The Press Complaints Commission

What does the PCC do? 

• Independent.
• deals with complains about editorial content in newspapers & magazines in the UK (including websites). 
• 16 clause Code of Practice. 
• Deals with complaints about content which someone believes has breached the code. 
• The editor usually resolves the complaint e.g. published correction, apology or clarification. 
• If problem cannot be solved, the PCC will assess the evidence from both sides and issue an adjudication (formal judgement) which has to be published in the newspapers/magazines pages. 

How does the system work?

• Not legal. Not run by the government. 
• Run on a voluntary agreement by the newspaper/magazine industry.
• Code of Practice drawn by the committee of editors.
• Commission itself consists of public 'lay' members.
• 10 out of the 17 have no link to the newspaper/magazine industry. 

What does the Code of Practice cover? 

• Covers four main areas: accuracy, privacy, news-gathering, protecting the vulnerable.
• Editor is expected to take full responsibility of the content that they produce. (e.g. articles, photographs etc...)
• Content should comply with the Code of Practice.
• Code of Practice doesn't cover issues of taste and decency purely because of the democratic society that we're in, newspapers feel they have the freedom to publish in a style which they choose as long as it complies with the Code of Practice. 
• Most people choose what style of newspaper they buy, hence can expect content which agrees to their specific taste, unlike billboards, which everyone can see, so rules on taste must be appropriate. 

How is the PCC funded? 

• Funded by the Press Standards Board of Finance (PressBof).
• Collect money from newspapers and magazines. 
• Each newspaper and magazine contribute based on the number of people who buy their papers.
• Not funded by the government. 

What is the history of the PCC?

• Set up in 1991 replacing the Press Council which started in 1953.
• Their aim was to maintain high standards of journalism whilst protecting press freedom. 
• In 1980's, MP's started to lose their faith in the Press Council based on the fact that some publications failed to observe the simple ethics of journalism. 
• Government appointed a Departmental Committee to consider the matter.
• Later, proposed a new PCC which would have to prove "that non-statutory regulation can be made to work effectively".

Who complains to the PCC and what do they complain about?

• Accepts complaints from anyone who believes that an article is in breach of the Code of Practice. 
• The Code provides special protection to particular vulnerable groups. 

Why is the PCC important? 

• In a democratic society, the press should not be subject to strict controls by law or by government. The PCC being an independent, voluntary organisation protects against this possibility simply by its existence.