THE REVIEW 2007: A turning point for the PCC Extending our range and effectiveness Adapting to the demands of a digital age PRESS COMPLAINTS COMMISSION CONTENTS FEATURES Public v private 8 A report on privacy he PCC is a modern, flexible 11 The political view ” organisation designed to A CMS Select Committee inquiry In the blink of an eye keep the quality of UK 12 Regulation in a digital age journalism high in the Our range of services 14 Behind the scenes and pro-activity digital age. This annual report shines a T Apologising properly 22 light on how it works. It demonstrates, using The need for prominence real cases, how we help put things right REGULARS when the inevitable mistakes are made. It 4 Chairman’s report outlines how rules for newspaper and Embracing a wider remit Reaching out magazine content have extended to video 20 Educating a wider audience and sound online. It reveals how we 24 Charter Commissioner’s report disperse media scrums and protect people Holding the PCC to account In deep water Facts and figures The Iran Hostages from intrusions. It shows how we promote 25 A look at 2007 Page 18 understanding of the Code through training 30 International report journalists, and argues that independent Press Council network gathers momentum 32 Commission members self-regulation is the only way to keep Pictures and profiles editorial standards high in a converged 36 Financial report media world. In short, it underlines the 39 The Code of Practice growing range and effectiveness of the PCC’s work. Under the ” spotlight www.pcc.org.uk Broadmoor and accurate reporting Page 28 2 THE REVIEW 2007 THE REVIEW 2007 3 SIR CHRISTOPHER MEYER proliferating news sources, be Of course, most of our work there was more the industry could increasingly our role to help the continues to concern what is printed do to raise awareness of the PCC. consumer choose between what can in newspapers and magazines, or The response to my challenge has be trusted and what cannot. The fact how journalists go about researching generally been extremely positive. that publications subscribe to the their stories. The Commission Many examples of good practice Code of Practice and voluntarily published in May a major report into were sent to me, some of which are submit to the authority of the PCC subterfuge and newsgathering included in this report. On newspaper will powerfully support the integrity following the convictions of Clive and magazine websites there is an The of their brands in a highly competitive Goodman and Glenn Mulcaire for impressive range of ways of achieving market place. phone message tapping. The report this – from big adverts to prominent made a number of recommendations statements of adherence to the Chairman’s – subsequently endorsed both by the Code, links to the PCC website Government and the Select and publication of the PCC’s logo Our views are Committee – to try to ensure that to demonstrate that people can Report there will be no recurrence of this complain. But there is still a way increasingly deplorable incident. I have written to go before the practice is universal sought as an to all news organisations in the UK as it should be, both in print and to find out how they are online. So, the school report is a acknowledged implementing the report’s B+: good progress, but could, and recommendations. The reaction has should, do more. authority on how been overwhelmingly supportive. to maintain high Finally, the numbers, to which I referred at the beginning of this Looking forward standards of report. The PCC adjudicated and Our work upheld more complaints in 2007 than information in the the year before – and successfully to anticipate digital age dealt with more complaints about and pre-empt privacy than ever before, despite the possible to a wider remit developing law of confidence (see page 8). We attribute this to the breaches of creating a growing consensus around If the PCC’s sails are being discreet manner of resolving 2007 was one of the most important years the proposition that independent self- filled by the strong winds of complaints about privacy intrusion, the Code is in the development of the PCC since its regulation, along the lines practised technological change, we have to the low risk and lack of fuss an important by the PCC, is the only way to go in make sure that, on terra firma, the associated with making such a inception almost seventeen years ago. the digital age. This is because today, system is effective. There is, for complaint, and the growing part of as in 1991 when the PCC came into example, still much to be done to significance of the settlements that communicate the influence that the are available. being, successful content regulation this record t is not just that more people used through swift, common sense rulings, Commission can have on a day to day A record number of complaints still needs the same indispensable our services than ever before – is ideally suited to the demands of basis. Our work to anticipate and were conciliated to the satisfaction of ingredient: buy-in from the regulated Imore of that later – but that, with new media content regulation. pre-empt possible breaches of the the complainant following an offer by the coming of media convergence, In the nature of things, our industry. This has always been right in Code – dispersing media scrums, the editor of a correction, apology or In 2007 the Government we moved into new territory. We work is frequently controversial; principle. Now it is further buttressed helping people at times of grief, other form of remedy. This is a tribute and the Select Committee on started the year with our competence and we have our critics. I don’t see by technology. For without publishers passing private advisory notes around to the PCC’s complaints officers who Culture, Media and Sport came out already recognised over print and that changing anytime soon. Actually, and editors signing up to an agreed the industry, and much more – is an deal patiently and carefully with the in favour of self-regulation and online editions of newspapers and it is good for us: keeping the PCC Code of Practice, the system would important part of this record. I attach problems that members of the public against a privacy law. Beyond that, magazines. With the agreement of on its toes and spurring us on in the be doomed to failure by the ease very great significance to it; and we bring to us. It also reflects a major it has been a year of ground-breaking the industry early in 2007, we constant endeavour to improve the with which rules imposed from the all at Halton House do everything shift in culture in newsrooms as the developments and unprecedented extended our authority to cover service we offer to the public. outside can be circumvented. in our power to make these services Code of Practice has become activity for the PCC. All this is very most audio-visual content on But in 2007 I have noted two new, Online services already reach better known. The Culture, Media entrenched in the industry; as well as welcome. But, as ever, it sets a new publications’ websites. important and gratifying trends. millions of consumers. Is there any and Sport Select Committee, the fact that online news in particular threshold for further improvement As a result, the Commission The first is that our views are limit to the proliferation of sources looking into the PCC in early 2007, lends itself to the sort of quick, and development in 2008 and the last year found itself dealing with increasingly sought here and abroad of information? The choice concluded that “although not widely sensible resolutions characteristic of years beyond. new types of complaints – about as an acknowledged authority on confronting the consumer is already appreciated, this is some of the the PCC. taped conversations being broadcast, how to maintain high standards of daunting. This compels us to look most valuable work undertaken by I always insist that there is no children being filmed in school, video information in the digital age. The at independent self-regulation in a the Commission”. A salient and point in simply being able to help: of young vandals engaged in arson second is that the new media reality completely new way. Yes, it is our novel feature of this report is the people have to know that we are and so on. It is early days yet; but, – the global nature of news provision; continuing duty at the PCC to uphold publication of a few case studies – here. It always troubles me that there on the record so far, the Code of the competition for news with non- high standards, not least through with the permission of those involved are people, for instance, who feel Sir Christopher Meyer KCMG, Practice, based on principles rather commercial media, including the providing effective remedies to the if there has been no previous publicity that their privacy has been violated, Chairman than prescriptive rules, plus our long better bloggers; the low cost of being victims of bad journalism. But, it will, – to illustrate what we do behind but do not know where to go for experience of applying the Code a publisher of information – is against the background of the scenes, and how we do it. help. That is why I said last year that 4 THE REVIEW 2007 THE REVIEW 2007 5 CASE STUDY YouTube posting ignites new debate Audio-visual ruling One of the first rulings about video online that the Commission made following the extension of its remit concerned footage of arson originally posted on YouTube.