Key rulings 2010

Introduction

A key means of the PCC raising standards in the newspaper and magazine industry is through the publication of its rulings, which act as precedents for the future. PCC staff use these rulings as part of an ongoing training programme for serving journalists. The idea is that, in each published decision, the Commission can set down points of principle, and so expand its thinking on the specific terms of the Editors' Code or on important areas of journalistic ethics

In 2010, the Commission issued rulings that:

for the first time upheld a complaint against a journalist's blog;

ruled that the use of the terms "tranny" and "dyke" about named individuals were pejorative;

examined the issue of financial journalism;

constituted a landmark decision regarding freedom of expression;

expanded its case law in regard to reporting suicid;

covered important privacy issues.