State-backed watchdog a real threat

kentonline news editor

Apress regulator funded by a motor racing tycoon exposed by the press for taking part in a sadomasochistic orgy and backed by the government. At first glance it may seem like something dreamed up by George Orwell and Charlie Brooker during a particularly jolly night at the pub but it is steadily becoming a reality.

Many readers may not be aware of Impress or the impact it could have but this week it received approval from the Press Recognition Panel (PRP) – the organisation set up by the government in the wake of the Leveson inquiry.

Currently only 26 small news websites are regulated by Impress, which receives funding from Max Mosley although was judged by the PRP to be financially independent.

By contrast 90% of publications – more than 2,600 titles – sign up to its rival Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso).

On the face of it Impress is a very small fish in a very big ocean, so what’s the problem?

Well, if Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act is implemented all publications which do not sign up to Impress face paying the legal fees of anyone who pursues legal action against them regardless of the outcome.

In short, this week’s decision means publishers are faced with the ludicrous choice of signing up to state-authorised regulation or face being put out of business for attempting to do exactly what they’re meant to do – scrutinise.

Despite the fact there are no immediate plans to bring in Section 40 it continues to hang over the press like the sword of Damocles.

That threat alone is enough to curtail freedom of speech and make a newspaper think twice before publishing a story which is demonstrably in the public interest. We can only hope that doesn’t happen.