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call for information launched to gather views on press regulation in the uk , to run from 26 september to 16 december 2024  – READ MORE HERE

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As part of our role to report on the successes and failures of the Recognition System, we commissioned independent research into the experiences of ordinary members of the public who

The 2012 Leveson Inquiry report on the culture, practices and ethics of the press recommended that any press regulator should impose fines for serious or systemic breaches of a set

Press Recognition Panel’s (PRP) annual state of recognition report shows public protection from press harm is non-existent eleven years on from the Leveson Inquiry. The Press Recognition Panel’s (PRP) annual

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Annual Report and Financial Statements For the year ended 31 March 2023

Presented to Parliament pursuant to Article 12.4 of the Royal Charter on Self Regulation of the Press

The Royal Charter

The Royal Charter ensures that the PRP remains wholly independent of any other body or influence.


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.

FAQS

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.

The PRP came into existence as a legal entity on 3 November 2014. 

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.

Get In Touch

The Press Recognition Panel (PRP) is keen to hear from and meet as many people as possible, including members of the public, academics, journalists, media owners, publishers, regulators, voluntary organisations and others.

General Enquiries

Reach us at contact@pressrecognitionpanel.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Postal Enquiries

Mappin House, 4 Winsley Street, London, W1W 8HF

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