The Right Honourable David Cameron MP
Prime Minister of Great Britain
10 Downing Street
London
SW1A 2AA
United Kingdom

15 April 2013



Dear Prime Minister

We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries, to express our grave concern regarding the proposed Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the Press and the effect it will have on the independent press in the United Kingdom and worldwide.

We would like to reiterate the points raised in a letter sent to Members of Parliament on 24 January 2013 on behalf of the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organisations, of which WAN-IFRA is a member.  Any statutory regulation of the press in the United Kingdom will have a ‘chilling effect’ on press freedom in other countries, particularly in those where oppressive regimes currently, or would likely use statutory regulation to silence independent voices or those critical of government.

WAN-IFRA is extremely disappointed and seriously concerned that the UK government has ignored the numerous concerns raised by press freedom and human rights groups worldwide by abandoning more than 300 years of press freedom in the UK and replacing a self regulatory system with one underscored by statutory regulation.

The proposed Royal Charter on Self Regulation of the Press in its name is misleading, given it does not stand alone, but instead interlocks with the Crime and Courts Bill and the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill currently before parliament, which together can not be described as anything other than statutory regulation of the press.  

According to the Royal Charter, any “relevant publisher” who does not sign up to the “approved regulator” could be liable for exemplary damages or alarmingly high libel costs. We hold grave concerns that even if a publisher were to win a case, they may have to pay costs if not signed on to the “approved regulator”.

WAN-IFRA also raises concerns over the proposed arbitration service for civil legal claims that will inevitably lead to more claims against publishers.  Disputes currently settled easily without cost to either side could become major compensation claims for even the smallest of errors.  Furthermore, the powers invested to this new body will be greater than those afforded the courts, and more extensive than any press regulator in the western world.  The effect this will have on large and small publishers alike will be devastating – it will lead to a culture of self-censorship and have a marked effect on investigative journalism.  

Finally, we believe the issues that prompted the Leveson Inquiry should, and are being dealt with by the criminal justice system.  WAN-IFRA does not believe these abuses are cause for additional statutory regulation of the press.

WAN-IFRA stands firmly behind the need for a strong and independent press in the United Kingdom, underpinned by an effective self-regulatory system independent of both the state and the newspaper and magazine industry.

We urge you to withdraw the proposed Royal Charter and commence a dialogue with all stakeholders as soon as possible. We therefore respectfully request a meeting with you at your earliest convenience.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

 

Jacob Mathew
President
World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers


Erik Bjerager
President
World Editors Forum

cc.
Right Hon. Nick Clegg, Deputy Prime Minister
Right Hon. Ed Miliband, Leader of the Opposition
Members of the British Parliament
UK Members of the European Parliament

WAN-IFRA is the global organisation for the world’s newspapers and news publishers, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organisation groups 18,000 publications, 15,000 online sites and over 3,000 companies in more than 120 countries.