The press watchdog has revealed it issued 60 notices to news outlets over concerns about incidents including alleged harassment by journalists in 2018.

The Independent Press Standards Organisation has revealed the number of private advisory notices it handed down in 2018, which request that journalists desist from making further approaches to people.

The confidential notices can be sent out either to individuals newspapers, or to member publications generally.

The figure was revealed in a blog by IPSO communications manager Vikki Julian on how the organisation deals with concerns about harassment.

Newspapers are not necessarily obliged to comply with the notices but would need to show a public interest justification in order to avoid a breach of the Editors Code of Practice.

Wrote Vikki: “Last year we issued 60 private advisory notices in response to concerns about harassment. They are confidential, not for publication, and can be sent to individual newspapers or to the industry generally.

“Unlike broadcast regulators, we can act before publication, so we also send the notices to broadcasters who – although not regulated by IPSO – receive them on a goodwill basis.

“In addition to requests that journalists desist from further approaches, the notices may also pass on concerns about the potential publication of intrusive or private information or help people find space at a time of grief or shock – making clear, for example, that those who have suffered a bereavement do not want to talk to the press.”

Vikki added: “A private advisory notice isn’t an injunction or an order to a newspaper, and is not a tool for ‘killing’ a story, but it is an effective way of communicating with the industry as a whole.

“Failing to comply with a desist request may be a breach of the Code (unless the editor can show a public interest defence).”

IPSO was unable to provide a breakdown of which titles the notices were issued to when asked by HTFP.