Jul
19
Reform of press self-regulation has moved from the ‘impossible’ tray to the ‘pending’ tray in less than a month. Whilst many people may want it, and some have an opinion on it, there are thorny issues that have not become any easier. The result will not be the regulator of anyone’s dreams. 1. Independent – [...]
Jul
12
Paul Dacre must speak out over phone hacking
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Paul Dacre, the editor of the Daily Mail, has been surprisingly quiet over the last few weeks. Whilst his newspapers are not accused of phone hacking or blagging his silence on the crisis has been surprising, unhelpful for his cause and even out of character. Mr Dacre doesn’t believe that editors should have a public [...]
Feb
26
Andreas Whittam Smith: right and wrong on press self-regulation reform
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Andreas Whittam Smith, a founder of press self-regulation is right to criticise the PCC for failing to secure prominent adjudications and refusing to involve senior journalists.
However, he is very wrong to dismiss the need for public accountability. Self-regulation as a private club (which he argues for) didn’t work for the City of London and doesn’t work for newspapers. Instead it should be a badge of honour, a competitive edge.