Code Review with Public Consultation
A regulatory body should consider engaging in an early thorough review of the Code (on which the public should be engaged and consulted) with the aim of developing a clearer statement of the standards expected of editors and journalists.
- IPSO's Editors' Code of Practice Committee conducts periodic reviews of the code. The code has been updated several times since IPSO's establishment in 2014 (IPSO Editors' Code of Practice, accessed March 2026).
- Public consultation is invited during code review processes, and the code committee publishes its conclusions on amendments.
- IMPRESS conducted a consultation on its Standards Code and has revised it (IMPRESS, accessed March 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted in Part
Response
Accepted in PartThe Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted "the principles that Lord Justice Leveson has laid out" for independent self-regulation, including "an independent board, a standards code, an arbitration service and the power to demand up-front, prominent apologies and impose million-pound fines." However, he rejected statutory underpinning, expressing "serious concerns and misgivings" about crossing "the Rubicon of writing elements of press regulation into the law of the land." The Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the Press was granted on 30 October 2013, establishing the Press Recognition Panel as the recognition body. IPSO was established in September 2014 but has not sought Royal Charter recognition. IMPRESS was recognised by the PRP in October 2016. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-cameron-statement-in-response-to-the-leveson-inquiry-report
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
IPSO conducts periodic reviews of the Editors' Code of Practice. Public consultation takes place during code reviews. The code has been updated several times since IPSO's creation in 2014.
View detailed findings
Code reviews with public consultation take place, broadly meeting this recommendation.