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Self-regulation ‘best way’ for press says regional daily editor

Rob Irvine 1A senior regional daily editor has defended self-regulation as the “best way” for the press at a public meeting held by the industry watchdog.

Rob Irvine, left, who edits the Manchester Evening News, was speaking at a roadshow organised by the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

Other panel members were IPSO chairman Sir Alan Moses, Sara Hadwin, senior journalism lecturer at Salford University, and Wigan Evening Post editor Janet Wilson.

They answered questions on topics ranging from invasion of privacy to Section 40 and coverage of mental health issues.

Rob told the audience at Manchester’s Mechanics’ Institute: “Newspapers regulating themselves is the best way. We work very hard at the MEN to get things right and to inform and entertain.

“But sometimes we do get it wrong and we take that very seriously in finding out why it has happened, taking steps such as looking at the training of staff.”

Sir Alan added: “Young people read as much as we did but get it from a different source. It makes what the MEN and local papers do, and what we at IPSO does, all the more important.

“All the newspapers who have signed up to IPSO – which represents 95 per cent of all readership – have entered into a binding legal obligation with us.

“What we do primarily is hold the Press to account to the standards they have set. The local press, due to their relationship with their readers, are more likely to comply with that code.”

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  • February 10, 2017 at 10:16 am
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    To repeat a very famous 60s quote ‘ well he would say that wouldn’t he?’
    The whole purpose of a regulator is to ensure an independent view is taken and unbiased decisions are made and seen to be made, self governing council or body from within the industry will only open the door to accusations of unfairness and back covering.

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  • February 10, 2017 at 2:01 pm
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    Impress – “A state-sponsored regulator which allows MPs to have some control over the Press, bankrolled by a tycoon who hates the Press, run by people whose public position is hating the tabloid press in particular and would like to see them driven out of business.” Tony Gallagher, Editor in Chief of The Sun on the Today programme 08/02/2017
    So there!

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  • February 10, 2017 at 3:25 pm
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    this comes in the “stating the bleeding obvious” news category. see Norridge.

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