The Press Recognition Panel (PRP) has launched its annual Call for Information, seeking evidence on the effectiveness and independence of press regulation in the UK.
The Call comes at a time of significant change in the way news is produced, distributed and consumed. News from print and online publishers increasingly reaches people through websites, publishers’ own social media channels, search engines, AI tools and other digital platforms, where it sits alongside and interacts with content from a much wider range of sources.
At the same time, the Government is considering how public policy should support access to trustworthy news, including proposals to give trustworthy news greater prominence. Different areas of legislation also use different definitions and criteria to determine which organisations qualify as news publishers and receive particular protections or benefits.
The PRP is therefore seeking views on what should determine whether a publisher qualifies for greater prominence or other benefits intended for trustworthy news. We are also interested in how current press standards and regulatory arrangements deal with sustained patterns of coverage and cumulative harm, particularly where coverage is shared or amplified through social media and other platforms, and what could encourage wider participation in the Recognition System.
The evidence will help the PRP assess how effectively the Recognition System is working and the implications of its current level of coverage.
The Recognition System
Established by Royal Charter in 2014 following the Leveson Inquiry, the PRP oversees the Recognition System for independent press self-regulation. It operates independently of Government, Parliament, the press industry and any other third party.
Under the Recognition System, press self-regulators can apply to the PRP for formal recognition, providing independent assurance that they meet the standards set out in the Royal Charter. Participation is voluntary, and Impress is currently the UK’s only Approved Regulator.
The evidence received will inform the PRP’s 11th Annual Report on the Recognition System, which will be published in February 2027. Each year, the PRP is required to report on any success or failure of the Recognition System and on whether it covers all significant relevant publishers.
What we want to hear from you
The PRP is inviting evidence from members of the public, journalists, academics, campaigners, politicians, news publishers and other media organisations on four questions:
- What should determine whether a news publisher qualifies for greater prominence or other benefits intended for ‘trustworthy’ news? What role, if any, should independently verified standards and effective accountability play?
- How well do current press standards, complaints and regulatory arrangements deal with sustained patterns of coverage, including repeated framing and cumulative harm, particularly where coverage is shared or amplified through social media and other platforms or affects groups or communities? Are there any gaps or limitations in the existing arrangements?
- What incentives, such as benefits, protections or other measures could encourage more news publishers to participate in the Recognition System, while supporting press freedom and public-interest journalism?
- Since the publication of our 10th Annual Report on the Recognition System earlier this year, what other developments or evidence should the PRP take into account when assessing how effectively the Recognition System is working and the extent to which it covers significant relevant publishers?
The PRP also welcomes case studies and personal experiences relating to press standards, complaints, regulation and redress, as well as other evidence relevant to its assessment.
How to respond
You can submit responses in writing, or we can arrange a telephone, online or in-person meeting. Respondents may request anonymity or confidentiality.
Write:
Press Recognition Panel
Mappin House
4 Winsley Street
London W1W 8HF
Email: consultation@pressrecognitionpanel.org.uk
The Call for Information runs from Wednesday 14 October to Friday 11 December 2026.
For more information, see our Background & Questions document.
