How should we regulate for the future of journalism

Prof. Chris Frost

Liverpool John Moores University

Regulation for journalism

• Is the journalism culture in the UK fit for purpose and if not how do we change it?

What is journalism’s purpose?

• Inform: provide day to day information to give people the chance to make informed choices.

• Educate: provide sources and information that will educate and help people analyse the information they receive.

• Entertain: there’s nothing wrong with doing this in an entertaining way and in entertainment for its own sake.

Threats to the press

• Press is a commercial operation providing information for money.

• Advertising revenue reducing as spend moves to direct advertising and the web.

• Circulations falling as news papers cut costs and so reduce quality of product.

• Costs being increased with the need to run a simultaneous web operation.

Opportunities

• The web is not providing significant revenue opportunities.

• There are no obvious new revenue streams.

• Many fear newspapers are doomed

…and then we get Hackgate

• Born of a newsroom culture required to get stories that will sell.

• Cuts in staff means short cuts become more attractive.

• Pressure to perform means journalists and editors become less concerned about how stories are gathered.

• The newsroom culture, always gung-ho, becomes poisoned..

Leveson

• Leveson to inquire into the culture, practices, and ethics of the press, including:the extent to which the current policy and regulatory framework has failed

Leveson

To make recommendations:

• for a new more effective policy and regulatory regime which supports the integrity and freedom of the press, the plurality of the media, and its independence, including from Government, while encouraging the highest ethical and professional standards;

A new culture

• This will require a new culture in the newsroom.

• Journalists need a bigger say in their professional approach.

• Whistleblowing protection is required.

A new regulator

• A new regulator is required to replace the PCC.

• Must be about media freedom and standards, not just complaints

A new regulator

• Must be obligatory so that publishers cannot withdraw from its authority;

• Requires statutory support to:

• Provide its authority;

• Provide power to punish;

• Provide power to ensure its requirements are carried through.

A new regulator

• Must be truly cross society including all sections of the industry and civic society;

• Any code committee must be independent;

• Industry could appoint direct;

• The government could appoint an appointments commission who would choose the civic members and the independent chair.

A new regulator

• This does not need the licensing of newspapers;

• Anything published, print or web in the UK that attracts a complaint or triggers an investigation would be subject to the powers of the body;

• To ignore its rulings could be made a criminal offence or possibly contempt of court.

A new regulator

• Must have investigatory powers to examine cases, including the right to investigate and publish findings;

• Must be independent to choice what they will investigate and have power to call witnesses.

A new regulator

• Must support the right of journalists to be protected in the workplace if they take an ethical stance.

• Refusing to pursue a story or refusing to pursue it in a certain way.

• Too many journalists deliver what they think is wanted for fear of their jobs.

A new approach

• Newspapers must be liable for what they publish;

• Change the culture in newsrooms, don’t demonise individual journalists;

• Journalists must be supported in becoming truly professional but not scapegoats.