The document discusses the potential use of a Royal Charter to regulate newspapers in the UK. It argues that a Royal Charter could force newspapers to comply with any decisions made by the Press Complaints Commission, but that it may be seen as too similar to a dictatorship. Instead, the proposal should be put to a democratic vote. The regulation also would not cover what journalists write on their own social media sites.
2.
If the code meant that a Royal Charter would back any
decisions made be the PCC it would force newspapers to
do as they are told, therefore giving newspapers no loopholes to escape punishment.
It would restore the public’s faith of how newspapers are
run.
Morally, a way of punishing those who publish incorrect
stories, or stories that have been found using illegal
methods, would create a fairer newspaper.
Newspaper are still entitled to freedom of speech and are
allowed to publish stories or which they deem to be in the
public’s interest. However this will all be to taking to a
certain extent, which is what they general public want.
It would eliminate the chance of the police corruption
giving classified information to the newspapers and
therefore, ensuring that all stories are found within the
law.
3.
There need to be a way a regulate the newspapers before
publishing in order to stop a public sandal and unjustified
decisions by the public.
With the use of a Royal Charter, it would not be dissimilar to a
dictatorship’s ruling. The fact that the Queen signs the document
shows that a single power has control of the regulation of the
Press. Instead the Royal Charter proposal should be but up to a
vote, using democracy.
When giving evidence during the Enquiry, a group of disabled
people offered to provide evidence but they were not present at
the Enquiry. This rules out any evidence giving against by those
with a disability. Furthermore, this group had been targeted by
hate crime that has been published in the Daily Mail, especially
on the subject of disability benefits.
The regulation wouldn’t cover what individual journalist write on
their own social networking sites.