The Times: Newspaper Regulation

Question 1

Who regulates The Times?

Answer 1

• The Times is part of a regulatory framework known as the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

Question 2

What/Who is IPSO?

Answer 2

• An independent body which is not backed by the government and is fully funded by the industry itself.
• This is a regulatory body that maintains press standards but is anti-Leveson in its approach.

Question 3

Has The Times ever come under any scrutiny by press regulators?

Answer 3

• Due to its world renowned impartial nature, The Times has rarely come under scrutiny of the IPSO (or its predecessor - the Press Complaints Commission) - a fact it markets in its own promotion as the UK’s most trusted newspaper.

Question 4

Relevant Theory: Livingstone & Lunt

Answer 4

• The Times Newspaper Group and News Corp are facing increased pressure alongside the rest of the UK press industry to adhere to strict rules and regulations on industry practice.
• This has arisen after the phone hacking scandal and subsequent
  Leveson enquiry into the industry.
• There is an underlying issue of protecting citizens from harmful, or more recently, ‘fake’ material while maintaining choice and the freedom of the press to expose wrongdoing and injustice through responsible journalism.
• The increasing power of companies like News Corp and their expansion into digital media has also placed traditional approaches to regulation at risk.