any constraint from the regulator as long as they can justify their actions in the public interest. Broadcasters also undertake high-quality, award-winning investigative journalism despite being subject to statutory regulation under Ofcom.

The report concludes that unless the Government takes action to persuade news publishers to participate in the Recognition System, it will only be a matter of time until the next crisis in the industry, creating more victims and worsening public trust in the press as a whole.

The report contains three key recommendations:-

The Government must urgently review the incentives for news publishers to participate and the consequences for failing to participate in the Recognition System in the interests of freedom of speech and public protection
.
News publishers who do not currently participate in the Recognition System should join Impress, work to reform IPSO so that it can meet the recognition criteria, or come together to form a new body which could then seek recognition.
The Government should ensure consistency in the various definitions of:- 'news publisher' and relevant:- 'standards codes' for news publishers, aligned with the Recognition System, to enable press self regulators, online platforms, the public, and news publishers themselves to understand the rights and responsibilities of the press under the law.

Kathryn Cearns OBE, Chair of the Press Recognition Panel, said:- "It is a stain on the national conscience that despite years of campaigning by individual victims and groups and promises from politicians, powerful sections of the press remain able to destroy lives with virtual impunity. The historic injustices that led to the Leveson Inquiry have not been fully addressed. New cases continue to emerge, highlighting the damage still wrought by a largely unaccountable press pursuing headlines at the expense of ordinary people. Both previous Governments and the new incumbent have been unwilling to take on the press and put in place measures, including recommendations approved by Parliamentarians on both sides of the House, which would provide better protection for victims. The public deserves better. With the rise of new technologies increasing the opportunities for press intrusion and harm, this issue is even more pressing. Unless the Government takes action, it is only a matter of time before another press scandal emerges."