View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
November 27, 2003updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Self-regulation safe, says Black

By Press Gazette

Black: self-regulation of the press is here to stay

 

Outgoing Press Complaints Commission director Guy Black has said he believes self-regulation of the British press is here to stay.

He told Press Gazette: “Self-regulation is sacrosanct and I believe it will endure over the long term, provided the PCC maintains eternal vigilance.”

Black has announced he will step down in the new year after seven years to become Conservative leader Michael Howard’s press secretary.

In the short-term his deputy, Tim Toulmin, will take over the management of the press regulator – but the post is expected to be advertised next year.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

As director of the PCC, Black has helped to see off the threat of the press coming under the jurisdiction of new media regulator Ofcom. And this summer Gerald Kaufman’s media select committee issued a report that came down on the side of selfregulation.

Black said: “I do not think that any political party will ever seek to impose statutory controls on the press because a) they know they wouldn’t work in the interests of ordinary people and b) they know it’s an unacceptable infringement on press freedom.

“Self-regulation is an aspect of press freedom and there are no politicians I know of that seriously want to try to undermine that press freedom.”

Over the past seven years Black has seen a steady increase in the number of complaints to the commission. This year a record number, up to 4,000, are expected to be received – compared with 1,500 when the PCC was founded 12 years ago.

Black said this was due to the commission’s higher profile and pointed out that there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of adjudications going against the press.

He believes journalism standards have improved in the past seven years.

He said: “The standard of reporting has changed vastly over the 12 years of existence of the commission. Improvements are made year in year out. “The one thing I will take away with me and always keep is the overpowering importance editors, both regionally and nationally, attach to the Code of Practice and the work of the commission. “This is an excellent thing because at the end of the day that is the best way to safeguard press freedom.”

Black paid tribute to his 12 “loyal and hardworking” staff and said he believed the future of the PCC was in safe hands.

Commission chairman Sir Christopher Meyer said Black’s contribution had been “immense”. He added: “Guy’s leadership as director of the commission has been a model of integrity, expertise and rigour.

By Dominic Ponsford

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network