• Introduction
• Chairman's perspective
• Public representatives
• Complainants
• Professional representatives
• Newspapers and magazines
• Doug Wills - Managing Editor, Evening Standard
• Elisabeth Ribbans - Managing Editor, The Guardian
• Donald Martin - Editor, The Sunday Post & The Weekly News; Editor-in-Chief, DC Thomson Newspapers
• Lisa Burrow - Editor, Closer Magazine
• Nick Turner - Digital Strategy Manager, CN Group
• Georgina Harvey - President of the Newspaper Society
• Alison Hastings - PCC Journalism Trainer, Former Editor, Evening Chronicle (Newcastle)
• The Press Complaints Commission
• Constructive critics
• International perspective
• Historical perspective
• Putting it into perspective

Newspapers and magazines

Georgina Harvey - President of the Newspaper Society

A free press is recognised as the cornerstone of any democracy. Britain's newspapers are rightly subject to the general laws of the land, including libel and contempt of court. But the UK government has always resisted any move towards state regulation of the press.

The Press Complaints Commission shows that self-regulation is the most effective way to uphold strict editorial standards and responsible reporting, providing an independent means for the public to resolve complaints when they arise.

Regional and local newspapers are committed to the self-regulatory system under the PCC and agree to be bound by its adjudications. The Editors' Code of Practice is written into the employment contracts of the vast majority of the journalists of Britain's 1,200 regional newspapers. Our editors are in no doubt that they are held to account for any breach of that Code.

The PCC works because it is free, accessible and effective for all members of the public. That is possible because the newspaper and magazine industry is signed up to the system, provides the funding for its work, but respects its independence and authority.

Editors of regional and local newspapers work hard to ensure the highest standards of fair, ethical and accurate reporting. They continually strive to balance the public's right to know against individual rights to privacy. They may not always get it right.

But they are acutely aware that if they do get it wrong and a complaint against them is upheld by the PCC, this is a serious matter which exposes them to public criticism. Every adjudication must be published prominently and in full and it remains on that newspaper's record. As a result, editors' adherence to the Code and the industry's unequivocal support for the PCC means a more responsible press, as well as a free press.