I don't think anyone would argue that the Press Complaints Commission has done a pretty shitty job at the self-regulation of UK newspapers, especially when you see that the publishers of the Express, Star and OK magazine no longer contribute to the funding and are effectively outside of its jurisdiction. We also have the laughable situation where Paul Dacre (Executive Editor of the Wail), is chair of the Editors' Code Committee - now that is like setting a fox among the chickens.
Unfortunately an independent body can never be truly independent, they will be appointed by politicians and then be subjected to all the wooing that the media barons have always undertaken. Perhaps a system of licensing could be introduced, alongside a system of penalty points, awarded for the various transgressions, whether brought before the courts or not. With financial penalties applied not just to the proprietors but also to the Executive Editors. Continued transgressions could then lead to further sanctions such as mandating a blank print run, where a newspaper must print and distribute a full edition, containing no advertising and nothing other than an apology, apart from the masthead. If a newspaper continues flouting the rules, then the ultimate sanction of suspension or revocation of the license could be applied.
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