• Statistics 2010
  • Introduction
  • The key numbers
  • What do people complain about?
  • Complaints with merit
  • Complaints without merit
  • Speed of service
  • Prominence
  • Desist requests and
    pre-publication advice
  • Complainant feedback and public opinion research
• Key rulings 2010

Statistics 2010

Desist requests and pre-publication assistance

Desist requests

In recent years the Commission has sought to highlight its vital role in assisting those who fi nd themselves at the centre of a media story, usually through no fault of their own. We never assume that such people ought not to speak to journalists or do not wish to - but if they decide they want to avoid approaches from reporters and photographers we will, where appropriate, help to ensure their wishes are as widely known as possible.

We do this by distributing a desist request - usually an email from the individual concerned (or their nominated representative) - to our contact list of editorial and legal executives across the newspaper and magazine industry. We can also send such requests to certain news agencies and, in some circumstances, to broadcasters too as they have agreed voluntarily to participate in the system we have developed. The outcome of these requests is invariably a reduction in physical media attention. And although there may be rare occasions when it is legitimate for a journalist to approach an individual even after a desist request has been issued (on public interest grounds), it is exceedingly unusual for editors to permit further contact in these circumstances.

Of course, the Commission will only use the desist request system when it is genuinely necessary - usually when the subject of media interest is vulnerable, for instance as the result of a bereavement. We take care to be sure that individuals are not abusing our assistance to prevent legitimate scrutiny or to protect exclusive deals with one media outlet over another.

Last year, the PCC agreed to pass on desist requests on just over 100 occasions, up from 69 in 2009.

Pre-publication assistance

As well as dealing with concerns about harassment, the Commission regularly offers pre-publication advice and assistance - both to complainants who are worried about material they believe will appear, and to editors who require guidance on what the Code of Practice's requirements mean in practice. In fact, it is now rare that a day will go by without one of the PCC's complaints team offering pre-publication help on the phone or by email.

This work, which by its nature remains unseen by the public, is vital. And it refl ects a recognition by the PCC that it is better to try to avoid problems arising in the fi rst place, than to seek remedies afterwards. Countless stories never appear - or appear in a considerably different format - as the result of this invisible part of the Commission's service.

Proactive approaches

The PCC does not monitor the press for potential breaches of the Editors' Code of Practice. To do so would be inappropriate and would, in any case, pose huge practical difficulties. However, there are some occasions when it becomes abundantly clear that an individual or individuals are facing a wholly unexpected level of media interest - often in the aftermath of a shocking accident or crime, for instance the shootings in Cumbria last summer.

In situations such as these we believe it is important that people who are unused to dealing with the media should at least be aware of the PCC's services. As a result, we will aim to send information about our work to the person in question - either directly or via an obvious representative such as a local MP or the police. In 2010, the Commission made proactive approaches in this way on 25 occasions.