PressBof operates independently of the Press Complaints Commission.

THE PRESS STANDARDS BOARD OF FINANCE LIMITED

CHAIRMAN: TIM BOWDLER CBE
TELEPHONE: 0131 240 3270
FACSIMILIE: 0131 220 4344

SECRETARY & TREASURER: E-MAIL: info@pressbof.org.uk

EMBARGO: IMMEDIATE 08/02/07

The extension has been agreed recognizing that “on-line versions” of newspapers and magazines have moved on from the internet replication of material that already existed in a printed version of the publication to routinely carrying material not available in print form.

The accompanying Guidance Note explains that the PCC’s remit should be seen as covering editorial material on newspaper and magazine titles websites where it meets two key requirements:

1. that the editor of the newspaper or magazine is responsible for it and could reasonably have been expected both to exercise editorial control over it and apply the terms of the Code.
2. that it was not pre-edited to conform to the on-line or off-line standards of another media regulatory body.
   

Tim Bowdler , Chairman of PressBoF, commented: “It is extremely important that self regulation should evolve in a carefully considered manner to take account of the developing ways in which our publications, in print and on-line, communicate with readers. The purpose of the Guidance Note is to provide clarity for all parties in defining the PCC’s remit in this new territory”.

Sir Christopher Meyer , Chairman of the PCC, added: “The range and quality of digital editorial material offered by newspapers and magazines have expanded at a dizzying pace over the last couple of years. These developments will only accelerate. What the industry has done in announcing this extension of the PCC’s remit is to underline its confidence in the system of common-sense regulation that we operate, and to demonstrate to the public that editorial information in the digital age – regardless of the format in which it is delivered – will be subject to high professional standards overseen by the Commission”.

Click here for the Guidance Note.

ENDS

1. PressBoF is a committee of newspaper and magazine industry executives which is responsible for setting the remit of and funding the arrangements for press self-regulation in the United Kingdom.

2. The Press Complaints Commission is an independently-run body which enforces the terms of the editors’ Code of Practice. It has a board of 17 members – 7 editors and 10 members of the public (including the Chairman).

3. Press self-regulation is the norm throughout Europe, where the Codes of every existing press council and complaints commission (with the exception of Germany) also extend to online journalistic material, including audio-visual material.