Reminder for editors as more rigorous code is launched

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by HoldtheFrontPage Staff Published 25 Jun 2007

The first major review since 1999 of the newspaper industry’s editors’ Code of Practice has been unveiled by the Press Complaints Commission.

It provides the rules by which the Commission regulates the newspaper industry, and calls on editors to observe both the spirit and letter of the regulations.

The new introduction reads: “It is the responsibility of editors and publishers to implement the Code and they should take care to ensure it is observed rigorously by all editorial staff and external contributors, including non-journalists, in printed and online versions of publications.”

Updates, which take effect from June 1, include:

extending the protection of private correspondence to include digital communications – prohibiting the interception of private or mobile telephone calls, messages or e-mails, unless in the public interest;

a new rule to prevent payment to criminals for material which seeks to exploit, glorify or glamorise crime.

The changes were made after a comprehensive review by the Commission’s Editors’ Code of Practice Committee, comprising senior editors from national and regional newspapers and magazines.

The revised Code to make it shorter and crisper and broadens its provisions.

The Society of Editors will issue 35,000 copies in a wallet-sized version for use by journalists and journalism students – and by politicians and community leaders throughout the UK.

Code committee chairman Les Hinton, who is executive chairman of News International, said: “This has been a thorough overhaul to make the Code – which was already comprehensive and tough – shorter, simpler and more user-friendly, for editors and complainants alike. We’ve emphasised more explicitly some of the key requirements of the Code – such as the particular responsibility on editors to implement it, and not only to the letter but in the spirit.

“The review again demonstrates the flexibility of the self-regulatory system. It is this combination of adaptability and the process of constant review which makes the Code so relevant, workable – and successful.”

PCC chairman Sir Christopher Meyer said: “It is clear that the Code Committee has conducted a thorough review of the Code and made some important changes, particularly in reviewing the privacy provisions in light of technological developments.

“I am also pleased that the new Code includes an obligation on editors to publish a reference to the PCC in the headline of any critical adjudication, which will ensure that they are branded consistently from now on. I am very grateful to the Committee for all the work that has been put into this review”.

Read the revised Code here.

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