New Press Complaints Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer has begun a round of meetings with regional publishers and editors with a visit to Manchester and Liverpool.
His tour takes him next week to Dundee, Edinburgh and Falkirk – the first of three visits to Scotland before the summer – and then to Belfast, Norwich, Wolverhampton, Barnsley and Oldham before the end of July.
He will also be meeting regional publishers based in London, as well as national newspaper publishers and editors, and magazine publishers, during the same period.
Last Thursday he had a briefing on the Society of Editors from president Jonathan Grun, editor of the Press Association. Grun presented Meyer with an updated, pocket-size version of the Code of Practice. Copies of the Code leaflet are being distributed to all editors by the SoE for distribution to journalists across the UK. The updated version contains amendments to clauses covering payments to witnesses.
Meyer will resume his regional tours – including a visit to Wales – in September, and intends to make them a regular part of his Chairmanship.
He said: “The views of the local and regional press on self regulation, the Code and the work of the PCC are absolutely crucial. I had a fascinating and informative time in the north west to begin my tour round Britain, and I look forward in coming weeks to meeting as many publishers and editors as possible to hear their views about our work.”
By Jon Slattery
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