Appendix 2 - PressBoF
PressBoF response to the Culture, Media and Sport
Select Committee's recommendations following its inquiry into
privacy and media intrusion.
1. PressBoF should introduce a gearing between
the calculation of the registration fee and the number of adverse
adjudications received by a publication in the previous year.
The PressBoF position is that the recommendation
would be unfair and impractical. It would be unfair because it
would take no account of where the serious breaches of the Code
lie - which are often resolved at a very early stage and do not
go to adjudication. It would unfairly affect the Editor who defended
publication to the Commission in good faith in a borderline case,
but with whom the Commission ultimately disagreed. It could also
be unfair on smaller newspapers who might be required to shoulder
a disproportionate burden in the event of an upheld adjudication.
Lastly, it would clearly be an unnecessary bureaucratic encumbrance
on PressBoF to make these artificial calculations.
2. PressBoF should withdraw from the process of
ratifying the Code.
It should be understood that PressBoF facilitates
consultation on proposed changes to the Code via the five trade
associations - The Newspaper Publishers Association, The Newspaper
Society, the Periodical Publishers Association, The Scottish Daily
Newspaper Society and the Scottish Newspapers Association. This
process enables PressBoF to agree and ratify changes proposed
by the Code Committee and thereby make editors aware that the
Code enjoys the full support of publishers. It would therefore
be a retrograde step for PressBoF to withdraw from the process.
January 2004
| 
