• 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

Lisa Burrow - Editor, Closer Magazine

As Closer combines celebrity and real-life content, every aspect of the PCC Code affects us. But rather than limiting us, it encourages us to raise our standards of responsibility and accuracy.

When it comes to real life, the guidelines provide a framework of common sense and respectful behaviour.

In the celebrity arena the area of privacy is notoriously tricky to navigate. Celebs rely on our titles for self-promotion but can cite privacy issues when less fl attering stories circulate. On the rare occasions that Closer receives a complaint, the PCC maintains neutrality whilst attempting to broker resolutions that ensure the often precarious - but symbiotic - working relationship between agents and publications can continue.

However there can be frustrations; for example, there are those who use the threat of the PCC to publicly complain, occasionally leaking to other media outlets the intention to complain to the Commission. This behaviour risks undermining the complaints process in my view, because publications may become wary that the PCC is being used as a PR tool rather than as a mediator or adjudicator.

Naturally we co-operate fully with the Commission to resolve any complaints but we also work closely on prevention. Our journalists understand the letter and spirit of the Code and seminars presented by PCC representatives have brought it to life with practicalexamples and Q&A sessions. These reinforce the human face of the PCC and facilitate an ongoing dialogue whereby journalists can call for pre-publication advice and guidance.

The self-regulatory nature of the PCC ensures editors are mindful of their actions at all times and offers an element of transparency. Opting out exposes the title to public mistrust thus undermining its credibility - the very thing we rely on to succeed.