Press Complaints Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer has sent a stinging reply to the Media Standards Trust whose recent review claimed the PCC was "fundamentally flawed" and claimed self regulation was failing the public.
He has accused the Trust of inaccuracies, flawed analysis, making false claims and misinterpreting PCC statistics.
Sir Christopher states in a letter to Anthony Salz at the MST: "Thank you for your letter of 6 February, which enclosed part 1 of your report “A More Accountable Press”. You asked if you, and two of your colleagues, could meet me to discuss part 2 of your review.
"I will certainly consider the possibility of a meeting. But, it is hard to see what this might achieve unless part 2 acknowledges and corrects the innumerable inaccuracies and flawed analysis of part 1."
The letter also says: "I am afraid that we also require some reassurance about the credentials of those carrying out the inquiry. In addition to the inaccuracies – some as basic as the false claim that the ASA was modelled on the PCC – the report does not appear to have been written by anyone with much understanding of self-regulation or the relationship between the PCC and the law.
"More fundamentally, we have to ask reluctantly question whether this whole enterprise is being undertaken in good faith. We were very dismayed that the Trust should be willing to allow publication of a strident shrill report that was, by virtue of your failure to offer us any opportunity to contribute to it, both so unbalanced and misleading."
"Your director has compounded suspicions of bad faith by publicly suggesting that there was consultation with the PCC in the preparation of the report: this is a grave falsehood, for which I understand he has now apologised."
Sir Christopher asks:"In short, your report may be only “diagnostic”. But, if the diagnosis is flawed, how can the prescription be any better? "
He then goes on to list the report's weaknesses, claiming it "fundamentally misinterprets the PCC’s statistics".
Sir Christopher ends: "It strikes me as a terrible shame that you have wasted the opportunity to make a sensible contribution at a time when a free press and democracy itself in Britain are facing unprecedented challenge. I look forward to your comments."
Showing posts with label Media Standards Trust. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media Standards Trust. Show all posts
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
NUJ backs report which bashed PCC and warned cuts are hurting editorial quality
The NUJ has welcomed yesterday's Media Standards Trust report which was highly critical of the Press Complaints Commission and warned of the impact cutbacks were having on journalism standards.
It was claimed by the MST that “standards of accuracy and responsibility are falling faster than ever in an increasingly desperate financial atmosphere, and with them the respect of both public and government.”
The NUJ said, in a statement, the MST report "echoes the NUJ’s argument that cuts in newsroom staffing and spending is having a catastrophic effect on journalism. In particular the reduction in the numbers of sub-editors has led to greater pressures and a rising level of inaccuracy in the press."
NUJ general secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: “For years we’ve been highlighting the impact on our profession of cutbacks that are all about the pursuit of big profits. Our members are fed up with the frustration of not having the time they need to do their jobs. They take great pride in their work so it hurts when management cuts undermine the job they do.
“Self-regulation can work, but the current model isn’t up to the task. As a first step the government could bring the PCC under the auspices of the Freedom of Information Act so that at least some of its workings are put under greater public scrutiny.”
The NUJ has argued that a "conscience clause" should be added to the Code of Practice, which underpins the work of the PCC, so that journalists could claim unfair dismissal if sacked by a newspaper for refusing to act in an unethical way. The union also wants papers fined if the PCC finds they have breached the Code.
It was claimed by the MST that “standards of accuracy and responsibility are falling faster than ever in an increasingly desperate financial atmosphere, and with them the respect of both public and government.”
The NUJ said, in a statement, the MST report "echoes the NUJ’s argument that cuts in newsroom staffing and spending is having a catastrophic effect on journalism. In particular the reduction in the numbers of sub-editors has led to greater pressures and a rising level of inaccuracy in the press."
NUJ general secretary, Jeremy Dear, said: “For years we’ve been highlighting the impact on our profession of cutbacks that are all about the pursuit of big profits. Our members are fed up with the frustration of not having the time they need to do their jobs. They take great pride in their work so it hurts when management cuts undermine the job they do.
“Self-regulation can work, but the current model isn’t up to the task. As a first step the government could bring the PCC under the auspices of the Freedom of Information Act so that at least some of its workings are put under greater public scrutiny.”
The NUJ has argued that a "conscience clause" should be added to the Code of Practice, which underpins the work of the PCC, so that journalists could claim unfair dismissal if sacked by a newspaper for refusing to act in an unethical way. The union also wants papers fined if the PCC finds they have breached the Code.
PCC 'fundamentally flawed' says Media Standards Trust chair Sir David Bell
The Press Complaints Commission has always found it hard to win over friends outside the industry and gets another bashing today from the independent charity The Media Standards Trust.
It claims the PCC is "incapable of dealing with the serious and growing threats to press standards and press freedom".
The charity is chaired by Sir David Bell, chairman of the Financial Times. He said: "Our research has shown that the current system of press self-regulation is failing the public. It is fundamentally flawed and in urgent need of reform. We believe that the Press Complaints Commission is constitutionally and structurally unable to deal with these threats, particularly in the context of the rapidly changing new media environment."
Although the criticism of the PCC is not new the MST report does have a contemporary context by taking into account the impact of the economic crisis on the industry.
It says: "Journalists are under greater pressure than ever before and the situation has been made worse by the recession which has seen newsrooms cutting editorial resources. Some newspapers are also sacrificing standards in order to maintain sales, as seen in the inaccurate and in some cases defamatory reporting of the Madeleine McCann case."
The research carried out by YouGov for the Trust , reports 75 per cent of the public saying that "newspapers frequently publish stories they know are inaccurate", and only 7 per cent saying they trust national newspapers to behave responsibly.
The MST says it is collecting "constructive" ideas for regulatory reform. It will publish its recommendations later in 2009. In the past suggested reforms have included financial sanctions, either fines or compensation payments, for rogue newspapers and an independent regulatory system. It is argued that both measures would lead to judicial reviews, more involvement by lawyers and the courts, and would ultimately restrict the freedom of the press.
It claims the PCC is "incapable of dealing with the serious and growing threats to press standards and press freedom".
The charity is chaired by Sir David Bell, chairman of the Financial Times. He said: "Our research has shown that the current system of press self-regulation is failing the public. It is fundamentally flawed and in urgent need of reform. We believe that the Press Complaints Commission is constitutionally and structurally unable to deal with these threats, particularly in the context of the rapidly changing new media environment."
Although the criticism of the PCC is not new the MST report does have a contemporary context by taking into account the impact of the economic crisis on the industry.
It says: "Journalists are under greater pressure than ever before and the situation has been made worse by the recession which has seen newsrooms cutting editorial resources. Some newspapers are also sacrificing standards in order to maintain sales, as seen in the inaccurate and in some cases defamatory reporting of the Madeleine McCann case."
The research carried out by YouGov for the Trust , reports 75 per cent of the public saying that "newspapers frequently publish stories they know are inaccurate", and only 7 per cent saying they trust national newspapers to behave responsibly.
The MST says it is collecting "constructive" ideas for regulatory reform. It will publish its recommendations later in 2009. In the past suggested reforms have included financial sanctions, either fines or compensation payments, for rogue newspapers and an independent regulatory system. It is argued that both measures would lead to judicial reviews, more involvement by lawyers and the courts, and would ultimately restrict the freedom of the press.
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