STRIKING A BALANCE: Media Regulation in the United Kingdom

[Blog Post for JRNL116 - Analysing News]

Image: AVID

In the rapidly evolving landscape of media, the question of regulation looms large, especially when it comes to newspapers here in the United Kingdom. Unlike television and radio journalism, newspaper press has been able to operate with fewer laws guiding their content. IPSO and IMPRESS are the governing bodies of print journalism, over the last five year period they received 50,000 claims from ‘victims’ of the press, yet not a single fine was issued to any newspaper across the UK.

IPSO - Independent Press Standards Organisation - can make adjudications and can require corrections, they can in theory fine a publisher up to one million pounds for ‘systematic failings’. They cover most newspapers and magazines, it may be worth noting that the Guardian and Private Eye have never joined, but it is voluntary and funded by the press itself…

So is this just allowing journalists to check their own homework? And should a Radio Journalist envy the so-called freedoms that a newspaper journalist has?

This leniency has often been seen as a testament to the importance of press freedom, a cornerstone of democratic societies. However, the question remains: should newspapers continue to enjoy this comparatively lax regulation? Advocates for a lighter regulatory touch argue that it fosters a more vibrant and diverse media landscape, allowing for varied opinions and robust public discourse. It promotes journalistic freedom, enabling newspapers to act as a check on power, ensuring accountability and transparency. On the other hand, critics argue that this lack of regulation might lead to ethical breaches and misinformation. In the digital age, where information spreads rapidly, unchecked news can have severe consequences, eroding public trust and creating social discord.

IMAGE: BBC - MILLY DOWLER

One notable example of unethical journalism in the United Kingdom involves the phone hacking scandal that engulfed the now-defunct News of the World tabloid in 2011. Journalists and editors at the newspaper were found to have engaged in illegal phone hacking, accessing voicemails of celebrities, politicians, and even crime victims to obtain private information for news stories. The scandal came to light when it was revealed that the phone of Milly Dowler, a missing teenage girl who was later found murdered, had been hacked by journalists from News of the World while she was still missing. This intrusion not only compromised the privacy of the grieving Dowler family but also gave them false hope by deleting messages on Milly's voicemail, potentially hampering the police investigation.

There are two distinct systems of regulation in the UK, self-regulation - which allows our press to be more independent and to opt-out of formal self-regulation if they wish - and statutory regulation, which forces broadcasters to be more constrained and impartial.

"It is important to underline, three times in red ink, how well the system has worked; because the price has been so high…" - Andrew Marr, My Trade 2005

There are two distinct systems of regulation in the UK, self-regulation - which allows our press to be more independent and to opt-out of formal self-regulation if they wish - and statutory regulation, which forces broadcasters to be more constrained and impartial.

‘It is worth underlining that this British compromise – a broadcasting system that was neither controlled by the state nor left to the private sector, and was not quite beyond the reach of democracy – was an act of political wisdom which has enriched Britain for two generations… It is important to underline, three times in red ink, how well the system has worked; because the price has been so high… In setting up a deliberate tension between elected power, through parliament, and the broadcasters, Britain also set up a system of confrontation.’ (Marr, Andrew 2005).

IMAGE: https://spitalfieldslife.com/

The Hacked Off campaign has criticised IPSO, labelling it a "sham" and "a semblance of reform." Additionally, it is contended that the fines imposed by IPSO are inadequate in addressing the issue of 'cheque book journalism.' The National Union of Journalists has referred to IPSO as a 'futile regulatory body,' asserting that it lacks the teeth to enforce meaningful change in the media landscape, raising concerns about its overall effectiveness in ensuring journalistic accountability and ethical standards in the United Kingdom.

It's important to note that journalistic tone and style can differ widely across different media outlets and even individual journalists, so it's challenging to make a blanket statement about the entire industry. Journalistic styles are influenced by factors such as the outlet's editorial policies, the nature of the story, the target audience, and the individual journalist's approach. It's essential to consider these factors when evaluating media coverage and avoid generalisations about entire mediums of communication.

The Statistics

​​“Just 27 per cent of Britons surveyed trust journalists to tell them the truth, putting them alongside estate agents and professional footballers. Only politicians rank lower in the survey which saw 998 adults quizzed in October this year” – Annual Ipsos Mori Veracity Index relating to trust in professions, 2017.

57 per cent said they were in favour of tougher press regulation. 5 per cent said they were in favour of less tough press regulation. –YouGov Poll, 2017

References:

Frost, Chris (2016) Journalism Ethics and Regulation Routledge: London https://find.shef.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=44SFD_ALMA_DS21246298380001441&context=L&vid=44SFD_VU2&lang=en_US&search_scope=SCOP_EVERYTHING&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&isFrbr=true&tab=everything&query=any,contains,chris%20frost&sortby=date&facet=frbrgroupid,include,2754404860&offset=0

Harcup, Tony (2007) The Ethical Journalist SAGE: London https://find.shef.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=44SFD_ALMA_DS51213066170001441&context=L&vid=44SFD_VU2&lang=en_US&search_scope=SCOP_EVERYTHING&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=everything&query=any,contains,Harcup%20ethical&offset=0

Harcup, Tony (2022) Journalism: Principles and Practice (Fouth Edition) SAGE: London - Please note that other editions are available but I would strongly recommend the fourth and latest edition. This item is not available online, but the library holds multiple copies. https://find.shef.ac.uk/primo-explore/search?query=any,contains,harcup%20journalism%20practice&tab=everything&search_scope=SCOP_EVERYTHING&sortby=date&vid=44SFD_VU2&facet=frbrgroupid,include,2754098395&lang=en_US&offset=0