1953
The Press Council is set up with the aim of ‘maintaining high standards of journalism as well as protecting press freedom’
1980s
A number of publications fail to observer basic journalism ethics. Consequently, many MPs believe the Press Council to be weak and ineffective. Some politicians believe it would be better to have a government controlled regulatory authority to enforce legal punishments. A Departmental Committee was given the task “to consider what measures are needed to give further protection to individual privacy from the activities of the press and improve recourse against the press for the individual citizen”. The Committee recommended a new Press Complaints Commission for non-statutory regulation.
1991
The PCC is set up and replaces the Press Council. It continues to grow in respect and influence. It is clearly supported by the current Government.
2007
The House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee states that: "We do not believe that there is a case for a statutory regulator for the press, which would represent a very dangerous interference with the freedom of the press. We continue to believe that statutory regulation of the press is a hallmark of authoritarianism and risks undermining democracy. We recommend that self-regulation should be retained for the press, while recognising that it must be seen to be effective if calls for statutory intervention are to be resisted."
