The Emergence of Regulation

Following the Second World War, the modern way of press regulation was established. A Royal Commission on the Press was set up in 1947, and in 1949 they recommended the creation of a General Council of the Press to govern the behaviour and actions of the print media. This didn't happen straight away, and it was in 1953 when the General Council was established, although it was funded by newspaper proprietors. The Second Royal Commission of the Press demanded a reform to the General Council. which it heavily criticised for the weaknesses. Reform occurred and it was renamed the Press Council, becoming more authoritative over freedoms of the press and produced some guidelines. However, due to lack of improvement, the Press Complaints Commission was formed to deal with the Code.