Newspapers: Regulation

 One: Media Magazine article and questions

Read the Media Magazine article: From Local Press to National Regulator in MM56 (p55). You'll find the article in our Media Magazine archive here. Once you've read the article, answer the following questions:

1) Keith Perch used to edit the Leicester Mercury. How many staff did it have at its peak and where does Perch see the paper in 10 years' time?

130 at its peak. He says that if it is still print then it will have a very small circulation, be very expensive and will be weekly whereas if it is online which he sees as the most likely outcome it would not make much money and only employ 5/6 people.

2) How does Perch view the phone hacking scandal?

That they were all punished by regulation for an issue that only a small amount of people were doing.

3) What does IPSO stand for and how does it work?

Independent Press Standards Organisation. They handle public complaints and if the Committee can insist on corrections and demand that they be placed on a particular page.

4) What is Perch's view of newspaper ownership?

There are millions of different voices online yet everybody chooses to look at print and if people don't agree with one newspapers views then are many others with different views.

5) Do you agree with his view that broadcast news should have less regulation so that TV channels can support particular political parties or people?

I think that news broadcasters should not be regulated to reinforce or dismiss certain political because whilst some may not agree with them, everyone is entitled to an opinion and free speech.