Press ‘facing £100m bill for telling truth’

THE INTRODUCTION of a draconian law designed to force local and national newspapers into a system of statutory press regulation could cost the industry £100m a year just for telling the truth, the News Media Association has said today.

Submitting its response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s consultation on press regulation, the NMA said Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 was an unfair and undemocratic attack on free speech which would have a chilling effect on newspapers’ ability to report on matters of public interest.

NMA chairman Ashley Highfield, chief executive officer of Johnston Press, owner of The Yorkshire Post, said: “Section 40 is designed to force newspapers into a system of state-backed regulation which the industry views as entirely unacceptable and incompatible Bailey said. She did not say what particular attributes qualified those on the list to be fashionistas, but, back in Yorkshire yesterday, the fashion designers of tomorrow were being versed in the theory. Rebecca O’Leary, a tutor on the Fashion Design and Production BA Honours course at York College, said Britain’s rich fashion heritage made it particularly stylish. “We are also influenced by other cultures, and fashion is ingrained in us,” she said. “Our High Street is world-class, with catwalk versions of the latest styles readily accessible to the general public.” with the principles of free speech.

“Not a single significant publication has signed up to Impress, the state-recognised regulator funded by one wealthy donor, with the vast majority of the industry choosing instead the new tough self-regulatory regime under IPSO which is independent of the industry and completely free from state control.

“Section 40 would have a hugely negative impact upon the press industry both here in the UK and overseas. Newspaper titles would be forced to close and our democracy would be poorer for it. This harmful legislation must be repealed immediately.”

The Leveson Report recommended a system of “voluntary independent self-regulation,” envisaging “a body, established and organised by the industry” which “must be funded by its members”.