The current make up of the press watchdog the Press Complaints Commission has been backed by a new public opinion survey from Ipsos MORI.

It shows that people questioned thought the combination of senior journalists and the general public was the right mix, 45 per cent backing that option compared with a list of other options put forward by the PCC.

The PCC has a majority of 'lay' members and also comprises a number of experienced editors.

The existing system of aiming for a fast resolution through correction or apology was also popular, with a majority of responses saying this was preferred to a system of fines, with 68 per cent saying that corrections and apologies were "important". Thirty per cent said it was important to fine publishers who erred.

Out of all those who felt a publication in breach of the Editors' Code of Practice should apologise or pay a fine, 68 per cent preferred the apology as opposed to fines after a legal process had taken place.

And a high percentage of those canvassed were aware that the Commission existed. The level of awareness compared with similar regulatory organisations showed the PCC second-best known (72 per cent), behind the Advertising Standards Authority (79 per cent).

The full report can be seen here.

Communications officer Catherine Speller said: "Inevitably, some of the results indicate that there is room for improvement.

"Notably, awareness levels of the PCC are stronger among certain groups of the population, with broadsheet readers much more likely to know the PCC well or a fair amount than tabloid readers.

"Additionally, people in London and the south east of the UK are more likely to know about the PCC.

"The PCC is committed to increasing awareness of its work in all sections of the community, and will work to improve these results in the coming months."

Ipsos MORI interviewed a sample of 1,945 people aged 15+ during the first week of September.