IMPRESS celebrates five years of approved regulation

20 October 2021. IMPRESS has today published its 2020-21 Annual Report, which coincides with the fifth anniversary of it becoming the only officially approved regulator under the Royal Charter on self-regulation of the press.

Walter Merricks, Chair of IMPRESS, said: “In the last five years we have demonstrated to the doubters and to those who aimed to bury IMPRESS that we are alive and well, gaining valuable experience, and are here to stay.”

Since 2016 IMPRESS has upheld over one third of investigated complaints, directed a home page correction in almost one fifth of complaint decisions and has completed four investigations on its own initiative into potentially serious or systematic breaches of the Standards Code. IMPRESS has also delivered an active arbitration scheme that has settled libel disputes without the need for claimants and publishers to go to court.

IMPRESS reports another year of strong growth with a 35% increase in publications joining its approved regulatory scheme. During a year when the public has relied heavily on truth-telling journalism, many publishers demonstrated their commitment to public accountability by signing up to IMPRESS.

The Annual Report covers the launch of a two-year Code Review of regulatory standards to ensure that they remain fit for purpose for the future of journalism. 2022 will see the publication of an updated IMPRESS Standards Code and Guidance.

Ed Procter, CEO of IMPRESS, said: “IMPRESS is now finalising its strategy for the next five-year cycle. We have exciting plans to grow our membership and develop new services, to raise standards and to improve the public’s knowledge and understanding about ethical journalism and their rights of redress.”

The 2020-21 IMPRESS Annual Report, as well as previous reports, is available on the IMPRESS website.

About IMPRESS

IMPRESS regulates 190+ publications in the UK, reaching over 16 million readers in the UK each month. We provide publishers and journalists with the protection and support they need to do their job. We offer complaints adjudication, free arbitration, a comprehensive insurance scheme and a progressive Standards Code. We work in partnership with the public, publishers and key stakeholders to raise the standards of journalism.

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