Local papers set the gold benchmark

THE head of the Press Complaints Commission has held up local newspapers as the”gold standard” for the UK media in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry.

Lord Justice Leveson is expected to publish his report into press standards and the phone hacking scandal with the next two months. Some politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, expect some form of statutory regulation as a result.

But PCC chairman Lord Hunt is fighting to retain a tougher version of the watchdog as a “regulator with teeth” instead of state control.

He highlighted the highly professional local and regional press as the model for the rest of the industry.

Lord Hunt’s comments came during a visit to the East Anglian Daily Times’ offices in Ipswich to get the views of senior editors on a new regulatory structure.

Lord Hunt said: “I am a strong believer in self regulation, and because a small minority of the industry has been guilty of appalling behaviour doesn’t undermine the fact that the overwhelming majority of the press - particularly in the local and regional press - always observes the highest professional principles.

“I have every respect for the local and regional press that set that gold standard, and it is the gold standard that I want to see extended to othe areas of the press.”

He pointed out that some industries - such as banking - already have Government regulation - but it hadn’t prevented the industry’s “moral and ethical” difficulties.