Stephen Abell Director 5 th October 2011

1. Stephen Abell Director 5th October 2011

2. What is the PCC? “The PCC is an independent body which administers the system of self-regulation for the press. It does so primarily by dealing with complaints, framed within the terms of the Editors' Code of Practice, about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines (and their websites, including editorial audio-visual material) and the conduct of journalists. It can also assist individuals by representing their interests to editors in advance of an article about them being published. The purpose of the PCC is to serve the public by holding editors to account. We strive to protect the rights of individuals, while at the same time preserving appropriate freedom of expression for the press. We proactively advertise our services and reach out to people who may be in need of our help. We aim to promote high standards by developing clear guidance and practical principles through our rulings, and offering training and advice to editors and journalists”.

3. Functions • negotiating remedial action and amicable settlements for complainants; issuing rulings on complaints; • using published rulings as a means of guiding newsroom practice across the industry; • publicly censuring editors for breaches of the Code; • passing on pre-publication concerns to editors to prevent the Code being breached; passing on requests to editors that their journalists ease contacting individuals, and so prevent media harassment; • issuing formal guidance, based on its interpretation of the Code, to the industry on important issues; • instigating its own investigations under the Code in the public interest where appropriate; • conducting training seminars for working journalists and editors; • and liaising with other press councils internationally.

4. The Editors’ Code of Practice 1. Accuracy 2. Opportunity to reply 3. Privacy* 4. Harassment* 5. Intrusion into grief or shock* 6. Children* 7. Children in sex cases * 8. Hospitals* 9. Reporting of Crime* 10. Clandestine devices and subterfuge* 11. Victims of sexual assault 12. Discrimination 13. Financial journalism 14. Confidential sources 15. Witness payments in criminal trials* 16. Payment to criminals* NB: there may be exceptions to the clauses marked * where they can be demonstrated to be in the public interest.

5. Sanctions • negotiation of an agreed remedy (such as a published apology, published correction, clarification or explanatory letter, private letter of apology, amendment or removal of online information, amendment of a publication’s internal records, ex gratia payments); • publication of a critical adjudication in the offending publication, which may be followed by public criticism of a title by the Chairman of the PCC; • a letter of admonishment from the Chairman to the editor; • follow-up from the PCC to ensure that changes are made to avoid a repeat of the failing and to establish what steps (which may include disciplinary action, where appropriate) have been taken against those responsible for serious breaches of the Code; • formal referral of an editor to his or her publisher for action. Adherence to the Code is written into the majority of journalists’ contracts. The PCC is committed to examining how its sanctions can be further improved.

6. Key statistics (2010) 7,000 The PCC received well over 7,000 complaints in writing last year, although this figure includes multiple complaints (where more than one person complained about the same article), as well as those that did not fall within the Commission's remit or were not pursued after an initial contact 1,687 The PCC made rulings, or brokered amicable resolutions, in respect of nearly 1,700 cases 750 This was the number of complaints which the PCC judged to have merit under the terms of the Editors' Code of Practice. This means that they raised a likely breach of the Code 557 The PCC successfully mediated or ruled on 557 cases that related to privacy in 2010

7. Key statistics (2010) 544 Resolving complaints to the satisfaction of complainants is a key priority for the PCC. Last year, 544 complaints were amicably settled through the Commission's mediation service 188 There were 188 complaints in respect of which newspapers offered remedial action that the Commission considered to be sufficient, even though an an amicable settlement was not reached 18 In 18 cases where a suitable remedy had not been offered or was not appropriate, the PCC formally ruled in favour of complainants

8. Pre-publication intervention and advice Pre-publication advocacy 117 occasions in 18 months 24 hour anti-harassment service 86 occasions in 18 months Ethical advice to editors and journalists 16 occasions for the month of August 2011

9. Raising standards • Development of case law • Editors’ Codebook • Key areas: suicide reporting; social networking • Ongoing training of journalists and editors • Editorial guidance notes covering a range of issues

10. Public service 95% of complainants to the PCC are ordinary members of the public 25 proactive approaches to individuals caught up in media stories in 2010 Protocol for dealing with a major incident (e.g. terrorist attack) Detailed advice on a wide range of issues for members of the public (most recently “Media attention following a death” Regional Open Days (public meetings) throughout the UK

11. www.pcc.org.uk