The document provides background information on the establishment of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) in the UK. It details criticisms of press standards prior to the PCC around invasion of privacy and inaccurate reporting. It outlines the recommendations of the Calcutt Committee report for a new self-regulatory body. The PCC was then established in 1991 and operates independently to handle complaints. It resolves most issues informally but can publish critical adjudications of upheld complaints. The code covers accuracy and privacy, and the PCC claims self-regulation is preferable to statutory regulation. However, some critics argue the PCC does not adequately punish papers or prevent irresponsible reporting.