Chair of the Scottish Society of Editors suggests that regulating print and online in same way ‘doesn’t seem workable’
Julian Calvert, chair of the Scottish Society of Editors, has suggested to The Drum that previously some publishers have held the view that if they do not have a print publication they are not subject to the rules of the Press Complaints Commission.
Speaking on Lord McCluskey’s proposal for a compulsory press regulatory body underpinned by law, he said: “There’s a tradition in online writing that there’s much more freedom of expression and opinionated behaviour than is the tradition in British print media. Trying to regulate that on the same basis doesn’t seem workable.
“In some ways, it is welcome that someone has actually addressed this issue: you could easily criticise Leveson for not doing that initially, but he would say he was only asked to look at print media.”
He suggested that one issue which needs to be taken under consideration is how it will apply to national newspapers, such as the Telegraph, Daily Mail and Guardian, who may have to abide to two potentially conflicting schemes of regulation.