The Press Recognition Panel (PRP) is an independent body set up to ensure that regulators of the press and other news publishers are independent, properly funded and able to protect the public, while recognising the important role carried out by the press and other news publishers.
We were created as a result of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards. The Leveson Inquiry followed widespread concern about unlawful activities carried out by some sections of the media, such as phone hacking. Lord Justice Leveson published his report into the culture, practices and ethics of the press in November 2012.
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Our board members are appointed by an independent process.
We also have an executive team led by our Chief Executive.
We will perform our duties:
We will also have regard to the principles of Better Regulation, including:
The Press Recognition Panel (PRP) is an independent body set up by Royal Charter to oversee regulation of the press and other news publishers. The role of the PRP is to “recognise” regulators who apply to us as meeting the 29 criteria (numbered 1 to 23) in the Charter. If we conclude that a regulator meets the criteria, then it is known as an “approved regulator”.
The PRP ensures that, among other things, approved regulators are independent of the publishers they regulate, are funded properly to do their job, are open to all publishers, and provide the public with proper opportunities to raise concerns about the conduct of the regulator’s members.
The PRP must also carry out reviews to make sure approved regulators continue to meet the Charter requirements and the PRP must withdraw recognition if they don’t.
In addition, the PRP must report to Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and the public on how the recognition system is working and on the impact of the PRP’s work. We will also inform the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly.
The PRP was created as a result of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards, which followed widespread concern about alleged unlawful activities carried out by some sections of the press, such as phone hacking.
The Royal Charter is the mechanism by which the PRP was created. It was sealed on 30 October 2013.
Schedule 3 of the Charter lists 29 criteria that regulators have to meet in order to be recognised. The criteria were designed to secure press freedom and protect the public interest.
The Charter can only be amended by a two thirds majority of each of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Scottish Parliament, and with the unanimous agreement of the PRP Board.
No, the PRP is not a regulator. The PRP has no control over the press and other news publishers and cannot tell any press organisation, publisher or regulator what to do. The PRP’s role is to recognise, review and report on regulators, to ensure they meet, and continue to meet, the 29 Charter criteria. Where a regulator no longer meets those criteria, the PRP Board can withdraw recognition.
PRP Board members are free to act without outside influence having been appointed for a period of five years. During that period each of them can only be removed by the unanimous agreement of the other Board members. The Royal Charter itself can only be amended by a two thirds majority of each of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Scottish Parliament, and with the unanimous agreement of the Board itself.
No. The PRP plays a part in ensuring the freedom of the press while protecting the public interest. The PRP’s role is to ensure that regulators of the UK press and other news publishers are independent, properly funded, and able to protect the public.
The Charter defines a regulator as “an independent body formed by or on behalf of relevant publishers for the purpose of conducting regulatory activities in relation to their publications”.
The legal requirements are defined in section 41 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. In broad terms, to qualify as a ‘relevant publisher’ four tests must be met. They are:
Publishing ‘news-related material;
Various types of publishers are exempt even if they meet the four tests. They are:
Further guidance can be found in the DCMS Guidance note here.
There are no other regulators, they have their own complaint handling systems internally.
The Charter requires that membership of an approved regulator should be open to all publishers, small or large, print or digital. In setting up the Scheme for Recognition, the PRP ensured that the process could accommodate applications from a range of regulators, including those representing hyperlocal or digital only news or content services.
It means that a regulator has applied to the PRP and the PRP has assessed it against the 29 criteria that are set out in the Royal Charter created after the Leveson Inquiry. If the PRP is satisfied that the regulator meets all the criteria, the PRP will recognise it. The regulator will then be an ‘approved regulator’.
We wanted views on our proposals for how we will process applications for recognition from regulators and how we will make our decision. We need to be satisfied that a regulator is compliant with all of the criteria that are set out in the Charter. Some of these are self-explanatory but others are not as clear. So we suggested some ‘indicators’ and examples of evidence to help guide applicants through the process. The UK wide consultation ran from 8 June 2015 to 31 July 2015. The consultation included eight public events across the country. We received 200 written responses from members of the public, academics, small and large publishers, representative bodies, campaigning organisations and regulators.
Use of such a scheme is mandatory for members of an approved regulator. Members of the public can use the scheme if they wish but are also entitled to take their matter to court.
Use of such a scheme is mandatory for members of an approved regulator. Members of the public can use the scheme if they wish but are also entitled to take their matter to court.
The Charter does not require that there should be a single scheme – only that an approved regulator provides an arbitral process.
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Papers and reports from our Board meetings are available online.
