OFCOM recommends press self-regulation

OFCOM has submitted its recommendations on the future of press regulation to The Leveson Inquiry.

At the end of evidence given by the Chairman and CEO of Ofcom to the Leveson Enquiry on 1 February 2012, the Chairman of the Inquiry asked for Ofcom’s views on how the press might be regulated preserving independence and freedom of expression.

In a report submitted to the Inquiry on 2 April 2012, the media regulator has made the following recommendations based on its experience of regulating the (non-press) media:

• Effective self-regulation providing for transparent complaint and funding processes, accessibility and independent enforcement of sanctions would be viable and could hold the confidence of the public.
• The public purposes of regulation and principle of independent industry governance should be integral to the organisational culture of any body.
• A ‘minmal enabling statute’ could be necessary to imbue any new system with public trust and official recognition.
• A periodic independent review of effectiveness to sustain public confidence over time would be necessary.
• Flexibility to deal with the changing nature of digital media was needed.
• A body mandated to deal with the interests of the press as a whole was important for sustaining public confidence.

The full report is available here.