The PCC has produced a free resource pack on its work which can be worked through independently. Although originally designed for sixth-form teachers preparing lessons on media regulation, it is a good introduction to the PCC for anyone with an interest in the Commission and the Code of Practice. Click here to download the resource.

Each year, the PCC gives talks about its work to hundreds of students. In many cases, these are students training to be professional journalists, where knowledge of the press industry’s Code of Practice is an obligatory part of their NCTJ professional exams. Most of these sessions are overseen by Alison Hastings, a former editor and former member of the PCC, whose biography is available to view here. Her talks have attracted some excellent feedback, including:

“It was an excellent talk - everyone was impressed, so thanks so much.”

“[The students] found it very interesting and useful indeed to hear about the PCC directly from someone so closely involved in it, and in a way which was so nicely illustrated with examples.”

In other cases, groups of Media Studies students visit the PCC’s offices and are given a presentation about the PCC’s work from one of the organisation’s experienced members of staff who deal with complaints in their every day work.

In both cases, sessions are discussed with tutors in advance to ascertain the needs of the students, and we are happy to tailor the seminars to fit specific requirements. Sessions usually take the form of a practical, ‘hands-on’ seminar, giving students the chance to look at real-life case studies investigated by the PCC.

A typical session will include an introduction to the PCC and an explanation of the main principles and benefits of self-regulation; an overview of the main areas of the Code (with brief illustrations of real cases); an explanation of the complaints procedure; and an overview of how the complaints we receive are broken down by clause.

The students will then be invited by the speaker to work through examples of recent cases dealt with by the Commission as a way of properly understanding the intricacies of a case and the often difficult decision-making process. These practical exercises enable students to understand the workings of the PCC, and alert them to particularly complex strands of a case. Questions are always welcome. We can also speak to individual students on an ad-hoc basis if time allows.

Please contact Tonia Milton with any enquiries, or to request a booking: tonia.milton@pcc.org.uk.