Press Complaints complains
Sir: Reluctant though I am to point out inaccuracies in Rod Liddle’s work, I would like to correct some of his suggestions about the Press Complaints Commission (Liddle Britain, 22 May). Mr Liddle claims that Paul Dacre is ‘Chairman of the Press Complaints Commission’s Editorial Code of Practice’. Incorrect. In common with most self-regulatory systems, the newspaper and magazine industry’s code is written by a committee of industry experts following public consultation. The editors’ code of Practice Committee, of which Paul Dacre is Chairman, is entirely separate from the PCC (which independently enforces the Code).
Liddle says that the PCC ‘almost never acts against tabloids’. Untrue. The PCC acts against all publications that subscribe to the system of press regulation and breach the Code. The merest glance at our website reveals many cases of the PCC criticising tabloid editors or requiring them to publish apologies.
Finally, he says that the PCC recently ruled against him for ‘not contravening Article 1 of their code of conduct, but for writing something with which they disagreed’.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in