The number of complaints against regional and national newspapers has risen by almost two thirds over the past year, according to figures published today.
Annual statistics published by the Press Complaints Commission this morning show that it received 12,191 complaints during 2012 – a 66pc increase on the 2011 figure of 7,341.
Today’s figures also show that a higher proportion of investigated complaints were made against regional newspapers – 33.7pc of the total compared to 31.2pc in 2011.
And the statistics reveal a sharp rise in complaints about privacy, with 40.9pc of complainants raising this as an issue in 2012 compared to 29.2pc the previous year.
According to the figures, the PCC issued rulings in 1,937 cases last year – up 13pc from the 2011 figure of 1,713 rulings.
In 1,288 of these cases, the watchdog ruled that there had not been a breach of the Editor’s Code of Practice, while a further 535 cases were successfully mediated to the complainant’s satisfaction.
In 101 cases, the Commission ruled that the Code had been breached, but that the publication had offered or taken sufficient action to remedy the breach, even though an agreed settlement between the complainant and the publication could not be reached.
In only 13 cases was it necessary for the Commission to issue a critical public ruling against titles that had breached the Code and failed to remedy the breach, or had brached it in such a manner that it could not be remedied.
In terms of issues raised, 92.6pc of the complaints were brought under Clauses 1 & 2 of the Code, which cover accuracy and right of reply, while 40.9pc involved privacy issues.
Of the investigated complaints, 49.4pc were against national newspapers – down from 54.4pc in 2011 – 33.7pc against regional and local newspapers, 11pc against Scottish newspapers, 2pc against Irish newspapers and 2.9pc against magazines.
Commenting on the statistics, PCC chairman Lord Hunt said: “I have always made clear that the present system of press self-regulation needs to change. The evidence to the Leveson Inquiry showed the need for a genuine regulator with a new remit, strong investigative powers and robust, meaningful sanctions.
“Whilst we continue to move towards the construction of a new regulator, the PCC’s valuable complaints and pre-publication services remain available to the public.
“Last year’s figures testify to the thousands of people who have been offered practical help by the PCC’s committed staff, round the clock, and entirely for free.
“Significant reform of press regulation is needed, and will be delivered. These existing services should be preserved and built on as the new regulator that is desperately needed in the UK is constructed.”
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Interested to see the rise in complaints about privacy. I know this is anecdotal but myself and other photographer colleagues have noticed an increase this year in the number of people challenging us – ” you’re not allowed to take my photo- I’ve got rights” sort of thing when we are out taking pictures in public, both on court snatches and even seemingly uncontentious town centre shopping views for ad features. Have even had people quite aggressively demanding we delete the pictures from the camera.
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More fallout from the loopy Leveson circus.
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The legacy of Hacked Off – tarring all newspapers with the same brush and not making a clear distinction between nationals and locals.
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I know a fair few local newspaper journalists who were in favour of Leveson from the second it started.
They should be ashamed of themselves.
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Any journalist who was in favour of Leveson is not a proper journalist.
Free speech is non-negotiable in a free society.
I now see that far more phone hacking has been going on in the legal profession than was ever alleged in the media.
Perhaps Leveson should now be dragged back in by the ears to conduct an inquiry into his own squalid profession. Some hope!!
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Well said, Bob. Spot on.
As a former daily editor, it wasn’t even proper hacking. Listening in full to phone conversations as they happen, entire contacts list copied, full web browsing history – that’s hacking. Kelvin McKenzie may be loathsome in many ways but I agree with his every word on Leveson.
Far more disturbing, I find, is the cover of this week’s Heat or Closer or whatever drivel, for example, which has an admittedly gorgeous picture of Kelly Brook with the words ‘Do you think Kelly Brook looks fat?’. How does that help girls and women in this world or men for that matter? You get what you pay for and you get the world that you build with your choices.
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I wonder if the rise in complaints against the regional press has anything to do with getting rid of subs and and replacing editors with accountants?
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