The independent Press Standards Organisation are a regulatory body for the press, they regulate most newspapers and magazines in the UK and "protect people’s rights, uphold high standards of journalism and help to maintain freedom of expression" They where created in September of 2014 after a hacking scandal with the PCC (Press Complaints Commission) Before this happened they where a press ran company meaning they had the power and where known to ignore any issues that would effect them negatively, after they where accused of hacking celebrity phones to get content they where shut down and IPSO replaced them promising to be a fair regulatory body.
The Editors code of practice-
IPSO created the "Editors code of practice" as a rule system that all press organisations regulated by IPSO must comply to publish its content. The code "Sets the framework" for the press production, it consists of 16 rules:
1) Accuracy
This means the press must make sure their information isn't misleading on inaccurate, this includes both images and headlines. If there is a significant inaccuracy the creator is given a warning to correct any statements that break this rule, and sometimes an apology must be issued. To avoid this creators must have a clear difference between fact and opinion. This is the case with breaking any of the 16 rules.
2)* Privacy
This means the press must ensure that everyone is entitled to their privacy regarding their family, address, health, any connections to friends or co-workers and private life. Individual circumstances such as a person disclosing their own information and a news outlet relaying this information are taken into account. This also states that it is unacceptable to photograph individuals without their consent.
3)* Harassment
This means Journalists can not use any irrational methods to get information, such as intimidation or tricks, they also cant persistently harass anyone even they have been rejected. It also states a journalist must identify themselves and who they work for if asked as well as leave property when asked.
4)Intrusion into grief or shock
This means if a story is being written and the case subject is sensitive it must be approached with sympathy and handed sensitively.
5)* Reporting suicide
This means when the subject of an article is on suicide, excessive detail must be avoided such as the method used. similar to number 4, it must be handled sensitively.
6)*Children
This states several rules on the restrictions of involving children with a story, for example the child must be able to complete the their time at school without any consequences of what they say or do during an interview, they also must not be approached or photographed by reporters whilst act school without the school giving permission. Children under 16 also must not be interviewed or photographed without consent from their parent or guardian. Parents fame or any other known figures in society can not be used as an excuse to release information on the child's private life.
7)* Children in sex cases
This states the press must not identify any children under the age of 16 in any circumstance, the adult however may be identified. Also nothing can imply the relationship between the accused and the child, as well as the word "Incest" can never be used when it might help identify the child
8) *Hospitals
Journalists can not enter none public parts of a hospital or similar institutions without permission and identifying who they are. They also cant intrude on the privacy of patients.
9) *Reporting a crime
Relatives or friends of any convicts should not be identified or mentioned if not relevant unless they give consent. They should also take care when interviewing under 18's who are witness or are victims of a crime, and again should not identify under 18's suspected for committing a crime unless they have given consent.
10) *Clandestine devices and subterfuge
The press must not seek to obtain content through hidden cameras or listening devices, or by intercepting private online communications. No publications can engage in any misrepresentation or subterfuge without proper justification and when the material cannot be obtained by any other means whatsoever.
11) Victims of sexual assault
The press must not reveal the identity of a victim of sexual assault unless they are legally allowed to.
12) Discrimination
The press must avoid any form of discrimination in their article and must not mention an individuals race, colour etc. unless completely relevant to the story.
13) Financial Journalism
Journalists must not use their articles to benefit financially when the content is not yet public, they also shouldn't pass the information on. They also must not use their platform to accept or make payments that may influence what content has been written or what a journalist intends to write.
14) Confidential sources
Journalists must protect the information of any confidential sources they use.
15) Witness payments in criminal trials
No payment can be made to a witness to give information until the trial is dismissed or closed.
16)* Payment to criminals
Payment for stories, pictures or information that is intended to "glorify" crime or take advantage of a particular story must not be made directly to the criminal or personal agent, nor can it be made to the family and friends of the criminal.
The Public interest:
After the article it specifies that the rules marked with an asterisk (*) have exceptions based on the public interest meaning some loopholes can be found within rules for particular cases, this is a grey area where depending on the situation the public interest may override their rules.
For example the biggest public interest is Freedom of expression, this states that journalists have the right to voice their opinion on specific things and IPSO do not have the right to restrict them, for example with rule 9, when a journalist wants to express their opinion on a crime they should have the right to express any opinion they want and include any information they believe is relevant, for example an assault may have happened and a journalist may reference a violent friend that the culprit has, without actual proof this would be breaking rule 9 but the journalist should have the right to express their opinion on that persons involvement.
Another public interest is considering what material and information already exists, for example with rule 2. If a news outlet produced an article that broke this rule and inflicted on a celebrities privacy in terms of their life at home, A second news outlet might then produce an article on the information the first article published, as the rule states there is exception to what is already public, and since this information is now public do they have the right to publish the article discussing the information.
Another public interest is protecting public health or safety, for example considering rule 9, a journalist may want to publish a picture of a criminal who is under the age of 18 and is on the loose with the intention of keeping people safe, however this would break the rule as it would identify the criminal, but it may be allowed in order to protect the public so they know to avoid this person and notify authorities.
Recent cases
A recent case was an article from mail online received around 30 complaints as people believed they breached clause 1, accuracy. The complaint was that they said in the article that there were "rumours of shooting and a lorry." However this fact was based off of eye witness tweets, the article made this out to be the truth before the police had even made an official report. The complaint was upheld and Mail online had to re publish the article with the corrections as well as issue an apology which was done over twitter.
Another recent case was a complaint from a man named Martin Goodson. He complained that the telegraph also breached clause 1. He complained that an article that was reporting about global warming and how it affected animals living in the artic. The article made the point that "there has been no further downward trend in the extent of its summer melting since 2006. Its lowest point this September was higher than in seven of the past 11 years”. Goodman said that it is misleading to only consider the last 11 years of data as their is clear evidence of a massive decline in life in the artic as well as several negative trends due to global warming that have been present for many years and the writer simply cherry-picked the information. The complaint was not upheld.
Sources-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Press_Complaints_Commission
https://www.ipso.co.uk/
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