Law and Rights
In a post of 25th March the plans for media regulation were considered. At the time it looked as though the proposed Royal Charter would be approved by the Privy Council on 15th May. It is now reported that this will be delayed whilst an alternative draft Royal Charter is considered. The alternative document has been drawn up by News International, Telegraph Media Group, Associated Newspapers, Trinity Mirror and Express Newspapers - see The Guardian Draft alternative royal charter on press regulation.
A key concern is that the original draft charter placed amendment fully in the hands of politicians and therefore was seen as eroding media independence.
Before any proposal (made by any person) to add to, supplement, vary or omit (in whole or in part) a provision of this Charter ('proposed' change') can take effect, the following must each have passed unanimously a resolution in favour of the proposed change, in each case at a meeting duly convened for that purpose:
Where a body is established by Royal Charter after 1 March 2013 with functions relating to the carrying on of an industry, no recommendation may be made to Her Majesty in Council to amend the body?s Charter or dissolve the body unless any requirements included in the Charter on the date it is granted for Parliament to approve the amendment or dissolution have been met.
Read the articles in HoldTheFrontPage 26th April and Daily Mail 25th April
The following appeared in the Daily Mail article:
- Press Regulation ~ View Of Journalists
London Evening Standard 23rd October Media heavyweights have branded the government?s proposed royal charter for press regulation a ?medieval piece of nonsense.? Speaking at a London Press Club debate last night Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger,...
- Catching Up With Press Regulation
Updated: The Privy Council has rejected a draft Royal Charter put forward by the Press. Their reasons for doing this are in a letter dated 8th October 2013. Maria Miller MP made a statement to the House of Commons - The Guardian 8th October. ...
- Regulation Of The Press - (2)
The earlier post Regulation of the Press (1) noted the importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society. Following on from the Leveson Report, a model for press regulation of a Royal Charter on Press Regulation plus statutory elements...
- The Path To Censorship Of The Media
Update 1 ~ Other links etc. Update 2 ~ The Royal Charter on Self Regulation of the Press Update 3 ~ Reaction in the media - exemplary damages Update 4 ~ Amending Royal Charters Update 5 ~ Bloggers Update...
- Letters Patent ~ Royal Charters ~ Press Regulation
Two of the ways by which the Crown exercises its powers are the issue of Letters Patent and Royal Charters. Letters Patent: Letters Patent (Open Letters) are used in many areas. In May 2012 the Ministry of Justice referred to 92 types of...
Law and Rights
Regulation of the media ~ Alternative draft for a Royal Charter
A key concern is that the original draft charter placed amendment fully in the hands of politicians and therefore was seen as eroding media independence.
Art. 9.2 of the original reads:
Before any proposal (made by any person) to add to, supplement, vary or omit (in whole or in part) a provision of this Charter (?proposed change?) can take effect a draft of the proposed change must have been laid before Parliament, and approved by a resolution of each House. For this purpose ?approved? means that at least two thirds of the members of the House in question who vote on the motion do so in support of it.
Art. 9.2 of the alternative reads:
Art. 9.2 of the alternative reads:
Before any proposal (made by any person) to add to, supplement, vary or omit (in whole or in part) a provision of this Charter ('proposed' change') can take effect, the following must each have passed unanimously a resolution in favour of the proposed change, in each case at a meeting duly convened for that purpose:
a) the members of the Recognition Panel; and
b) the members of the Board of any recognised regulator; and
c) the members of the Board of all trade associations represented on the Industry Funding Body.
That's an awful lot of unanimity ! The Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act section 96 would also apply:
Where a body is established by Royal Charter after 1 March 2013 with functions relating to the carrying on of an industry, no recommendation may be made to Her Majesty in Council to amend the body?s Charter or dissolve the body unless any requirements included in the Charter on the date it is granted for Parliament to approve the amendment or dissolution have been met.
Read the articles in HoldTheFrontPage 26th April and Daily Mail 25th April
The following appeared in the Daily Mail article:
- Press Regulation ~ View Of Journalists
London Evening Standard 23rd October Media heavyweights have branded the government?s proposed royal charter for press regulation a ?medieval piece of nonsense.? Speaking at a London Press Club debate last night Guardian editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger,...
- Catching Up With Press Regulation
Updated: The Privy Council has rejected a draft Royal Charter put forward by the Press. Their reasons for doing this are in a letter dated 8th October 2013. Maria Miller MP made a statement to the House of Commons - The Guardian 8th October. ...
- Regulation Of The Press - (2)
The earlier post Regulation of the Press (1) noted the importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society. Following on from the Leveson Report, a model for press regulation of a Royal Charter on Press Regulation plus statutory elements...
- The Path To Censorship Of The Media
Update 1 ~ Other links etc. Update 2 ~ The Royal Charter on Self Regulation of the Press Update 3 ~ Reaction in the media - exemplary damages Update 4 ~ Amending Royal Charters Update 5 ~ Bloggers Update...
- Letters Patent ~ Royal Charters ~ Press Regulation
Two of the ways by which the Crown exercises its powers are the issue of Letters Patent and Royal Charters. Letters Patent: Letters Patent (Open Letters) are used in many areas. In May 2012 the Ministry of Justice referred to 92 types of...