Examination of Witness (Questions 1000-1002)
Wednesday 21 May 2003
SIR CHRISTOPHER
MEYER KCMG
Q1000 Mr Bryant: But there must come
a point at which, if you discern some trend in the kinds of complaints
that you are getting—let us say, for instance, you get a
large number of complaints in one year which are all related to
the way a story is picked up from a local newspaper and then goes
into a national tabloid—you might want to say, "Hang
on, there is something going on here that we need to look at,"
meaning the trend rather than just the specific instances.
Sir Christopher Meyer: You have
a very good point actually, Mr Bryant, and I am sorry if I have
been a bit flippant in responding to it. What the Press Board
of Finance that finance the PCC do not know because I have not
actually mentioned this to them yet is I think I need a bit more
money from them actually to survey more precisely what is going
on out there. We are doing it to some extent at the moment, and
the figures we are getting back, as I say, are quite good. I actually
think just under 70% is good, but we can agree to differ there.
I would like to know much more about people's reactions to all
this, and this is going to cost money and it means doing more
surveys. That was not in my speech but it is something that is
a conclusion I have drawn after going round some of the regions
in the UK.
Q1001 Mr Doran: I just want to follow
up the point the Chairman was making about sanctions. One of the
witnesses we heard said to us that if you impose sanctions, it
was likely that there would be a revolt amongst editors and it
would be impossible to get through. You may even lose members.
So the question really is what is more important to you; public
confidence or keeping your members?
Sir Christopher Meyer: I would
hope that that is not a choice that one would have to make in
the sense that you have just described. I think it is possible,
otherwise I would not have taken on this job, within the basic
context of the way in which the PCC is put together, with the
sanction being adjudication, that you can raise standards and
make the system work better. I do not think it is an either/or
in the way which you have suggested. I think it can be done. So
it is not a question of how do you keep the editors on board and
let us not go too far because we might start losing them. I actually
believe that this is the way to go.
Q1002 Chairman: Thank you, Sir Christopher.
We are most grateful to you. That ends the inquiry.
Sir Christopher Meyer: Chairman,
would you permit me a final word, if I may? Thank you for giving
me this opportunity to come before you, and to do it in public.
These are very, very important issues, and the more we talk about
them, the better. I have been illuminated.
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