The Press Complaints Commission is committed to ensuring that as many people as possible know about its service and where to turn when problems arise. Since 2003, we have organised a series of Open Days – free, open meetings at which members of the public can learn about what we do and speak to our staff first-hand about specific concerns they might have about the press.

The PCC is also proactive in its work with vulnerable groups from right across the community. By regularly scrutinising patterns in the complaints we receive, we are able to identify particular groups who might benefit from advice about their rights under the Code of Practice. In 2006, for example, we focussed on ensuring that groups from the Muslim community were fully up to speed with the services offered by the PCC. Meetings were held with a large number of organisations, including the Union of Muslim Organisations of UK and Eire, the UK Islamic Mission and the London Muslim Centre at the East London Mosque. We also held a very useful cultural awareness training afternoon for our staff from the Islamic Foundation on the history and practices of Islam.

Hopefully, we are now better placed to receive complaints from community members who find themselves, either personally or through general reference to Islam and its practices and adherents, affected by newspaper coverage and to ensure that those complaints are framed and pursued in the most appropriate way.

Other issues that we have investigated over the past couple of years include the reporting of mental health issues and the treatment by the press of a number of vulnerable groups, such as asylum seekers, Gypsies and transgender individuals. Although primarily this work is dictated by trends in complaints, we are always open to suggestions as to where to best direct our efforts. Please direct comments and suggestions to Sue Roberts, the PCC’s External Affairs Manager, on sue.roberts@pcc.org.uk.

In addition to this work, the PCC maintains ongoing communication with a number of public bodies to ensure that information is always available to those who need it. Libraries, Citizens Advice Bureaux, NHS and Primary Care Trusts, Coroners and witness services are all kept up-to-date on our work, and we regularly exhibit at appropriate conferences, such as the National Citizens Advice Bureau Conference. For more information about this, please contact Tonia Milton, Information and Events Manager, on tonia.milton@pcc.org.uk.

Lastly, this website - updated daily with news of resolved and adjudicated complaints - is a key method for us of communicating our work. To receive news and information about forthcoming events, please consider adding your name to our mailing list.