Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Last chance for say on newspaper plan
MEMBERS of the public have one day left to have their say on proposals which could see newspapers forced to pay their opponents’ legal costs even if they win in court.
It is a move some fear will threaten the future of investigative journalism.
The Government is consulting on whether to implement measures contained within Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which could see newspapers not signed up to an officially recognised regulator pay the legal costs of both sides in libel and privacy actions brought against them.
Newspapers that are part of a recognised regulator would be exempt from the measures.
The proposals have divided opinion between those who believe the measures are “fair” and those who fear they will severely limit the scope for newspapers to conduct investigative reporting to expose corruption and wrongdoing.
Damian Collins, chairman of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said the proposals should not be implemented as they risk harming freedom of the press – and thus democracy – while filling solicitors’ coffers.
The Conservative MP said that while press regulation is an important issue, the “greatest threat” to the media’s credibility comes from the rise of “fake news” on social media and elsewhere, rather than from newspapers.
Mr Collins said: “Some have said that the risk of heavy costs being awarded against the newspapers is not as great as some fear. But I believe it is wrong in principle, and once established it could create a new i ndustry of ambulance-chasing lawyers encouraging people to hire them on no-win, no-fee terms to take up complaints against the press.”
Mr Collins said the ability of the press to hold those in power to account is “one of the cornerstones of our democracy”.
But Max Mosley, the former motor racing boss who was a victim of a newspaper sting – and a financial backer of Impress, a new press regulator which has received formal approval from the Press Recognition Panel – said Section 40 should be implemented regardless.
Most newspapers have signed up to rival regulator the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso), the press-funded body which has not sought official recognition, and would therefore be faced with paying plaintiffs’ costs under the Section 40 provisions.