The Drum Awards for Marketing - Extended Deadline

-d -h -min -sec

Leveson Inquiry John McLellan Press Regulation

Former Scotsman editor John McLellan says press regulation charter agreement fails to address parliamentary control issues

Author

By Stephen Lepitak, -

October 12, 2013 | 3 min read

The Scotman’s former editor John McLellan has offered his reaction to the Royal Charter agreement by politicians which will propose the regulation of the press in the UK, claiming that it has failed to address the key issue of parliamentary control.

The draft proposals will include an alternative for libel courts, as a result of the industry’s fear over libel claims being increased under new regulation, and more involvement in that regulation by the media and press. It proposes that the regulation body would be known as the Recognition Panel, which would be made up of a chair and between four and 8 members.

Speaking to The Drum, McLellan, who was questioned alongside a number of other editors during the Leveson Inquiry last year, admitted to being “very disappointed” that the agreement had made “no attempt” to overcome the parliamentary control that could hinder a free press.

"This remains a charter cooked up by politicians, written by politicians and controlled by politicians and as such it fails every test of a self-regulated system to protect freedom of speech and expression,” he claimed.

"Changes would need a two-thirds majority in parliament, Scottish or UK, and while that will be relatively easy for politicians to achieve it will be virtually impossible for the industry so it is clear the ownership of this system would remain firmly in the hands of government.

"I am also disappointed by the divisive attempt to make the arbitration proposal acceptable to regional and local publishers. I know from experience the fears of publishers that such a system will open the floodgates to claims for cash compensation are not without foundation and this proposal does little to tackle those concerns. If anything it is just a rather clumsy attempt to drive a wedge between national and regional publishers."

The same concerns were highlighted by an industry steering group including such bodies as the Newspaper Society, Newspaper Publishers Associations, Professional Publishers Association and the Scottish Newspaper Society, although the government has claimed that the charger will protect press freedom.

Meanwhile, the BBC has claimed within a report this morning that an anonymous newspaper source has said that there is a real possibility of legal action being taken over the charter proposal, which will be put forward on 30 0ctober.

Leveson Inquiry John McLellan Press Regulation

More from Leveson Inquiry

View all

Trending

Industry insights

View all
Add your own content +