The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) was established in 1991 as a self-regulated body to handle complaints against the press and hold editors accountable, while preserving press freedom. It succeeded the voluntary Press Council formed in 1953. The PCC grew in stature over the years by resolving over 90% of complaints, reaching over 25,000 complaints by 2009. In response to the Leveson Report of 2012, the PCC is working to establish a new regulatory body compliant with Leveson's recommendations for independent press regulation.

1. History of the
Press Complaints
Commission

2. What is the
The press complaints commission is a self regulated body, which :
• Deals with complaints against the press
• Protects the rights of individuals
• Puts editors to account
• preserves appropriate freedom of expression for the press

3. Early Years
In 1953 the Press Council was founded
• It was voluntary
• Its aim was to:
- maintain high standards of ethics in journalism
- promote press freedom
• In the late 1980s:
- several newspapers breached these standards
- Many members of the Parliament doubted the effectiveness of the council
• The Government thus set up a departmental committee to investigate whether
a body with formal legal powers is needed to regulate the press

4. The Birth of the PCC
• David Calcutt, who headed the committee, published his report in June
1990:
- It recommended the setting up of a new Press Complaints Commission
- It should be given 18 months to prove its effectiveness with a full, published code of
conduct
- If it failed to be self regulated, new statutory controls should be introduced
• The press acted with great speed and co-operation to establish an
independent Press Complaints Commission in 1991.

5. Success
• The PCC has continued to grow in stature, after overcoming the
problems which most new organisations have, because of its
accomplishments in its early years
• Since 1995, the Government, the House of Commons Culture and several
Committees recognised the excellent work of the self regulated PCC over the
years
• In 2006, the PCC received over 3000 complaints
• In 2009 it was over 25 000 complaints
• 90% of the cases were resolved

6. Recent events
• In November 2012, the PCC responded to the publication of Lord
Leveson's Report:
• He reiterated a commitment to moving forward as swiftly as possible to a new
regulatory body.
• The UK newspaper/magazine industry has agreed to construct a new
regulatory system which is compliant with Leveson's recommendations.
• Lord Hunt, the chairman of the PCC, is working with the press to set up the
new organisation