Royal Commission on the Press, United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
In 1947 the National Union of Journalists
argued for a Royal Commission
to investigate the risk to freedom of expression caused by increasing concentration of ownership of the press and the potential influence of advertisers on editorial content. The First Royal Commission on the Press (1947–1949) proposed a General Council of the Press in 1949 to govern the behaviour of the press, from conditions of employment and training to issues of ownership, and to promote the interests of the consumers and conduct research into the long-term social and economic impact of the print industry: the Press Council was set up in 1953. The second Royal Commission (1961–1962) studied the economic and financial factors affecting the Press in the UK, and the third Royal Commission (1974–1977) proposed the development of a written Code of Practice for newspapers.
The members of the commission were appointed by Royal Warrant
on 14 April 1947. Sir William Ross
was appointed chairman.
The main archive for the Commission is The National Archives. The evidence and papers were held under the thirty year rule
. The Commission's report was presented to Parliament
on 13 June 1994. Its minutes of evidence were published as command paper
s. The command papers are listed in the Commission's Index to Minutes of Oral Evidence which is Cmnd 7690, published 1949.
The Royal Commission proposed self-regulation by the industry itself through the establishment of a "General Council of the Press" which would act as a watchdog on irresponsible journalism and contribute to the "freedom and prestige of the Press" by speaking with a unified voice on its behalf.
The members of the commission were appointed by Royal Warrant
on 4 March 1961. Lord Shawcross
was appointed chairman.
The main archive for the Commission is The National Archives. The final report of the Commission was presented to Parliament on 5 September 1962 as a command paper
(Cmnd 1811) and the minutes of oral and written evidence are published as Command Papers 1812 and 1812-1 to 1812-9.
By the time of this Commission. the Press Council
had been subject to considerable criticism. The Commission's report demanded improvement, particularly the inclusion of lay members.
The Commission was set up in May 1974. Members of the Commission were appointed by Royal Warrant on 16 July 1974. Sir Morris Finer
was appointed chairman: after his death the same year Professor Oliver McGregor
was appointed chairman on 7 March 1975.
The main archive for the Commission is the British Library of Political and Economic Science.
The Commission chair proposed the development of a written Code of Practice, saying "it is unhappily certain that the Council has so far failed to persuade the knowledgeable public that it deals satisfactorily with complaints against newspapers" The Press Council rejected this proposal. In 1980, the National Union of Journalists
withdrew from membership on the grounds that the Council was incapable of reform.
National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
argued for a Royal Commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
to investigate the risk to freedom of expression caused by increasing concentration of ownership of the press and the potential influence of advertisers on editorial content. The First Royal Commission on the Press (1947–1949) proposed a General Council of the Press in 1949 to govern the behaviour of the press, from conditions of employment and training to issues of ownership, and to promote the interests of the consumers and conduct research into the long-term social and economic impact of the print industry: the Press Council was set up in 1953. The second Royal Commission (1961–1962) studied the economic and financial factors affecting the Press in the UK, and the third Royal Commission (1974–1977) proposed the development of a written Code of Practice for newspapers.
1947-1949
The first Royal Commission on the Press was established "with the object of furthering the free expression of opinion through the Press and the greatest practicable accuracy in the presentation of news, to inquire into the control, management and ownership of the newspaper and periodical Press and the news agencies, including the financial structure and the monopolistic tendencies in control, and to make recommendations thereon."The members of the commission were appointed by Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
on 14 April 1947. Sir William Ross
William Ross
-Politicians:*William Ross, Baron Ross of Marnock , Secretary of State for Scotland in the 1960s*William Ross , merchant, ship builder and politician in Nova Scotia, Canada...
was appointed chairman.
The main archive for the Commission is The National Archives. The evidence and papers were held under the thirty year rule
Thirty year rule
The "thirty year rule" is the popular name given to a law in the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Australia that provides that the yearly cabinet papers of a government will be released publicly thirty years after they were created....
. The Commission's report was presented to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
on 13 June 1994. Its minutes of evidence were published as command paper
Command paper
A command paper is a document issued by the British government and presented to Parliament. White papers, green papers, treaties, reports from Royal Commissions and various government bodies can all be released as command papers, so-called because they are presented to Parliament formally 'By Her...
s. The command papers are listed in the Commission's Index to Minutes of Oral Evidence which is Cmnd 7690, published 1949.
Self-regulation of the press
The first Royal Commission focussed predominantly on newspapers and allegations of their inaccuracy and political bias. The freedom of the press was characterised by the Commission as a broad political ideal that was under increasing threat from concentration of ownership power. The Commission's report was that the outcome would be "a progressive decline in the calibre of editors and in the quality of British journalism" which was felt to endanger the freedom of the press and ultimately the welfare of the country if left unchecked. This framework, according to the Commission, set the future role of the press "not to safeguard its own liberty, as many Press Union delegates continued to advocate, but to 'save the press from itself' by intervention and legislation if necessary."The Royal Commission proposed self-regulation by the industry itself through the establishment of a "General Council of the Press" which would act as a watchdog on irresponsible journalism and contribute to the "freedom and prestige of the Press" by speaking with a unified voice on its behalf.
1961-1962
The second Royal Commission on the Press was established "to examine the economic and financial factors affecting the production and sale of newspapers, magazines and other periodicals in the United Kingdom, including (a) manufacturing, printing, distribution and other costs, (b) efficiency of production, and (c) advertising and other revenue, including any revenue derived from interests in television; to consider whether these factors tend to diminish diversity of ownership and control or the number or variety of such publications, having regard to the importance, in the public interest, of the accurate presentation of news and the free expression of opinion." This Commission was not concerned with the performance of the Press or with general ethical questions.The members of the commission were appointed by Royal Warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
on 4 March 1961. Lord Shawcross
Hartley Shawcross, Baron Shawcross
Hartley William Shawcross, Baron Shawcross, GBE, PC, KC was a British barrister and politician and the lead British prosecutor at the Nuremberg War Crimes tribunal.- Early life :...
was appointed chairman.
The main archive for the Commission is The National Archives. The final report of the Commission was presented to Parliament on 5 September 1962 as a command paper
Command paper
A command paper is a document issued by the British government and presented to Parliament. White papers, green papers, treaties, reports from Royal Commissions and various government bodies can all be released as command papers, so-called because they are presented to Parliament formally 'By Her...
(Cmnd 1811) and the minutes of oral and written evidence are published as Command Papers 1812 and 1812-1 to 1812-9.
By the time of this Commission. the Press Council
Press Council
Press Council may refer to:* Danish Press Council, a Danish independent public tribunal press council under the Ministry of Justice* International Press Telecommunications Council, a consortium of the world's major news agencies and news industry vendors...
had been subject to considerable criticism. The Commission's report demanded improvement, particularly the inclusion of lay members.
1974-1977
The third Royal Commission on the Press was established "To inquire into the factors affecting the maintenance of the independence, diversity and editorial standards of newspapers and periodicals and the public freedom of choice of newspapers and periodicals, nationally, regionally and locally."The Commission was set up in May 1974. Members of the Commission were appointed by Royal Warrant on 16 July 1974. Sir Morris Finer
Morris Finer
Sir Morris Finer QC was a lawyer and judge.As a young barrister Morris Finer also wrote leaders for the London Evening Standard...
was appointed chairman: after his death the same year Professor Oliver McGregor
Oliver Ross McGregor
Oliver McGregor , born Durris, Kincardineshire. Married Nell Weate in 1944: had three sons with her. Created Baron McGregor of Durris in 1978.-Academic Career:...
was appointed chairman on 7 March 1975.
The main archive for the Commission is the British Library of Political and Economic Science.
The Commission chair proposed the development of a written Code of Practice, saying "it is unhappily certain that the Council has so far failed to persuade the knowledgeable public that it deals satisfactorily with complaints against newspapers" The Press Council rejected this proposal. In 1980, the National Union of Journalists
National Union of Journalists
The National Union of Journalists is a trade union for journalists in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. It was founded in 1907 and has 38,000 members. It is a member of the International Federation of Journalists .-Structure:...
withdrew from membership on the grounds that the Council was incapable of reform.