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The Freedom of the Press

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Learning objectives

Media guidelines

The responsibilities of the media

The freedom of the press

The phone hacking scandal and the Leveson Inquiry

Teacher’s notes included in the Notes PageFlash activity. These activities are not editable.

Web addressesExtension activities

Icons key: For more detailed instructions, see the Getting Started presentation

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To ensure they achieve the correct balance between respecting the privacy of those they write about with the right to free speech, news reporters set themselves extensive editorial guidelines.

Although we have the right to free press in the UK, if the media do not handle sensitive issues correctly they may infringe on a person’s privacy and cause harm or offence.

Media guidelines

Decide on a set of guidelines that you could use to check the suitability and quality of news stories, but that do not infringe on the rights of the free press.

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Ofcom and the PCC

Sometimes the press misjudge the balance of reporting what is in the public interest and what is an infringement on privacy. There are two main bodies which regulate this:

Ofcom, which deals with broadcasting issues.

The Press Complaints Commission (PCC), which deals with printed media, such as newspapers and magazines.

Both organizations have their own codes of practice, drawn up by editors, to enable them to establish whether or not a news story is in breach of editorial regulations.

Can you think of any recent controversial news stories which Ofcom or the PCC have investigated?

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The phone hacking scandal