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Supplementary written evidence from the Press Complaints Commission (PS 164)
The Committee asked if Baroness Buscombe
would amplify her comment to the
The remit is set by the industry through
the Press
However, while the industry decides what
should be regulated (i.e. a general commitment to regulating
You will see that this is an announcement by PressBoF. Since then, the way in which the PCC has applied the terms of the Code in relation to audio-visual material has been a matter for it alone.
December 2009 PS 164A
PCC's remit extended to include editorial audio-visual material on newspaper and magazine websites PressBof operates independently of the Press Complaints Commission. THE PRESS STANDARDS BOARD OF FINANCE LIMITED CHAIRMAN: TIM BOWDLER CBE SECRETARY & TREASURER: E-MAIL: info@pressbof.org.uk JIM RAEBURN EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE 08/02/07 PCC's remit extended to include editorial audio-visual material on newspaper and magazine websites
The extension has been agreed recognizing that "on-line versions" of newspapers and magazines have moved on from the internet replication of material that already existed in a printed version of the publication to routinely carrying material not available in print form. The accompanying Guidance Note explains that the PCC's remit should be seen as covering editorial material on newspaper and magazine titles websites where it meets two key requirements: 1. that the editor of the newspaper or magazine is responsible for it and could reasonably have been expected both to exercise editorial control over it and apply the terms of the Code. 2. that it was not pre-edited to conform to the on-line or off-line standards of another media regulatory body. Tim Bowdler , Chairman of PressBoF, commented: "It is extremely important that self regulation should evolve in a carefully considered manner to take account of the developing ways in which our publications, in print and on-line, communicate with readers. The purpose of the Guidance Note is to provide clarity for all parties in defining the PCC's remit in this new territory". Sir Christopher Meyer , Chairman of the PCC, added: "The range and quality of digital editorial material offered by newspapers and magazines have expanded at a dizzying pace over the last couple of years. These developments will only accelerate. What the industry has done in announcing this extension of the PCC's remit is to underline its confidence in the system of common-sense regulation that we operate, and to demonstrate to the public that editorial information in the digital age - regardless of the format in which it is delivered - will be subject to high professional standards overseen by the Commission". Click here for the Guidance Note. ENDS Notes for editors 1. PressBoF is a committee of
newspaper and magazine industry executives which is responsible for setting the
remit of and funding the arrangements for press self-regulation in the 2. The Press Complaints Commission is an independently-run body which enforces the terms of the editors' Code of Practice. It has a board of 17 members - 7 editors and 10 members of the public (including the Chairman). 3. Press self-regulation is the
norm throughout Europe, where the Codes of every existing press council and
complaints commission (with the exception of 4. For more information, please call Jim Raeburn (Secretary of PressBoF) on 0131 240 3270 or Tim Toulmin (PCC Director) on 020 78310022.
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