PCC year at a glance

PCC rules on photos of psychiatric patients

The Commission had a difficult case to consider, when a Mental Health NHS Trust complained about a local paper's decision to publish pixelated images of patients said to be distressed at the closure of a hospital. The patients had, apparently, been willing to be photographed.

This case raised challenging issues about the competing rights of a hospital and its patients, and what constitutes informed consent.

The Commission found no breach of the Code, saying:

"In the end it found that the newspapers had managed to balance their duty to behave responsibly towards vulnerable individuals with the need to cover a story of important public interest."

PCC consultation on journalists and Twitter

In 2010, the PCC established its first online working group, a standing committee of public and editorial Commissioners charged with considering ethical issues relating to online journalism.

It began by considering whether the PCC's remit should be expanded to cover editorially-controlled Twitter accounts. It undertook an initial consultation across the industry, and found broad support for the idea that tweets, coming from accounts clearly identifi ed as containing the editorial product of the title, should adhere to the terms of the Code of Practice. Such accounts would be different from the personal accounts of journalists.

The industry has now been asked formally to consider whether the remit of the PCC should be expanded in this area.

Identification of defendants in rape cases

PCC staff met with senior officials of the Ministry of Justice, to discuss the idea fl oated by a minister to introduce the compulsory anonymisation of defendants in rape cases (either before charge or conviction). The PCC discussed the relevant issues, and the protections afforded by the Code.

The proposal to legislate in this area was subsequently dropped.

Support for National AIDS Trust's video guide for journalists

The PCC Director was interviewed by the National AIDS Trust as part of a project designed to challenge stigma and improve the way that HIV and AIDS are reported in the UK. The video can be viewed here. We maintain an ongoing relationship with the NAT and have dealt with a number of complaints from them in the past.

Advisory notes

In August, they included:
‒ Passing on a bereaved family's concerns about press attention at an upcoming funeral;

‒ Passing on concerns from an individual, whose family were abroad and being apparently persistently contacted by the national press.