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| Newspapers open to negotiating new regulator, says acting Times editor | Newspapers open to negotiating new regulator, says acting Times editor |
| (5 months later) | |
| The acting editor of the Times has said newspaper publishers are willing to negotiate with politicians over a new press regulator, on the day the industry's rival plan to parliament-backed proposals was submitted to the privy council. | The acting editor of the Times has said newspaper publishers are willing to negotiate with politicians over a new press regulator, on the day the industry's rival plan to parliament-backed proposals was submitted to the privy council. |
| John Witherow's comments will provide hope that a way can be found out of the current impasse, with most of the UK press industry supporting a bid to launch a new press regulator backed by its own royal charter. | John Witherow's comments will provide hope that a way can be found out of the current impasse, with most of the UK press industry supporting a bid to launch a new press regulator backed by its own royal charter. |
| This is in direct opposition to the separate royal charter-backed regulatory regime agreed by the three main parties and pressure group Hacked Off last month and supported by a majority of MPs in a Commons emergency debate in March. Both royal charters are due to go before the privy council on 15 May. | This is in direct opposition to the separate royal charter-backed regulatory regime agreed by the three main parties and pressure group Hacked Off last month and supported by a majority of MPs in a Commons emergency debate in March. Both royal charters are due to go before the privy council on 15 May. |
| Witherow was asked on BBC Radio 4's The Media Show whether those backing the industry royal charter plan would be willing to sit down and talk to politicians and Hacked Off, which is campaigning for stricter press regulation and was controversially involved in the overnight talks that resulted in the royal charter proposal agreed by the three main parties. | Witherow was asked on BBC Radio 4's The Media Show whether those backing the industry royal charter plan would be willing to sit down and talk to politicians and Hacked Off, which is campaigning for stricter press regulation and was controversially involved in the overnight talks that resulted in the royal charter proposal agreed by the three main parties. |
| "We're certainly prepared to talk to the politicians," he replied, without committing to Hacked Off being part of any negotiations. | "We're certainly prepared to talk to the politicians," he replied, without committing to Hacked Off being part of any negotiations. |
| Earlier on Wednesday, the Newspaper Society confirmed that the sector's proposed royal charter had been submitted to the privy council office. | Earlier on Wednesday, the Newspaper Society confirmed that the sector's proposed royal charter had been submitted to the privy council office. |
| "The document submitted by the four newspaper and magazine trade associations was published by the industry on April 25th. Since then, there has been one small amendment to include in the recognition criteria the provision by the new independent regulator of a whistleblowers' hotline," the society said in a statement. | "The document submitted by the four newspaper and magazine trade associations was published by the industry on April 25th. Since then, there has been one small amendment to include in the recognition criteria the provision by the new independent regulator of a whistleblowers' hotline," the society said in a statement. |
| "The press's proposed royal charter has been backed by a number of senior MPs and peers, and has the support of the overwhelming majority of the country's national, regional and local newspapers and magazines. According to an opinion poll published on Wednesday, it also has the clear backing of the public." | "The press's proposed royal charter has been backed by a number of senior MPs and peers, and has the support of the overwhelming majority of the country's national, regional and local newspapers and magazines. According to an opinion poll published on Wednesday, it also has the clear backing of the public." |
| Questioned about the differences between the rival royal charters, Witherow said the one backed by politicians would mean that if mistakes were discovered in the legislation once the new regulator was set up, the proposals would have to go back to parliament and gain a two thirds majority in both houses for changes to be made. He added that the industry-backed royal charter plan was better in this respect. | Questioned about the differences between the rival royal charters, Witherow said the one backed by politicians would mean that if mistakes were discovered in the legislation once the new regulator was set up, the proposals would have to go back to parliament and gain a two thirds majority in both houses for changes to be made. He added that the industry-backed royal charter plan was better in this respect. |
| Witherow also said the industry did intend to pilot an arbitration unit as part of the new regulatory regime, but one that provided protection for regional and local newspapers, which were worried they will be "swamped" by ambulance-chasing lawyers. | Witherow also said the industry did intend to pilot an arbitration unit as part of the new regulatory regime, but one that provided protection for regional and local newspapers, which were worried they will be "swamped" by ambulance-chasing lawyers. |
| John Whittingdale, Conservative MP and chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, said it would be "disastrous" if the plans for press reform were scuppered at this late stage. | John Whittingdale, Conservative MP and chairman of the Commons culture, media and sport select committee, said it would be "disastrous" if the plans for press reform were scuppered at this late stage. |
| Speaking to journalists at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch in London, Whittingdale said: "There is a real possibility that the Queen or privy council will refuse to recommend any royal charter when there is disagreement between the parties or disagreement between the government and industry. | Speaking to journalists at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch in London, Whittingdale said: "There is a real possibility that the Queen or privy council will refuse to recommend any royal charter when there is disagreement between the parties or disagreement between the government and industry. |
| "If we have no royal charter, we have nothing – that would be disastrous. It would obviously lead to pressure for statutory intervention, which I certainly don't want to see." | "If we have no royal charter, we have nothing – that would be disastrous. It would obviously lead to pressure for statutory intervention, which I certainly don't want to see." |
| Whittingdale said he believed the differences between the industry's royal charter and the parliament-backed version were "relatively small" and that all sides should be open to negotiation. | Whittingdale said he believed the differences between the industry's royal charter and the parliament-backed version were "relatively small" and that all sides should be open to negotiation. |
| The charter was originally proposed by Times publisher News International, Telegraph Media Group and Daily Mail owner Associated Newspapers. It also has the backing of Trinity Mirror, Express Newspapers and four industry bodies – the Newspaper Society (which represents regional and local newspapers), the Newspaper Publishers Association (nationals), the Professional Publishers Association (magazines) and the Scottish Newspaper Society. | The charter was originally proposed by Times publisher News International, Telegraph Media Group and Daily Mail owner Associated Newspapers. It also has the backing of Trinity Mirror, Express Newspapers and four industry bodies – the Newspaper Society (which represents regional and local newspapers), the Newspaper Publishers Association (nationals), the Professional Publishers Association (magazines) and the Scottish Newspaper Society. |
| The Guardian, along with the Independent and the Financial Times, was not consulted about the industry's rival royal charter proposals, but has said some of its ideas over entrenching the regulator may be workable and called for a high-profile mediator to be appointed to strike a deal between newspapers and politicians. | The Guardian, along with the Independent and the Financial Times, was not consulted about the industry's rival royal charter proposals, but has said some of its ideas over entrenching the regulator may be workable and called for a high-profile mediator to be appointed to strike a deal between newspapers and politicians. |
| • This article was amended on 2 May 2013 to correct the statement in the third paragraph that the charter-backed regime had been passed by both houses of parliament, and in the fourth paragraph that the royal charter had been agreed in talks by three main parties, not parliament as a whole | • This article was amended on 2 May 2013 to correct the statement in the third paragraph that the charter-backed regime had been passed by both houses of parliament, and in the fourth paragraph that the royal charter had been agreed in talks by three main parties, not parliament as a whole |
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