MEDIA - Regulation of the Media Flashcards
After the Press Complaints Commission (the PCC) was shut down after the Leveson Inquiry, what Regulatory Body now Regulated the Press in the UK?
IPSO!
What does IPSO stand for?
Independent Press Standards Organisation!
TRUE OR FALSE: The PCC and IPSO are / were both VOLUNTARY organisation!
TRUE! - They are / were set up by the newspaper industry itself to engage in self-regulation!
What Scandal that involved ‘News of the World’ led to the Leveson Inquiry?
There was a widely-reported scandal that journalists at ‘News of the World’ (which was owned by Murdoch) had been hacking the mobile phones of people connected to news stories, hoping to get an ‘inside scoop’!
Many of these people were celebrities, but it also included members of the public too and even a murder victim, Milly Dowler (journalists hacked her phone and tampered with the police’s investigation, because they thought that she had checked her own messages)!
The public outcry that this caused and the associated causes of corruption in the press led to a high-profile public inquiry!
After a long Inquiry, what proposals did the Leveson Inquiry put forward? HINT: There are 2 key proposals mentioned here!
- Replacing the PCC with a new regulatory body
- For the new body to be independent (not a state regulator) but to be backed up and supported by legislation
The intention was that the public would be confident that complaints would be taken seriously
What was the result of the Leveson Inquiry Recommendations? HINT: Arguments ensued;
The recommendations were followed by a bitter argument between politicians and newspaper editors about the criteria of the new regulatory body!
Why were Newspaper Editors Reluctant regarding the Recommendations? HINT: Due to legislation!
Newspaper Editors = Reluctant to have any sort of legislation underpinning the complaints procedure, for fear that future government might amend the legislation in order to interfere with the press.
Did David Cameron Agree or Disagree with the Editors?
He AGREED with them! He did not want legislation!
What did other Political Leaders want (such as Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg); did they Support or Oppose Cameron and the Journalists’ View that Legislation was not needed?
They opposed Cameron and the Journalists’ View that Legislation was not needed –> Clegg and Miliband wanted to implement Leveson in full (Including Legislation)!
Because Clegg and Cameron had different views, what did this cause in the government?
This caused as split in the government, as Nick Clegg as the Deputy PM at the time, during the Coalition Government!
What did the Politicians eventually reach? HINT: They agreed to disagree!
They reached a COMPROMISE! - They wanted the New Body to be established by Royal Charter, especially allowing for Regulation of the Regulator!
In regards to the New Body being established by the Royal Charter, how did most Newspaper Editors react to it? What did they do instead?
Most newspaper editors rejected this idea and they established IPSO in defiance of the government!
What did the Royal Charter establish and what did it do? HINT: PRP
They established the PRP, which has formally recognised an alternative regulatory body!
What types of Organisations are regulated by the Rival Organisation, Impress? What do other Newspapers do?
Only small publications and organisations are regulated by Impress!
Most newspapers are self-regulated by IPSO!
Why are so many people calling for ‘Leveson 2?
Leveson 2 = Because many campaigners argue that Leveson has not been implemented, they are calling for Leveson 2!
