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| John Whittingdale: press must sign up to tough and independent regulator | John Whittingdale: press must sign up to tough and independent regulator |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, has urged the press to sign up to a tough and independent regulator, adding that the jury was still out on whether the current system was good enough. In a speech at the Society of Editors conference in which he praised newspapers, particularly local ones, for holding the powerful to account, Whittingdale urged the industry to sign up to a regulator that complied with the royal charter. | John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, has urged the press to sign up to a tough and independent regulator, adding that the jury was still out on whether the current system was good enough. In a speech at the Society of Editors conference in which he praised newspapers, particularly local ones, for holding the powerful to account, Whittingdale urged the industry to sign up to a regulator that complied with the royal charter. |
| He said Ipso, the year-old self-regulatory body supported by most national newspapers, was “not a million miles away” from complying with the charter agreed in the wake of the Leveson inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal. | He said Ipso, the year-old self-regulatory body supported by most national newspapers, was “not a million miles away” from complying with the charter agreed in the wake of the Leveson inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal. |
| Related: Alan Rusbridger takes aim at press over phone hacking and Snowden | Related: Alan Rusbridger takes aim at press over phone hacking and Snowden |
| A proposed arbitration scheme at Ipso would “move it a significant step closer” to complying with the charter he said, adding “We will continue to monitor this over the coming months.” | A proposed arbitration scheme at Ipso would “move it a significant step closer” to complying with the charter he said, adding “We will continue to monitor this over the coming months.” |
| “These are positive steps and point to a continued effort on the part of industry to apply and learn the lessons of recent years,” he said. “Although it is a matter of concern that there are some publishers who are still outside the self-regulatory system.” | “These are positive steps and point to a continued effort on the part of industry to apply and learn the lessons of recent years,” he said. “Although it is a matter of concern that there are some publishers who are still outside the self-regulatory system.” |
| The Guardian, Observer, Financial Times and Independent titles have not joined Ipso. | The Guardian, Observer, Financial Times and Independent titles have not joined Ipso. |
| “Let me be very clear,” he added. “I would like to see the press bring themselves within the royal charter’s scheme of recognition. What is key is that we should have a regulator that is tough, independent, fully subscribed and that commands confidence.” | “Let me be very clear,” he added. “I would like to see the press bring themselves within the royal charter’s scheme of recognition. What is key is that we should have a regulator that is tough, independent, fully subscribed and that commands confidence.” |
| Whittingdale also said that the imposition of costs on non-compliant newspaper groups could be delayed. | Whittingdale also said that the imposition of costs on non-compliant newspaper groups could be delayed. |
| “I have to say that at the moment, I am not convinced the time is right for the introduction of these costs provisions,” he said. “Given the changes under way within the industry, the introduction of the new exemplary damages provisions, and the pressures on the industry, I question whether this additional step, now, will be positive and will lead to the changes I want to see.” | “I have to say that at the moment, I am not convinced the time is right for the introduction of these costs provisions,” he said. “Given the changes under way within the industry, the introduction of the new exemplary damages provisions, and the pressures on the industry, I question whether this additional step, now, will be positive and will lead to the changes I want to see.” |
| However, he added that his “mind is not made up” over the introduction of the provision. | However, he added that his “mind is not made up” over the introduction of the provision. |
| Exemplary damages in libel cases kick in on 3 November, while a requirement for publications to pay the costs of both sides will be activated when a regulator that compiles with the royal charter is recognised. Ipso rival Impress is expected to be recognised as compliant later this year. | Exemplary damages in libel cases kick in on 3 November, while a requirement for publications to pay the costs of both sides will be activated when a regulator that compiles with the royal charter is recognised. Ipso rival Impress is expected to be recognised as compliant later this year. |
| The comments were immediately criticised by campaign group Hacked Off. | The comments were immediately criticised by campaign group Hacked Off. |
| “Victims will be distressed and the public dismayed to hear that the government is considering not keeping the promise it made to those innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by press misconduct, and reneging on the post-Leveson cross-party agreement signed by all the party leaders 30 months ago and passed overwhelmingly by parliament,” said Hacked Off executive director Evan Harris. | “Victims will be distressed and the public dismayed to hear that the government is considering not keeping the promise it made to those innocent people whose lives have been destroyed by press misconduct, and reneging on the post-Leveson cross-party agreement signed by all the party leaders 30 months ago and passed overwhelmingly by parliament,” said Hacked Off executive director Evan Harris. |
| “We hope that on reflection the prime minister will remember what he pledged on oath at the Leveson inquiry, and what he personally promised victims of the press. The public will never be convinced that our political leaders have ended their servile relationship to powerful press interests like Rupert Murdoch and the returning Rebekah Brooks, until the Leveson reforms are properly implemented.” | “We hope that on reflection the prime minister will remember what he pledged on oath at the Leveson inquiry, and what he personally promised victims of the press. The public will never be convinced that our political leaders have ended their servile relationship to powerful press interests like Rupert Murdoch and the returning Rebekah Brooks, until the Leveson reforms are properly implemented.” |
| Whittingdale also denied that the current review into freedom of information legislation meant that it would be overturned. | |
| “[In the same way] everyone thinks I am going to abolish the BBC just because I am going to look at how it works after 10 years,” he said. | “[In the same way] everyone thinks I am going to abolish the BBC just because I am going to look at how it works after 10 years,” he said. |
| Asked about BBC creative director Alan Yentob’s appearance in front of a committee of MPs last week the minister said such issues were a “matter for BBC management and the trust”. | Asked about BBC creative director Alan Yentob’s appearance in front of a committee of MPs last week the minister said such issues were a “matter for BBC management and the trust”. |
| Whittingdale also addressed the thorny issue of the BBC’s competitive relationship with regional and local newspapers. | Whittingdale also addressed the thorny issue of the BBC’s competitive relationship with regional and local newspapers. |
| “The BBC is not the cause of the problems facing local newspapers,” he said. “But it has not helped. Newspapers have rightly complained when the BBC has taken their stories and reproduced them without attribution.” | “The BBC is not the cause of the problems facing local newspapers,” he said. “But it has not helped. Newspapers have rightly complained when the BBC has taken their stories and reproduced them without attribution.” |
| He appeared to pour cold water on BBC director general Tony Hall’s controversial plan to fund 100 local journalists’ roles which regional newspaper groups would then bid to provide. | He appeared to pour cold water on BBC director general Tony Hall’s controversial plan to fund 100 local journalists’ roles which regional newspaper groups would then bid to provide. |
| “The BBC’s declared intention to get more involved in local news coverage through collaborative work with local papers is welcome,” he said. “Commissioning content about councils, courts and public services from local media outlets can support local newspapers and help to increase accountability. That does not mean the BBC employing local journalists, which would further undermine local media. Instead the BBC would commission local news content from local news providers which would then be available to all media outlets.” | “The BBC’s declared intention to get more involved in local news coverage through collaborative work with local papers is welcome,” he said. “Commissioning content about councils, courts and public services from local media outlets can support local newspapers and help to increase accountability. That does not mean the BBC employing local journalists, which would further undermine local media. Instead the BBC would commission local news content from local news providers which would then be available to all media outlets.” |
| In September, national and regional newspaper publishers called for the BBC’s digital news operation to be curbed to allow commercial players to flourish. | In September, national and regional newspaper publishers called for the BBC’s digital news operation to be curbed to allow commercial players to flourish. |
| Whittingdale also reiterated the government’s pledge to make sure that municipal publications, so-called “town hall Pravdas”, do not squeeze out local newspapers. | Whittingdale also reiterated the government’s pledge to make sure that municipal publications, so-called “town hall Pravdas”, do not squeeze out local newspapers. |
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