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Q:
What is a press council?
A: A press council or Media
Complaints Commission is responsible for the self-regulation of the news
media in any given area. It should be free from government interference
or judicial supervision. Self-regulation ensures that freedom of the press
is maintained while helping to raise standards and give redress to members
of the public who have a grievance against a newspaper, magazine, broadcast
station or newspaper web outlet. A press council will usually administer
a code of journalistic practice that has been written by journalists and
media owners. Owners usually fund - or help to fund - the administration
of the press council. Representatives of media owners, journalists and
members of the public will often sit as members of the council. The involvement
of such people is an important part of the philosophy of media accountability.
There is not, however, a single model for an independent press council
and different countries have their own model of press council. Press councils
around the world can be reached through the IPC home page (www.presscouncils.org)
Q: What
is AIPCE?
A: AIPCE stands for Alliance
of Independent Press Councils. It brings together European Independent
Press Councils and a conference is hosted annually by one of the members
for discussion of issues relating to self-regulation of the Press, the
responsibility of the Media and press freedom. The next annual conference
will be held on September 11-12 in Stockholm. The 2004 conference will
be held in Cyprus, in early October.
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