The independent Governance Review, which aims to further build public confidence in the press regulator, makes 75 recommendations in total for how the commission should operate.
One suggestion is an improved register of interests relating to conflicts for editors who serve on the PCC. The report also calls for greater industry engagement with the commission, suggesting that PCC members should be encouraged to refer ethical issues for consideration.
The commission's structure has previously been criticised because of the inclusion of newspaper editors on the Editors' Code Committee and as members of the commission itself. The review said it supports the self-regulation model, but that greater emphasis should be given to the role of the Code Committee in improving industry standards.
"The Governance Review believes that the basic philosophy of self-regulation - that it is free from state control, has industry involvement, but contains a strong lay influence - is sound. Press involvement in the system is a strength. It guarantees the following: financial support from the industry, which means that the service is free to the consumer; practical co-operation from members in the investigation of complaints about their activity; and the organic development of the Code of Practice, which means that standards are agreed by the industry, before being enforced by the PCC," says the review.
"(…)There is no question, however, that suspicion lingers over the notion of self-regulation as a philosophy, with its implied corollary of industry self-interest and control. Accusations of self-interest, whether well-founded or not, are important, as they can affect public confidence. The Commission must strongly grip the need for this self-regulatory system constantly to exert itself to demonstrate good evidence of its robustness and independence of judgement."
The review also looks at ways to improve the industry's engagement with the PCC's work and increase the number of editors who serve on the commission, suggesting a rota system could be established so that all national newspaper editors eventually serve on the PCC.
"PressBof should also examine how it can encourage greater industry participation in the system, in a way that does not compromise the PCC’s independence. For example, the industry could take on a more active role in working with the PCC to maintain or enhance professional standards. This might include greater engagement with the PCC in the training of journalists, and a more public recognition of issues affecting the industry and causing public concern. Editors across the industry should be encouraged to consider referring specific ethical issues to the PCC, and asking for its guidance," says the review.
Many of the recommendations focus on greater transparency about the commission's work and include setting up an Audit Committee and agreeing a list of annual performance objectives publicly reported on each year.
The review, launched in August 2009 by newly appointed PCC chairman Baroness Peta Buscombe and led by Vivien Hepworth, former member of the PCC and executive chairman of Grayling in the UK and Ireland, has received evidence from complainants, lawyers, politicians, journalists, academics and policymakers.
The findings follow recent debate about the PCC's role and strength as a regular, in particular criticism of its investigation into allegations of phonehacking at the News of the World.
"The PCC has always been - and will always be - the focus of legitimate scrutiny and challenge. Recently, there have been controversies surrounding the reporting of the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, and the allegations of phone message hacking involving News International. The Governance Review has taken account of lessons learned wherever possible in its conclusions," says the review in its preface.
Speaking in a release, Buscome says: "Last year I initiated an independent governance review of the PCC to reflect on the way the organisation works and to make sure that we take account of both good practice elsewhere and wider public expectations.
"I am very grateful for the thorough, innovative and rigorous review that Vivien Hepworth and her team have undertaken. While the Commission needs to reflect carefully on the Panel’s recommendations, I want to say right away that we are as an organisation committed to moving the PCC forward. This report now provides us with the impetus to do so."
The review's report will now be considered by the PCC and PressBof.
Key recommendations
Of the 75 recommendations made, the Governance Review has addressed recent criticism of the PCC lacking credibility as a regulator and confusion over its reporting of complaints and adjudications.
Key recommendations include:
- Clearer reporting of statistics by the commission to enable year-on-year comparison;
- The Commission should also look more carefully at complaint trends to identify if an increase in complaints is a result of falling industry standards;
- In dealing with complaints, the review recommends more detailed publication of resolved complaints and cases “where complaints have been found to have merit”.
- In "exceptional cases" the review says the commission's role should be clearer: "Commission must ensure that it is seen fully to examine its role when serious matters arise. It should be clear about what it is able to do, and make the public aware of it. The Commission already has the power to use oral hearings should it believes this would assist its function; it should be willing to deploy this power in appropriately serious circumstances and make public that it is doing so";
- Increased influence of lay members of the commission: "A new role of deputy chairman should be established to enhance the influence of the lay majority and support an improved scrutiny function";
- How future independent reviews and review panels are set up is also outlined.
The Media Standards Trust (MST), which made 28 recommendations in a report to the review panel, has welcomed the findings of the Governance Review, saying it acknowledges “the need for reform of the current system” to make the PCC more transparent, accountable and independent.
The MST says part or all of 19 of its recommendations have been taken on board by the Governance Review, including its suggestions about a more proactive PCC and a more clarified, publicised purpose.
"This is a good start. There are substantive recommendations here to ensure some real change - provided the PCC and the industry accept them and make them happen," says Martin Moore, MST director, in a release.
"It is now for the industry to decide how much support to give to real change. Without real change the gap between self-regulation and the courts will continue to grow, and the current system will look increasingly anachronistic in a converged media world."
Media commentator Roy Greenslade highlights the review's listing of the PCC's "ladder of sanctions", which have not been made explicitly in public before though know within the industry, as an example of the openness called for by the review panel.
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