Institutions Research - Magazine Regulation in the UK

The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is the independent regulator for the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK. Their role consists of holding newspapers and magazines to account for their actions, protecting their individual rights, helping to maintain freedom of expression and to uphold high standards of journalism. The IPSO ensure that all newspapers and magazines in the UK follow the Editor’s Code.  It was established on 8^th September 2014 and came into effect following the dismissal of the Independent Press Complaints Commissions (PCC), the main industry regulator since 1990. The PCC received substantial criticism following a phone hacking scandal and there were calls of a new system leading to the IPSO. Since then, the IPSO has handled complaints and has conducted its own investigations where the Editor’s Code of Practice has been breached. The IPSO have the authority to make newspapers and magazines publish corrections and adjustments if the Editor’s Code is breached. The IPSO also operate a 24-hour anti-harassment advice line and provide training for journalists. They work with charities, such as the NGOs to support and improve press standards. The Editor’s Code of Practice is a set of rules that newspapers and magazines have agreed to follow, which is enforced by the IPSO. It is administered by the Editor’s Code of Practice Committee and includes 17 rules. The code allows for a balance for both the individual and the public’s right to know, and is essential for the newspaper or magazine’s publication. The most recent version of the Editor’s Code of Practice came into effect on 1 January 2016.

The 17 regulations of the Editor’s Code consists of:

1. Accuracy

2. Privacy

3. Harassment

4. Intrusion into grief or shock

5. Reporting Suicide

6. Children

7. Children in sex cases

8. Hospitals

9. Reporting of Crime

10. Clandestine devices and subterfuge

11. Victims of sexual assault

12. Discrimination.

13. Financial journalisms

14. Confidential sources.

15. Witness payments in criminal trials

16. Payment to criminals

17. The public interest

Details about the regulations can be found on the IPSO's website.

After researching the role of the IPSO and the Editor's code of practice, I have found out how these regulations would affect my own magazine. The following regulations would affect my magazine in many ways as my target audience is male students, which would have to follow the regulations involving children. For my front cover, I will have had to get permission for the photograph used which falls under the category of 'privacy'. Also, as my model is a student, I would have not been allowed to intrude with his time at school. My primary target audience is black students because they would be able to better identify with the content on my rap magazine, meaning I would have to take care with any sort of discrimination on behalf of the Editor's code. 

Additionally, the accuracy of my content would have to be to the utmost and I must avoid any misleading information for other students. The content should be suitable for my target audience to not violate the Editor's Code and the headlines should reflect the text. All these regulations would affect the production of my magazine as I would have to take care with many contents in my magazine. For example, my magazine is clearly targeted at male students but it shouldn't discriminate females as they would be interested in rap music as well. Therefore, it is essential for me to produce a magazine that meets the requirements of both genders including all races and religions in order to avoid discrimination.

Bibliography:

https://www.ipso.co.uk/about-ipso/ https://www.ipso.co.uk/editors-code-of-practice/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Press_Standards_Organisation