Charlie Samaan 1

By Author: Stephen Roche
Total Articles: 3
Comment this article

This applies to the proposal pertaining to press regulation in the Royal Charter.

We recognize that the current system in the UK has been inadequate and failed to ensure the accountability and responsibility of the press. To replace it, we favour a meaningful form of self-regulation that would be accountable and win the trust of public. We also note that a functional model is one in which all stakeholders can identify the benefits of active involvement.

We note with concern that the continued stalemate and lack of consensus demonstrate that the main stakeholders in this process are failing to provide what is required: an independent, effective and accountable system of press regulation in the UK.

ARTICLE 19 analysed the original version of the Royal Charter in March 2013. Hence, this latest analysis highlights our comments on the process undertaken so far and on the nature of the proposed new system of press regulation, and offers set of recommendations on how to take this matter forward.

Summary of recommendations

Representatives of the main political parties and the ...
... media community must engage in negotiations about the future of press regulation in the UK, carefully considering the various options. They must commit to reaching agreement in the foreseeable future. It is imperative to avoid solutions that have not been agreed by the majority of stakeholders, which may lead to the creation of a dysfunctional system damaging to all.
The Government should reflect on the transparent multi-stakeholder process that legitimised the Leveson inquiry as compared to the problematic process that led to the Royal Charter. As such, it should postpone the scheduled referral of the final draft of the Royal Charter to the Privy Council on 30 October 2013. The aim of doing so should be to provide a reasonable opportunity to secure agreement on the new model that both acknowledges and addresses the failings of the past, and ensures strong guarantees of press freedom.
Negotiations on the future of press regulation must be inclusive, and should consider proposals made by those representing publishers, editors, journalists, and members of the public (such as academic experts, NGOs and advocacy groups).
A respected public figure - independent of political parties and the media community - should be appointed to lead the negotiations between the stakeholders.
The negotiation process must be fully transparent, using, for example, government-sponsored roundtables. All stakeholders should proactively make their proposals and comments publicly available. Negotiations should ideally be live-streamed; if not, a clear and systematic process should be used to communicate the proceedings to the public.
All stakeholders should engage in constructive discussions about the content of the final draft of the Royal Charter. Discussions should focus on two key issues: whether it includes sufficient guarantees for the independence of the new self-regulatory bodies; and whether it realises the fundamental objectives of self-regulation - accountability of members of the profession to their peers, accountability of media outlets to the public and protection for members of the profession.
Regarding the content of the final draft of the Royal Charter, we reiterate our concerns in that:

The recognition criteria for the new press regulator should require their mandate to extend to advocating for freedom of expression. The new regulator should defend the rights of members of the profession, guide their conduct and adjudicate on complaints from members of the public.