PCC stands for the Press Complaints Commission. It is the institution that tries to ensure that the press is kept on its toes by allowing people to complain to them and they will look into the issues raised. The Codes of Practice: accuracy, the opportunity for reply, respect for privacy, harassment, intrusion into shock or grief, the interests of children, the protection of children in sex cases, entry into hospitals, the reporting of crime, the use of clandestine devices and subterfuge, the protection of victims of sexual assault, discrimination, financial journalism, the protection of confidential sources, payment for information relating to criminal trials and payments to criminals. It acts once a complaint has been made, however they are selective upon the complaints to take action on. In reaction, they can pass on the information to people who can help i.e. the local police force (usually via the press office); the Coroner or Coroner’s Officer (or the Procurator Fiscal in Scotland); the MP or other elected representative; the hospital(s) and/or NHS authorities dealing with the injured; a solicitor or agent, if one is named; the local religious or other community leader(s); any other representative whose name has been made public. They will also get the offense-causing party to issue a public apology/resolution to the problem.
An example of a case:
COMPLAINANT NAME: Mr John Cleese
CLAUSES NOTED: 1
PUBLICATION: The People
COMPLAINT: Mr John Cleese of Santa Barbara, California, complained that an article gave the misleading impression that he had consulted the Indian ‘laughter guru’ Dr Madan Kataria for personal reasons.
RESOLUTION: The newspaper published a letter of reply from the complainant which clarified that he had not suffered from depression for over twenty years.
REPORT: 55
I think that the PCC is slightly under-performing, however I believe that they would need to have some significant power in order to regulate and call the press into account efficiently. For me, the PCC is also far too closely linked to the media itself, with many of the key figures of the membership working at high positions in areas of the print and broadcasting media.
Extension:
ReplyDeleteLook at a few more cases that link to different parts of the code of practice. This will enhance your understanding of the PCC.
Are there particular codes that are nearly always dealt with in the same way? If yes does this make the very nature of complaining pointless in some cases?