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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Press regulation: local newspapers fear rush of compensation claims | Press regulation: local newspapers fear rush of compensation claims |
| (6 months later) | |
| Local and regional newspapers ranging from the Birmingham Post to the Liverpool Echo and the Hackney Gazette could face a "crippling" rush of compensation claims under the system of arbitration for small-scale complaints being proposed as part of the new press watchdog. | Local and regional newspapers ranging from the Birmingham Post to the Liverpool Echo and the Hackney Gazette could face a "crippling" rush of compensation claims under the system of arbitration for small-scale complaints being proposed as part of the new press watchdog. |
| Adrian Jeakings, chief executive of Archant, one of the country's local newspaper groups and owner of four daily local papers and 60 weekly titles, said he fears that the system could "open the floodgates to compensation payments" and "would place a crippling burden on the UK's 1,100 local newspapers, inhibiting freedom of speech and the freedom to publish". | Adrian Jeakings, chief executive of Archant, one of the country's local newspaper groups and owner of four daily local papers and 60 weekly titles, said he fears that the system could "open the floodgates to compensation payments" and "would place a crippling burden on the UK's 1,100 local newspapers, inhibiting freedom of speech and the freedom to publish". |
| Local papers are concerned that complaints about inaccuracy and small errors which are normally settled uncontentiously will now turn into full-scale arbitration disputes which, under the system, have to be funded by local papers. | Local papers are concerned that complaints about inaccuracy and small errors which are normally settled uncontentiously will now turn into full-scale arbitration disputes which, under the system, have to be funded by local papers. |
| Behind the scenes, local newspapers have expressed deep concern about the arbitration unit in the run up to Monday's all-party Leveson deal ,but they have not spoken publicly before today. | Behind the scenes, local newspapers have expressed deep concern about the arbitration unit in the run up to Monday's all-party Leveson deal ,but they have not spoken publicly before today. |
| Jeakings pointed out that Lord Justice Leveson had repeatedly remarked on the importance of local papers during his public inquiry and on the financial perils they face from the internet, which has virtually wiped all their classified advertising, ranging from adverts for local hairdressers to used cars. | Jeakings pointed out that Lord Justice Leveson had repeatedly remarked on the importance of local papers during his public inquiry and on the financial perils they face from the internet, which has virtually wiped all their classified advertising, ranging from adverts for local hairdressers to used cars. |
| "The deal announced by the three main political parties today completely ignores the Leveson recommendations on the local press," said Jeakings who is also president of the Newspaper Society, which has an official role representing local and regional papers. | "The deal announced by the three main political parties today completely ignores the Leveson recommendations on the local press," said Jeakings who is also president of the Newspaper Society, which has an official role representing local and regional papers. |
| "The Royal Charter proposals agreed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour – contain huge financial penalties for newspapers which choose to be outside the system and an arbitration service which would open the floodgates to compensation claimants. | "The Royal Charter proposals agreed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour – contain huge financial penalties for newspapers which choose to be outside the system and an arbitration service which would open the floodgates to compensation claimants. |
| "Lord Justice Leveson found that the UK's local media had nothing to do with the phone-hacking scandal which prompted the inquiry. Indeed, he praised regional and local newspapers for their important social and democratic role and recommended that the regulatory model proposed should not provide an added burden to our sector," he added. | "Lord Justice Leveson found that the UK's local media had nothing to do with the phone-hacking scandal which prompted the inquiry. Indeed, he praised regional and local newspapers for their important social and democratic role and recommended that the regulatory model proposed should not provide an added burden to our sector," he added. |
| Jeakings said local newspapers remain fiercely opposed to any form of statutory involvement or underpinning in the regulation of the press. | Jeakings said local newspapers remain fiercely opposed to any form of statutory involvement or underpinning in the regulation of the press. |
| "A free press cannot be free if it is dependent on and accountable to a regulatory body recognised by the state," he said. | "A free press cannot be free if it is dependent on and accountable to a regulatory body recognised by the state," he said. |
| His remarks reinforce the position of some of the country's largest national newspapers, including the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Times, which have all expressed concerns about the Leveson deal and are exploring the possibility of boycotting the new regulator and going it alone. | His remarks reinforce the position of some of the country's largest national newspapers, including the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Times, which have all expressed concerns about the Leveson deal and are exploring the possibility of boycotting the new regulator and going it alone. |
| The Mail branded the deal "a grim day for all who value freedom" and, like the Times, accused David Cameron of crossing the Rubicon and threatening press freedom for the first time since newspapers were licensed in the 17th century. | The Mail branded the deal "a grim day for all who value freedom" and, like the Times, accused David Cameron of crossing the Rubicon and threatening press freedom for the first time since newspapers were licensed in the 17th century. |
| The Sun, in its leader column, said "much remains to be studied before the royal charter can be accepted as the foundation stone of new regulation". | The Sun, in its leader column, said "much remains to be studied before the royal charter can be accepted as the foundation stone of new regulation". |
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