The Governance Review of the Press Complaints Commission today made series of recommendations for enhancing the system of self-regulation of the press but stopped short of calling for fundamental change.
Here is a snapshot of the reaction to its recommendations:
Baroness Buscombe, PCC Chairman:
“Last year I initiated an independent governance review of the PCC to reflect on the way the organisation works and to make sure that we take account of both good practice elsewhere and wider public expectations.
“I am very grateful for the thorough, innovative and rigorous review that Vivien Hepworth and her team have undertaken.
“While the Commission needs to reflect carefully on the Panel’s recommendations, I want to say right away that we are as an organisation committed to moving the PCC forward. This report now provides us with the impetus to do so.”
Martin Moore, Director of the Media Standards Trust:
“This is a good start. There are substantive recommendations here to ensure some real change – provided the PCC and the industry accept them and make them happen.
“The Trust is pleased to see that so many of the recommendations contained in the Media Standards Trust’s submission have been adopted by the review.
‘The recommendations which echo the MST’s report include: clarifying the purpose of the PCC, increasing the proactivity of the Commission around issues of public concern, providing greater clarity and transparency about complaints, and being more open about funding…
“It is now for the industry to decide how much support to give to real change. Without real change the gap between self-regulation and the courts will continue to grow, and the current system will look increasingly anachronistic in a converged media world.”
More to follow…
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